Our View: Special Olympics in Idaho would be great

Editorials - The Idaho Statesman - Always Idaho: "The Special Olympics celebrate sport, and celebrate opportunity.

What better event to try to bring to Idaho?

The campaign to attract the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games is exciting stuff � and a prospect Idaho should get excited about.
'Everyone I've talked to has caught the vision on this,' said Pirie Grossman, who, with her husband, Jim, is leading the push to bring the games to Idaho. 'Nobody has said no. You can't put a price tag on helping others.'

The event won't come cheap. If Idaho is asked to bid for the games, organizers would have to raise about $20 million, about half in cash. Making the games a reality would require a community effort, but we believe the community is up to the challenge.
With venues from the heart of Boise � such as Qwest Arena and Taco Bell Arena � to ski areas such as Bogus Basin and Tamarack resort, we also believe our area has the facilities for the event.

We wear our rooting interests on our sleeve, without apology.

Befitting a large organization, serving more than 1.7 million people with intellectual disabilities, the Special Olympics World Winter Games would be a big party. It would draw an estimated 2,500 competitors, and tens of thousands of people from coaches to relatives to spectators. It would leave behind an estimated $10 million economic impact, and the positive exposure that comes with hosting an international event that is all about good will.
Pursuing the games, like the event itself, is an inspiration."