News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Senate Passes Bill to Support 2001 World Special Olympics Winter Games

For Immediate Release: February 27,1998 Contact: Mary Gore, Assistant to Senate President Mike Miller, at (907) 465-3803.

Juneau – The Senate Friday passed legislation by a vote of 16 to 2 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 eight million dollar fundraising goal.

Last summer, Anchorage was awarded the bid to host the Special Olympics Winter Games contingent on the State agreeing to be the financial guarantor of the Games. Realizing the benefits to Alaska and the State’s Special Olympic program from hosting the event, Senator Stevens, the Governor 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 and its Special Olympics athletes," said Senate President Mike Miller. "It will bring thousands of winter visitors to Alaska and will help us to create the infrastructure needed for Alaska to be considered a venue for future large scale winter events. Hosting the Games will also raise awareness about Alaska’s Special Olympics program."

Melissa Anderson, Executive Director and COO of the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games, said this will be the largest event Alaska has ever held.

"When we were awarded the Games, we became an official Olympic state," Anderson said. "This will be our opportunity to not only show the world how we can stage an event of this magnitude, but it will be a stepping stone for the International Winter Olympic Games should Alaska choose to go that route in the future."

Patti McGuire, chairperson of the 2001 Special Olympics Games Board, said the tremendous amount of local support seen by the Board is a very strong indication the fundraising committee will have no problems raising the eight million dollars.

"We have recently hired Ben Stevens, son of our Honorary Chair, Senator Ted Stevens, as the President and CEO of the organization," said McGuire. "We are quite confident that through his leadership and our local support, we will have no problem raising the necessary money."

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

The legislation will establish the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (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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