The Bid is In!

Local News - The Idaho Statesman - Always Idaho: "Idaho's bid to host Special Olympics event is on track

The group of area residents pushing to bring the Special Olympics 2009 World Winter Games to Idaho successfully submitted its bid to Special Olympics International by Friday's deadline, organizer Jim Grossman said.Now the group will cross its fingers and hope to be one of two finalists named by the organization. Idaho's competition includes Reno, and cities in Germany and Poland. The process for hosting the 2009 Games is accelerated because host city Sarajevo backed out last year. Idaho just started preparing to be a host in mid-January.Grossman and his wife, Pirie, have taken the organizing lead, and he credited various government agencies and businesses for voicing support and committing money and in-kind donations.
"We've more than $5 million in cash and in-kind contributions," said Grossman. "What has been done in such a short period of time is reflective of our community as a whole."Grossman said he expects to hear whether Idaho is a finalist within the next week or two. Then a team from Special Olympics International would make a visit later this month to inspect the various venues, including Tamarack Resort, Qwest Arena, Idaho Ice World and more.
"We have every reason to believe we will be one of the finalists," he said"