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Before asking the general public whether it supports another Olympic bid by Salt Lake City, the opinions of key community leaders will be solicited in one-on-one meetings with members of the Olympic Exploratory Committee.
Derek Miller, chief of staff to Gov. Gary Herbert, told committee members Wednesday his office is developing a list of "stakeholders" impacted by a potential bid for the Winter Games in the 2020s, perhaps as early as 2022. Personal meetings then will be arranged with those individuals to get their input on the prospect of launching a multimillion bid to repeat the luster of the 2002 Olympics.
These one-on-ones, Miller said, "will be a balance between marketing and promotion and getting their buy-in and feedback."
But to do that appropriately, he said it was important to first develop a communications strategy and plan "so we know what we're talking about" in terms of why Salt Lake City should try to stage the international extravaganza again.
Then, for instance, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker will have good talking points when he approaches officials of other local governments across northern Utah where venues could be located, Miller said. Same with Salt Lake Chamber boss Lane Beattie when he contacts business leaders, and Park City Mountain Resort General Manager Jenni Smith when she sits down with ski resorts that could be competition sites.
The committee went into a closed session to discuss the "Why Salt Lake?" strategy and the budget for a possible bid to secure the U.S. Olympic Committee's nod.
At the Exploratory Committee's previous meeting (its second), Utah Sports Commission CEO Jeff Robbins estimated the price tag would be $2 million for that stage. If successful, the cost of a bid for International Olympic Committee approval would be several times as much.
Once civic leaders have been sounded out, Miller said he hoped to convince Dan Jones & Associates or another pollster to donate services or let the Exploratory Committee piggyback a few questions on a survey being done for a local company.
Miller expects this process to be complete by late April.
By that time, a venues subcommittee led by Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation director Colin Hilton will have compiled information on technical changes by the IOC and international sports federations that may require modifications to venues used in 2002, such as the ski jumps or the bobsled/luge track.
Hilton said his subcommittee also is looking at the status of non-competition venues, ranging from Olympic Medals Plaza to park-and-ride lots, and will meet with 2002 venue operators to determine their development plans over the next decade.
Exploratory Committee member Grant Thomas, a former Salt Lake Organizing Committee executive, said plans for venues and transportation must address the IOC's mandate for compact, carbon-neutral Games. The drive to satisfy that requirement may help the Wasatch Front confront air pollution problems, said Thomas, who plans to meet with the Utah Department of Transportation, Utah Transit Authority and Salt Lake City streets' officials.
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What's next?
P The Olympic Exploratory Committee's next meeting is April 4 at noon at Salt Lake City Hall.