Special Olympics narrows site list to Idaho, three other spots

Local News - The Idaho Statesman - Always Idaho: "There's a one-in-four chance the Special Olympics 2009 World Winter Games could come to Idaho.

The state has made it to a short list of possible places to hold the international competition. Three other places are bidding to sponsor the event � two spots in Poland and one in Germany, said Pirie Grossman, who is leading the effort with her husband, Jim Grossman, to bring the games to Idaho.

Idaho was officially invited Friday night to enter the bidding competition. Each team must finish a bid proposal by March 3, said Pirie Grossman. Then Special Olympics will narrow the sites down to two by the end of March, and the finalist will be selected in early May, she said.
'It's been so fast and furious ... Let's put the pedal to the metal and get to work,' Pirie Grossman said.

The Grossmans are working with Laurie La Follette, executive director of Special Olympics Idaho, and volunteers to work on each section of the bid. The group will need letters from people willing to help donate and sponsor up to $10 million to support the games. Idaho will have to prove that it can handle the housing, transportation and venue needs of bringing thousands of people here for the games, which would be in late January and early February 2009.
Idaho's bid also will have to show political support from the community. The group wants to hear from Idaho residents and business people willing to put up money or in-kind donations or volunteer in the planning process or during the games.

La Follette estimates that about 2,500 athletes, 1,000 coaches, about 10,000 friends and family of the athletes and spectators, plus the participating countries' delegates could all come to Idaho for the games.

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