Reluctant Host: Denver and the 1976 Winter Olympic Games

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

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