Alaska State Legislature
News From The Senate and House Majorities

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary, (907) 465-4582
Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary, (907) 465-3804
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality Line: 1-800-478-6540

Legislation Supports 2001 World Special Olympics Winter Games in Anchorage

For Immediate Release: January 26, 1998 Contact: Mary Gore, Assistant to Senate President Mike Miller, at 465-3803

Juneau -- Legislative Leaders introduced legislation (Senate Bill 261 and House Bill 357) Monday that would obligate the State of Alaska to help cover costs generated by the 2001 World Special Olympics Winter Games in Anchorage should the Special Olympics organizing committee fall short of its goal.

Anchorage was awarded the bid to host the Special Olympics Winter Games this summer contingent on the State agreeing to be the financial guarantor of the Games. Realizing the benefits from hosting the event to Alaska and the State’s Special Olympic program, Senator Stevens, Governor Knowles and private industry joined Senate President Mike Miller and House Speaker Gail Phillips in a confirmation that the State will back the Games.

"Hosting the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Anchorage is a tremendous opportunity for Alaska," said House Speaker Gail Phillips. "It could bring as many as 6,000 winter visitors to Alaska, improve and enhance many of Alaska’s existing winter sports facilities and programs, and bring Anchorage international winter attention making it a better contender as a future Olympic city ."

Senate President Mike Miller noted that the real benefit goes to our Special Olympics athletes who will be given a once in a lifetime experience.

"By hosting the Games, our athletes will have the opportunity to participate in a worldwide competition right here at home," said Miller. "Hosting the Games will raise awareness about Special Olympics. It will help to expand and strengthen Alaska’s Special Olympics program and its ability to reach out to Alaska’s more rural areas and indigenous people."

Miller said the committee has raised almost three million dollars in less than seven months. With three years left to raise funds, lawmakers are confident private industry individuals will generate more than what is needed to host a successful event.

The legislation will establish AIDEA as the controlling agency to oversee the organizing committee’s fundraising activities. The committee will be required to report to the Legislature on January 2 of each year the total funds raised to date. In the event that the money is not raised, the Legislature would be "morally obligated" to cover any costs, up to four million dollars.

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