Deseret News Archives - June 17, 1995
Salt Lake City's dream-come-true was a nightmare for the three other cities bidding for the 2002 Winter Games.
The capital of French-speaking Canada had waged an aggressive campaign targeted at Salt Lake City. But it managed to attract only seven of the 92 International Olympic Committee votes.
"In my worst nightmare, we wouldn't have (believed) it would be so low," Quebec 2002 Vice resident Jean Grenier said. "We were bragging a bit, but we thought we had a serious chance."
Quebec campaigned against only Salt Lake City, believing the Winter Games would be awarded to a North American city after being held twice in Europe and once in Asia.
Now, with the Winter Games coming to Salt Lake City for 2002, Quebec does not have a realistic chance to woo the Olympics back to North America until 2010.
Sion, Switzerland, however, fared surprisingly well in voting, tying three-time bidder Ostersund, Sweden, with 14 votes after only 1 1/2 years of campaigning.
"Certainly, this gives us an incentive to make a new project and pick it up in four years. We were encouraged by how we were received by the IOC," Claudio Caratsch, the Swiss ambassador to Hungary, said.
After so many attempts, Ostersund bid officials were less enthusiastic about another bid. "Sad, but hopeful for the next time," is how bid official Bo Victor described his feelings.
But he said that doesn't mean there'll be another bid for Ostersund. "I haven't decided yet," Victor said. Sweden has never held a Winter Games, but Stockholm is expected to bid for the 2004 Summer Games.
