‘Major’ Olympic announcement set

Tue., Oct. 25, 2005

By Hilary Kraus hilaryk@spokesman.com

Gov. Christine Gregoire will announce Wednesday that Spokane will host a “major” sporting event prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics. By all indications, the sport is likely skating.

Toby Steward and Barb Beddor, the husband and wife promoters who are bringing the 2007 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships to Spokane, are behind Wednesday’s announcement. When scheduling the press conference last week, Steward and Beddor of Star USA offered little information about the upcoming announcement, instead asking on a press release, “What’s the next big thing after the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships?”

But on Monday afternoon, the governor’s office distributed an e-mail stating that Gregoire’s visit is to announce “Olympic trials in Washington for the 2010 Olympic Games.”

Beddor said the governor’s e-mail is inaccurate. “It is not an Olympic trial,” Beddor said. “I can confirm it is a major Olympic sporting event.”

When asked if the announcement will involve a skating event, Steward declined to answer.

In October 2001, Steward and Beddor were the promoters of Smart Ones Skate America, a figure skating competition that involved about 60 skaters from 12 countries. The event drew about 26,000 spectators to Spokane Arena over four days.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.