Going for the gold in Reno

The "Biggest Little City in the World" is making a bid for the biggest winter sports spectacle on the planet. Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki on Thursday announced a formal campaign to bring the 2018 Winter Olympics to the Reno-Lake Tahoe area and stage competitions in Nevada and California.

By now, most Nevadans are accustomed to the spectacle of big-time sports. Las Vegas is generally the dateline for such events. But let's face it, although Sin City has the infrastructure and resources to put on almost any exhibition, it doesn't have the climate for either the Winter or Summer Olympic Games.

Reno, on the other hand, is perfectly situated in the Sierra Nevada, and has the temperatures and the terrain for everything the Winter Games requires. The 1960 Winter Games were held in Squaw Valley, Calif., just north of Lake Tahoe. And, as Lt. Gov. Krolicki points out, the area has twice as many hotel rooms as 2002 Winter Games host Salt Lake City.

The facilities, however, are another matter. Lt. Gov. Krolicki estimates that about $1.5 billion in infrastructure would have to be built if the area wins its bid, and the bill could be paid by licensing rights, ticket sales, TV revenue and federal grants. He refused to rule out public financing, but, with the state's economy currently struggling, said it's not an option right now.

"We can make money from the Olympics," Lt. Gov. Krolicki said. "We will not make a bid unless we can make a profit."

It's a worthy goal, but nearby Vancouver, British Columbia, the host of the 2010 Winter Games, is spending $500 million in tax revenues to put on the Olympics -- and that city already had a modern arena and domed stadium in place.

If it becomes apparent that public money will be needed to bring the Winter Games to the area, a proposal should be put to a vote in all the surrounding cities and counties. Let the communities that would most directly benefit from the Olympics decide whether they're willing to pay higher taxes to help the cause.

Reno has made five previous attempts to host the Winter Olympics. But this particular grab at the brass ring holds promise. The city's campaign deserves encouragement from all Nevadans.