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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spokane hopes to host trials

Soon after hosting championship ice skaters, Spokane leaders hope to be center stage for another national sports event.

The Spokane Regional Sports Commission will submit a bid by the end of this month to host the 2008 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials, said Eric Sawyer, executive director of the commission.

The trials, which will be used to help determine which athletes will represent the United States at the Olympics in Beijing, will be held June 19-21. If Spokane is chosen, events would be held at the Spokane Arena and generate as much as $6.5 million to the region’s economy, Sawyer said.

The location of the trials could be made by USA Gymnastics, the Indianapolis-based organization that runs the event, by the end of the year, Sawyer said.

“We know we’re going to be competing against a number of cities,” Sawyer said.

Gymnastics would not be Spokane’s first engagement on the Olympic scene. The city hosted the 1984 and 1988 Olympic cycling trials.

On Tuesday, Spokane County commissioners unanimously approved spending $50,000 raised from hotel taxes to promote the event if Spokane is selected by USA Gymnastics to host the trials.

To qualify for the event, the sports commission needs assurances of at least $100,000 to be able to spend on promotions.

County Commissioner Todd Mielke said hosting the trials would bring positive attention to the city and bring tax revenue from visitors.

“It does keep us on the radar screen,” Mielke said.