KRTV

Posted: Feb 26, 2010 3:14 PM
Updated: Feb 26, 2010 3:16 PM

Moguls at Moonlight? Curling at Bogert? Winter Olympics in Bozeman?

With the 2010 Winter Olympics wrapping up in Vancouver, chatter has been swirling on the Internet about the possibility of bringing the Olympic Winter Games to Bozeman in 2022.

A story on the Web site www.gamesbids.com claims preparations are underway to bring the 2022 Olympic Winter Games to Bozeman. The effort appears to be spearheaded by Jon Greenspon who is listed in the article as "interim bid chair" and is the only person quoted in the www.gamesbids.com article.

The story mentions former Montana Governor Judy Martz, Montana Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger and Olympic speed skater Eric Heiden as people who are working with Greenspon to bring the 2022 Winter Olympic Games to Bozeman.

But Martz, who is mentioned in the article as a member of Greenspon's "preliminary team," has not heard anything about the proposal to bring the 2022 Olympics to Bozeman, nor has she ever spoken with Greenspon.

"He has never talked to me. I have never talked to him," Martz said in a telephone interview Friday.  "I have no idea who he is."

Voice messages left for Greenspon and an email sent to him by Montana's News Station have not been answered.

Local ski resorts, including Moonlight Basin, Bridger Bowl and Big Sky, are mentioned by Greenspon in the www.gamesbids.com story as possible venues; however, public relations representatives that were contacted have not heard anything about bringing Olympic events to their resorts.

"Nobody has contacted us regarding this," said Greg pack, public relations manager at Moonlight Basin.

Bridger Bowl is specifically mentioned in the article, which says, "Greenspon explained that since the primary ski venue Bridger Bowl is publicly owned by the county, it will be less expensive to use at Games time."

"We're not publicly owned by the county. We're a private non-profit," Bridger Bowl marketing director Doug Wales pointed out.

Wales also said he has not been contacted by anyone about hosting the Winter Olympics in 2022. He also thinks the proposition presents many questions.

"I mean, I think we certainly have great snow and great mountains around here but...there's just so much infrastructure that goes into that. It seems like it would be many years down the road before Bozeman would be prepared for something like this," he said.

"It's a fun thought," Wales added.

Other than the story on www.gamesbids.com, no one that Montana's News Station contacted could confirm that Bozeman is being considered for the 2022 Olympics. But that isn't stopping people from getting excited about the possibility.

The story has lit up Twitter and inspired the creation of a Facebook group page called "Bozeman, MT for 2022 Winter Olympics!" The Facebook page has already drawn more than 1,400 members as of Friday, February 26.

"It's the perfect locale!!!" one person wrote on the Facebook group page.

"Go MT!" wrote another.

The Facebook group page is also drawing questions from members.

"Fun theory to kick around, but if this is actually serious: Where are we going to put the 50,000-seat stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, and the three ice arenas each holding about 20,000 people (two hockey venues, plus one for figure skating), and what will they be used for after the Games?" one person wrote.

"I would think the challenge would be total hotel rooms that the city of Bozeman has or would have available. Facilities can be built for the events, but you need to consider hotel rooms.. the media alone takes thousands! What is your total room count in Bozeman?" another wrote.

The story titled "Preparations Are Underway for a 2022 Olympic Winter Games Bid in Montana, USA" was published on www.gamesbids.com on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009.

"The American city of Bozeman, Montana is preparing a bid for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games according to interim bid chair Jon Greenspon who says he and others conceived the bid earlier this year. He spoke to GamesBids.com by telephone," according to the story on www.gamesbids.com.

Click here to read the full article on www.gamesbids.com.

Montana's News Station is attempting to contact someone at www.gamesbids.com. A voice message has also been left at Bohlinger's office seeking comment. We will continue to update this story as we receive more information.