October 17, 1972 Torch of Controversy Lighted
Torch of Controversy Lighted
In 1963, Colorado Governor John A. Love delivered a speech in Colorado Springs which mentioned Colorado serving as host for the Olympics.
June 16, 1968 Effort Gets $10,000 Boost
Effort Gets $10,000 Boost
[To view the photo’s full caption, including date, photographer and description, click the photo and then the “i” icon]
During the following year’s Winter Olympic Games, Colorado officially announced its intention to bid for the 1976 Winter Olympic Games, and Governor Love created the Colorado Olympic Commission to study the possibility.
October 30, 1968 Denver Gets ‘Once-Over’
Denver Gets ‘Once-Over’
In 1966, the Colorado Advisory Committee was formed to support the efforts of the Commission.
October 8, 1968 Group to Push Denver’s Olympic Bid
Group to Push Denver’s Olympic Bid
In 1967, the Denver Organizing Committee (DOC) for the 1976 Winter Olympics was formed. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) chose Denver, Colorado, as its official candidate for the 1976 Winter Olympics bid. Other contenders included Lake Placid, New York; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Seattle, Washington.
May 4, 1970 Denver Olympic Committee Leaves for Amsterdam
Denver Olympic Committee Leaves for Amsterdam
In 1968, representatives from the Denver Organizing Committee (DOC) attended the Winter Olympic Games in Grenoble, France, and the Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico.
March 20, 1970 Olympic Pin Sale Day’ Slated
Olympic Pin Sale Day’ Slated
Also in 1968, the official Colorado Olympic symbol was designed.
May 16, 1970 Robert J. Pringle and Mayor McNichols Welcomed at Airport
Robert J. Pringle and Mayor McNichols Welcomed at Airport
On May 12, 1970, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose Denver as the host city of the XII Winter Olympic Games (1976). Denver edged out Sion, Switzerland; Tampere, Finland; and Vancouver, Canada.
June 11, 1972 Discuss Olympic Speed Skating Arena
Discuss Olympic Speed Skating Arena
Initial sites chosen for the Games included the University of Denver, which would host the Olympic Village and a speed skating facility.
April 2, 1971 Model of Proposed Olympic Speed Skating Rink
Model of Proposed Olympic Speed Skating Rink
Other proposed sites included:
Loveland Basin and Mt. Sniktau for alpine events
Denver Mountain Parks for Nordic, bobsled and luge events
Denver Coliseum for free skating and ice hockey events
Currigan Exhibition Center for a press center
February 1, 1972 Proposed Site of Olympic Luge, Bobsled and Ski Jump Facilities
Proposed Site of Olympic Luge, Bobsled and Ski Jump Facilities
In 1971, opposition to Colorado hosting the 1976 Winter Games grew.
1976 Denver Olympic Promo Film – WH1216 Denver Chamber of Commerce
Video of 1976 Denver Olympic Promo Film – WH1216 Denver Chamber of Commerce
August 16, 1971 Colorado Politicians Meet With Denver Organizing Committee
Colorado Politicians Meet With Denver Organizing Committee
Speakers at a Colorado State Legislative Committee meeting in March 1971 asserted economic and environmental objections to Colorado hosting the Games. The Denver Organizing Committee (DOC) interpreted these comments to be directed towards the location of events in particular communities—not to the Olympics as a whole.
June 10, 1970 Evergreen Community Meeting Regarding Site Selection
Evergreen Community Meeting Regarding Site Selection
An Evergreen, Colorado, group objected strongly to the location of Nordic event sites in their area. State representatives Robert Jackson and Richard Lamm also declared their opposition.
October 3, 1972 Citizens for Colorado’s Future Plans Campaign
Citizens for Colorado’s Future Plans Campaign
By 1972, several Olympic events were relocated. The alpine events site was moved from Loveland Basin and Mount Sniktau to Vail, and Nordic, bobsled and luge events were relocated from Denver Mountain Parks to Steamboat Springs. The distance from Denver to the new sites was greater, but the DOC believed buses, trains and air transportation would be effective in getting athletes, coaches, judges, spectators and members of the press to these locations.
October 17, 1972 Torch of Controversy Lighted
Torch of Controversy Lighted
As projected costs to host the Games rose, public concern escalated. Representative Richard Lamm led a group to organize a referendum to deny Colorado Olympic funding for the November 1972 ballot. On November 7, 1972, Colorado voters, concerned about the financial burden and environmental impact of the Olympic Games on their state, rejected a $5 million bond issue that would fund the event.
November 9, 1972 Olympic Papers Served
Olympic Papers Served
Shortly thereafter, Innsbruck, Austria, replaced Denver as the host of the 1976 Winter Olympic Games.
Want to learn more? See the following resources located in the DPL’s Western History and Genealogy Department:
The Denver Winter Olympics Controversy by Rick Reese
Fire on the Mountain: Growth and Conflict in Colorado Ski Country by Michael Wayne Childers (dissertation)
Clipping file (Olympic Games. Winter. 1976. Denver United States Candidate For The Xii Winter Olympic Games)
Newspaper articles (available on microfilm)
Denver Organizing Committee for the 1976 Winter Olympics Records, 1967-1976 (WH1143)
Citizens for Colorado’s Future Records, 1971-1972 (-M881)
Published plans and reports related to the 1976 Winter Olympic Games in Colorado
1976 Denver Olympic promotional film (from the Denver Chamber of Commerce Records, WH1216)
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Photo NewsResearch NewsDenver NewsPhoto Gallery:
Effort Gets $10,000 Boost
June 16, 1968
Group to Push Denver’s Olympic Bid
October 8, 1968
Denver Gets ‘Once-Over’
October 30, 1968
Olympic Pin Sale Day’ Slated
Full size imageMarch 20, 1970
Denver Mountains in Miniature
Full size imageApril 26, 1970
Denver Olympic Committee Leaves for Amsterdam
Full size imageMay 4, 1970
Robert J. Pringle and Mayor McNichols Welcomed at Airport
Full size imageMay 16, 1970
Model of Proposed Olympic Speed Skating Rink
Full size imageApril 2, 1971
Evergreen Community Meeting Regarding Site Selection
Full size imageJune 10, 1970
Colorado Politicians Meet With Denver Organizing Committee
Full size imageAugust 16, 1971
Proposed Site of Olympic Luge, Bobsled and Ski Jump Facilities
Full size imageFebruary 1, 1972
Discuss Olympic Speed Skating Arena
Full size imageJune 11, 1972
Citizens for Colorado’s Future Plans Campaign
Full size imageOctober 3, 1972
Torch of Controversy Lighted
Full size imageOctober 17, 1972
Olympic Papers Served
Full size imageNovember 9, 1972
1976 Winter Olympic Games – Colorado’s Promotion, Planning & Protest