H-1602.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1947

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives D. Schmidt, Thompson, Huff, Hatfield, Wensman and Reams

Read first time 02/14/97.  Referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.

Studying the feasibility of hosting the Olympic Games.

    AN ACT Relating to studying the feasibility of hosting the 2004 or 2008 summer Olympic Games; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  Hosting a variety of world-class expositions and sporting events has substantially contributed to the growth and economic vitality of the state, including the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exhibition held in Seattle in 1909, Century 21 Exposition held in Seattle in 1962, Expo-74 held in Spokane in 1974, and the Goodwill Games held in the greater Puget Sound area in 1990.

    It is the intent of the legislature that the feasibility of hosting the 2004 or 2008 summer Olympic Games be studied and to receive public input on the proposal.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  Thirty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development to contract with a nonprofit corporation to study the feasibility of hosting the 2004 or 2008 summer Olympic Games, receive public input on this proposal by holding community meetings on this proposal throughout the state, and present its findings to the legislature on or before January 10, 1998.

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