Boise seeks to host Special Olympics

BOISE – A Special Olympics official will be in Boise next week to examine the city’s potential for hosting the 2009 World Winter Games.

The official will meet with organizers and tour venues Monday and Tuesday, according to the Idaho Statesman newspaper.

If Boise hosts the 2009 Games, the Grove area would serve as the Olympic Village and Bogus Basin would host some skiing events. Qwest Arena or Taco Bell Arena would host opening and closing ceremonies and city-owned Idaho Ice World would provide the venue for skating competitions.

Preliminary plans also include downhill and cross-country skiing events at Tamarack and Brundage resorts and Ponderosa State Park.

“I’m so excited I can hardly stand it,” said Laurie LaFollette, executive director of Special Olympics Idaho.

If Boise is deemed worthy to host the game, it will get the go-ahead from World Games operation director Jon-Paul St. Germain on Tuesday to submit a formal bid.

Reno, Nev., and two European cities are also vying for the event. Organizers would also have to raise $20 million, half in cash, half in donations.

A final decision could take six months, said Kirsten Suto, spokeswoman for the international Special Olympics organization.

“That would be so cool,” said Ben Rigby, 23, of Pocatello. He won two silver medals and a bronze for slalom snowboarding at the 2005 World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

The quickly organized plan comes after Bosnian capital Sarajevo canceled plans to host the games.

Idaho Special Olympics supporters said they were encouraged by Maria Shriver, who has a home in Sun Valley along with her husband, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, to bid for the 2009 games. Shriver’s mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the Special Olympics, and Shriver’s brother Tim is president of the games’ board of directors.

The games would bring an infusion of tourists, athletes and media exposure to the area. More than 2,000 athletes and an estimated 10,000 visitors from 150 countries would provide a boost for local business and attractions.

Tourism officials estimate visitors could spend $10 million on hotels, food and other amenities.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” said State tourism administrator Carl Wilgus. “From a public relations perspective, it’s my understanding there would be several hours of national TV coverage. This would be major network exposure. I think we could pull off a marvelous games.”