The ”’Denver Winter Olympics referendum”’ was held in November 1972 following the [[Bids for the 1976 Winter Olympics|awarding to Denver of the 1976 Winter Olympics]].<ref name=wooutic>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aNFSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MH8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1930%2C1952173 |work=Deseret News |location=(Salt Lake City, Utah) |agency=UPI |title=Winter Olympics out in Colorado |date=November 8, 1972 |page=A4}}</ref><ref name=rejpriv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KgpWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UuEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1893%2C2046827 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Voters reject ‘privilege’ |date=November 8, 1972 |page=1C}}</ref>
The ”’Denver Winter Olympics referendum”’ was held in November 1972 following the [[Bids for the 1976 Winter Olympics|awarding to Denver of the 1976 Winter Olympics]].<ref name=wooutic>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aNFSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MH8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1930%2C1952173 |work=Deseret News |location=(Salt Lake City, Utah) |agency=UPI |title=Winter Olympics out in Colorado |date=November 8, 1972 |page=A4}}</ref><ref name=rejpriv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KgpWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UuEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1893%2C2046827 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Voters reject ‘privilege’ |date=November 8, 1972 |page=1C}}</ref>
The selection process for the [[1976 Winter Olympics]] consisted of four bids, and saw [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], United States, selected ahead of [[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]], Switzerland; [[Tampere]], Finland; and [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], Canada. The selection was made at the 70th IOC Session in [[Amsterdam]] on 12 May 1970.<ref name=votes>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesbids.com/english/archives/past.shtml |title=Past Olympic host city election results |publisher=[[GamesBids]] |accessdate=17 March 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124022022/http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/past.html |archivedate=24 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a 1972 referendum, voters in [[Colorado]] rejected funding for the Olympics, the only time a city awarded the Olympics rejected them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/millennium/1012stone.shtml |title=Colorado only state ever to turn down Olympics |date=12 October 1999 |last=Sanko |first=John |work=[[Rocky Mountain News]] |accessdate=16 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601181029/http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/millennium/1012stone.shtml |archivedate=1 June 2009 }}</ref> Denver officially withdrew on 15 November, and Sion, the runner-up, also declined declined to host the Olympics. The IOC then offered the Olympics to [[Whistler, British Columbia]], Canada, but they too declined owing to a [[1972 British Columbia general election|change of government]] following elections. Whistler went on to be associated with neighbouring [[Vancouver, British Columbia|Vancouver]]’s successful bid for the [[2010 Winter Olympics]].
The selection process for the [[1976 Winter Olympics]] consisted of four bids, and saw [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], United States, selected ahead of [[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]], Switzerland; [[Tampere]], Finland; and [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], Canada. The selection was made at the 70th IOC Session in [[Amsterdam]] on 12 May 1970.<ref name=votes>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesbids.com/english/archives/past.shtml |title=Past Olympic host city election results |publisher=[[GamesBids]] |accessdate=17 March 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124022022/http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/past.html |archivedate=24 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a 1972 referendum, voters in [[Colorado]] rejected funding for the Olympics, the only time a city awarded the Olympics rejected them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/millennium/1012stone.shtml |title=Colorado only state ever to turn down Olympics |date=12 October 1999 |last=Sanko |first=John |work=[[Rocky Mountain News]] |accessdate=16 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601181029/http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/millennium/1012stone.shtml |archivedate=1 June 2009 }}</ref> Denver officially withdrew on 15 November, and Sion, the runner-up, also declined to host the Olympics. The IOC then offered the Olympics to [[Whistler, British Columbia]], Canada, but they too declined owing to a [[1972 British Columbia general election|change of government]] following elections. Whistler went on to be associated with neighbouring [[Vancouver, British Columbia|Vancouver]]’s successful bid for the [[2010 Winter Olympics]].
[[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]], offered to host, then pulled its bid and was replaced by [[Lake Placid, New York]].<ref name=slwdrwl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KrBfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3zIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4345%2C6227411 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Salt Lake withdrawal may not leave U.S. out |date=January 31, 1973 |page=10}}</ref><ref name=ssrwel>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FqxfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tTIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3594%2C502776 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Lake Placid assured of welcome |date=February 2, 1973 |page=22}}</ref> Still reeling from the Denver rejection, the IOC declined and on 5 February 1973, selected [[Innsbruck]], Austria, which had hosted nine years earlier in [[1964 Winter Olympics|1964]]. In autumn 1974, Lake Placid was [[1980 Winter Olympics#Context|awarded]] the [[1980 Winter Olympics]], its [[1932 Winter Olympics|second]]; Salt Lake hosted in [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002]] and will again in [[2034 Winter Olympics|2034]]. To date, Colorado has yet to host an Olympics.
[[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]], offered to host, then pulled its bid and was replaced by [[Lake Placid, New York]].<ref name=slwdrwl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KrBfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3zIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4345%2C6227411 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Salt Lake withdrawal may not leave U.S. out |date=January 31, 1973 |page=10}}</ref><ref name=ssrwel>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FqxfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tTIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3594%2C502776 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Lake Placid assured of welcome |date=February 2, 1973 |page=22}}</ref> Still reeling from the Denver rejection, the IOC declined and on 5 February 1973, selected [[Innsbruck]], Austria, which had hosted nine years earlier in [[1964 Winter Olympics|1964]]. In autumn 1974, Lake Placid was [[1980 Winter Olympics#Context|awarded]] the [[1980 Winter Olympics]], its [[1932 Winter Olympics|second]]; Salt Lake hosted in [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002]] and will again in [[2034 Winter Olympics|2034]]. To date, Colorado has yet to host an Olympics.
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The Denver Winter Olympics referendum was held in November 1972 following the awarding to Denver of the 1976 Winter Olympics.[1][2]
The selection process for the 1976 Winter Olympics consisted of four bids, and saw Denver, Colorado, United States, selected ahead of Sion, Switzerland; Tampere, Finland; and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The selection was made at the 70th IOC Session in Amsterdam on 12 May 1970.[3] In a 1972 referendum, voters in Colorado rejected funding for the Olympics, the only time a city awarded the Olympics rejected them.[4] Denver officially withdrew on 15 November, and Sion, the runner-up, also declined to host the Olympics. The IOC then offered the Olympics to Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, but they too declined owing to a change of government following elections. Whistler went on to be associated with neighbouring Vancouver‘s successful bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Salt Lake City, Utah, offered to host, then pulled its bid and was replaced by Lake Placid, New York.[5][6] Still reeling from the Denver rejection, the IOC declined and on 5 February 1973, selected Innsbruck, Austria, which had hosted nine years earlier in 1964. In autumn 1974, Lake Placid was awarded the 1980 Winter Olympics, its second; Salt Lake hosted in 2002 and will again in 2034. To date, Colorado has yet to host an Olympics.
The amendment appeared on the ballot as:[7]
An Act to Amend Articles X and XI of the State Constitution to prohibit the State from levying taxes and appropriating or loaning funds for the purpose of aiding or furthering the 1976 Winter Olympic Games.
Richard Lamm was an obscure state legislator from Denver when he led the campaign; after the referendum he was elected to three terms as governor, serving from 1975 to 1987.[8]
Within three months, Innsbruck, Austria was selected as the replacement city, hosting the Winter Olympics for the second time, after 1964.[9][10]
- Berg, Adam (2023). The Olympics that Never Happened: Denver ’76 and the Politics of Growth. Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN 9781477326459.
