Olympic association bosses throw weight behind Davos bid
The executive board of the Swiss Olympic Association (SOA) has thrown its weight behind a joint bid by Davos and Zurich to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. A final decision is due on September 5.
The board recommended the Davos-Zurich bid in the face of competition from a separate bid by Bern and Montreux.
The SOA’s general secretary, Martin Rutishauser, said the evaluation commission assessing the Swiss bids had decided that both were of a high enough standard to compete against other bids from abroad.
But a majority of the board’s members plumbed for the Davos-Zurich bid, saying its finances and planning were better. They said the bid had an optimum number of venues and that these will all within close proximity of each other.
Rutishauser said the Swiss bid had to be of the highest standard to match a challenge from Salzburg in Austria, which was mounting a bid of its own.
Delegates from Switzerland’s sporting associations are due to meet on September 5 for a special sports parliament to select the official candidate.
The International Olympic Committee will make its choice in 2003.
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