March 02, 2010 09:47 PM UTC

Denver 2022?

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• by: ClubTwitty

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Tim Hoover at the Post is reporting:

Ritter, a Democrat, today suggested Denver should host the 2022 Winter Olympics. He said the state seriously pushed for attracting the 2018 Winter Olympics to Denver, but the U.S. Olympic Committee decided not to put in a bid.

There’s still 2022, Ritter said, speaking on the Mike Rosen Show on KOA 850 AM.

“We’re hoping for 2022,” Ritter said. “I think it’s the right thing. I think it’s a good thing for Colorado if we did it.”

The governor also said hosting the Olympics could be good for Colorado’s infrastructure. Colorado voters in 1972 rejected hosting the 1976 Winter Olympics after environmental and cost concerns.

Sunday, Dan Haley also weighed in in support:

So why would Denver, a city with a huge budget shortfall, and Colorado, a state that’s letting prisoners out of jail early to make ends meet, consider hosting the Games?

Money. And because it would be a heckuva lot more fun to watch a gold medal hockey game at Pepsi Center in February than lacrosse. (No offense, Mammoth.)

The state has a revenue problem, and many suspect we’ll need some kind of tax hike, along with another Referendum C-type vote to free the state of TABOR restrictions, to fully recover. In Colorado, tax hikes must be approved by voters, and that can be a risky proposition.

But what if an increase was sold as an investment to bring the Olympics here? We would be investing in infrastructure we need anyway, but also would be bringing a money-making venture to Colorado.

I like the Olympics.  I was lucky as a kid to see some of the Munich games in 1972 when my dad was stationed in Europe.  But I remain unconvinced that hosting this event is the right thing for Denver and the state.

What do Polsters think?

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