The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced it will continue its due diligence in determining whether to pursue an opportunity to bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games or the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The announcement was made after the USOC’s Board of Directors met in the San Francisco Bay Area just before the holidays.”
The news did not surprise the leadership of the Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition (RTWGC) which, for the past decade, has led the effort to position the region as the next North American host of the Olympic Winter Games.
“The USOC is not facing an urgent deadline to submit a bid,” said Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki, RTWGC Chairman. “We trust in their leadership and processes in determining the best course of action for a future U.S. bid. At the same time, we certainly continue the work necessary to prepare a world-class Reno Tahoe winter proposal.”
The RTWGC also plans to continue on its parallel mission to promote the region as a premier sports tourism destination, while also keeping the flame flickering for a future time when the USOC chooses to entertain a winter bid.
“Our recent success in securing the World Financial Group Continental Cup of Curling for Las Vegas in January of 2014 and the World Curling Federation’s Annual Congress for Reno-Tahoe in the summer of 2014 are just the latest opportunities to showcase our region and state as a desirable destination,” said Jon Killoran, RTWGC Chief Executive Officer. “We will continue to work with our partners throughout the region to bring more elite competitions and events to Reno-Tahoe.
Last summer, the USOC chose to forego the opportunity to bid for the 2022 Winter Games. Instead, it commissioned a five-member working group to research whether the U.S. would be better positioned for a potentially successful bid on the 2024 Summer Games or 2026 Winter Games. The group, comprised of four USOC board members (Suzanne Lyons, Dave Ogrean, Mike Plant, and Angela Ruggiero) as well as U.S. International Olympic Committee board member Anita DeFrantz provided its report to the full USOC board during today’s meeting.
“Reno Tahoe enjoys a tremendous Olympic Heritage, having hosted the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Games and being the home base for dozens of Olympians and Paralympians,” said Krolicki. “We firmly believe our region offers a unique opportunity to stage Winter Games that will promote the highest levels of competition and culture with the strictest standards of Olympic Ideals.”
