Reno-Tahoe bid backers still hope to host 2018 Games

It was thought that should Chicago win in its bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, then Reno would be all but shut out of any chance of hosting the 2018 winter games. The thinking was the International Olympic Committee would not want the same country hosting two consecutive events.

But even though Chicago lost its pitch Friday, Nevada still looks like a longshot.

The Wall Street Journal reported United States Olympic Committee spokeswoman Lindsay Hogan said that the U.S. would not put forth a bid for the 2018 Games -- largely because it didn't have enough time to prepare a competitive bid before the Oct. 15 deadline.

Jon Killoran, chief executive officer of the Reno-Tahoe Winter Games Coalition, the group that for years has been trying to bring the 2018 Winter Olympics to the area, was well aware this would be a problem.

But he still hopes there's time to persuade members of the U.S. committee to change their minds. Denver also wants to host the Winter Olympics that year.

Killoran was in Copenhagen when the IOC selected Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 summer games. After Chicago was eliminated, he said: "We certainly hope it becomes an opportunity for us."

Reno-Tahoe is prepared, said Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, the chairman of the Northern Nevada effort.

"We have a bid book prepared and the U.S.O.C. has been in contact with us. We are here and eager to put on a successful Winter Olympics. We have a window of a couple of weeks."

The IOC probably will not choose the site for the 2018 games until the summer or fall of 2011.

Krolicki expects infrastructure costs of hosting a 2018 Winter Olympics would be $1.5 billion, money that largely would be offset by TV rights, tickets and grants.

He noted that the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City made a profit, and expressed confidence that a Reno-Tahoe Olympics also would earn money.

Reno has made six previous unsuccessful bids to host an Olympics But the 1960 Olympic Games were held in Squaw Valley, Calif., just north of Lake Tahoe.

Contact Review-Journal Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.