Although officials announced their intention last December of bidding to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in the Lake Geneva region, city leaders said Monday, within hours of Geneva completing its Euro 2008 soccer hosting duties, they want a further taste of staging an international sports event reports the Associated Press.
Mark Miller, the Geneva state politician who led the Euro 2008 management team said, “we think we have the legitimacy and the image of a city capable of organizing that kind of event like the Winter Olympics. The motto for our bid is, ‘why not?’ We are hoping that the experience of hosting three matches in the Euro will convince the people of Geneva that is possible”.
Michael Kleiner, the city’s Euro 2008 projects leader said, “we have set up working groups and a committee to look for the financial support we need”. Kleiner is now transferring his efforts to the Olympic candidacy according to the Associated Press.
A Lake Geneva bid would require the alpine ski events to be held a Crans-Montana, a two-hour drive from the city of Geneva, the same as the failed Sion 2006 bid. The resorts of Verbier and Vernayaz may also be included.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is scheduled to select the 2018 Winter Games host city in 2011.
