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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Some Utah officials are already considering another bid on the Winter Olympics, based on feedback they've been hearing in Turin, Italy, about Salt Lake City's games in 2002.
"There is no one that can compare to what Salt Lake City can offer for hosting another Olympics. To me, it ought to be rather a no-brainer," said Lane Beattie, president of the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.
Utah officials in Italy for the Winter Olympics said they're impressed with how many people approach them with positive memories of the Salt Lake City games.
"I am astonished that everyone who has come through the booth area is already acquainted with Salt Lake City because of hosting the Olympics," Alison McFarlane, the director of economic development for Salt Lake City, wrote in an e-mail from Turin.
McFarlane is staffing a Salt Lake City tourism both at the World Pavilion in Turin. Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, Beattie and McFarlane each were in Italy this month pushing the city as the obvious choice for a future Winter Olympics.
Beattie said he thinks Salt Lake City should bid for the 2118 or 2022 games. He said the idea was well received by representatives of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Beattie declined to name the representatives, and a USOC spokesman did not return a phone call to the Deseret Morning News seeking comment Friday.
The USOC would have to designate Salt Lake City as its first choice for a Winter Games before the International Olympic Committee would consider Utah again. But Salt Lake City would first have to make itself a candidate.
Part of that process would be seeking support from local and state leaders, said Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission, which has a committee looking at another Olympic bid.
Salt Lake City has a good argument for hosting another Winter Games with its already developed venues and transportation systems, Robbins said.
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Information from: Deseret Morning News, http://www.deseretnews.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
