What Is the Only US State to Have Turned Down the Olympics?

Colorado was the only state to turn down the Olympics because they won an official International Olympic Committee bid. The Winter Olympics were intended to take part in Denver in 1976. 62% of people elected to not host the Olympics due to the pollution, financial impact, and population.

Denver Won but Rejected the 1976 Winter Olympics

 In 1970, The International Olympic Committee opted for Denver over other participants including Tampere- Finland, Sion-Switzerland, and Vancouver-Canada to host the 1976 Winter Olympics. The public opposed the decision as the project could cost more that may lead the state to face the financial crisis and environmental impacts because of the Olympics. During Election Day in 1972, President Richard Nixon faced re-election and the Colorado voters refused a $5 million state bond to arrange games. After a week, Denver stepped down to host the Olympics. Hence the International Olympic Committee (IOC) forced to shift the location to Innsbruck, Austria, which hosted the 1964 Winter Olympics.

Denver and the Winter Olympics

• Colorado Governor John A.Love spoke about Colorado Springs in which he described serving as host for the Olympics in 1963.
• In the following year of the Winter Olympics, Colorado formally announced its plan to bid for the 1976 Winter Olympics and Governor John formed the Colorado Olympic Committee to learn the possibility.
• The Colorado Advisory Commission was created to encourage the efforts of the Commission in 1966.
• The Denver Organizing Committee(DOC) was formed for the 1976 Winter Olympics in 1967. Denver was selected by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). Colorado became an official participant in the 1976 Winter Olympics bid. Lake Placid, New York, Utah, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Washington were other candidates.
• Denver Organizing Committee(DOC) diplomats took part in the Winter Olympic Games in Grenoble, France, and also attended the Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico in 1968.
• In the same year, the official Colorado Olympic logo was created.
• The International Olympic Committee(IOC) selected Denver as the host for the XII Winter Olympic Games(1976.) on May 12, 1970. By defeating countries like Switzerland(Sion), Finland(Tampere), and Canada(Vancouver), Denver won the bid.
• Thirty-seven countries took part in the 1976 Winter Olympics. The Winter Olympic Games is considered a major international multi-sport event organized once every four years, games played on ice and snow.