00             HOUSE CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 7(EDT)                                                            
01 Expressing support for Vancouver, British Columbia's, bid for the 2010 Olympic                                          
02 Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games.                                                                           
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04       WHEREAS Alaska and British Columbia, Canada, are neighbors who share close                                      
05 economic, cultural, historic, and athletic ties; and                                                                    
06       WHEREAS Alaska and British Columbia provide world-class facilities for outdoor                                  
07 and indoor winter recreation and sports; and                                                                            
08       WHEREAS Alaska and British Columbia enjoy a long history of friendly competition                                
09 in all winter sports of the Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games; and                                   
10       WHEREAS a close relationship has developed between Alaska and British Columbia                                  
11 by working together on world-class civic events such as the 1986 World's Fair in Vancouver,                             
12 British Columbia, Canada, and by sharing the economic benefits of other world-class events;                             
13 and                                                                                                                     
14       WHEREAS the Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games provide                                        
15 worldwide exposure and promotion for the host city and the surrounding region; and                                      
16       WHEREAS the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games in Salt                                       

01 Lake City, Utah, generated over $1,000,000,000 in revenue and spending in the entire western                            
02 region of the United States; and                                                                                        
03       WHEREAS a successful bid for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic                                       
04 Winter Games is projected to create over 250,000 new jobs and generate up to                                            
05 $10,000,000,000 in economic activity for British Columbia and increase its media attention;                             
06 and                                                                                                                     
07       WHEREAS, if Vancouver's bid is successful, the entire economy, particularly the                                 
08 tourism industry, emerging industries, and small businesses of the Pacific Northwest area of                            
09 the United States and Canada will benefit from an estimated $6,000,000,000 of worldwide                                 
10 media attention; and                                                                                                    
11       WHEREAS benefits from hosting the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic                                      
12 Winter Games would continue to accrue with increased tourism even 10 years after the                                    
13 games;                                                                                                                  
14       BE IT RESOLVED that, in the spirit of friendship, the Alaska State Legislature fully                            
15 supports Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in its effort to win the right to host the 2010                           
16 Olympic Winter Games and Winter Paralympic Games.                                                                       
17       COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Jean Chretien, Prime                                   
18 Minister of Canada; the Honorable Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, Canada;                                 
19 the Honorable Larry W. Campbell, Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia; Mr. Jacques                                      
20 Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee; Mr. Lloyd D. Ward, Chief                                       
21 Executive Officer and Secretary General of the United States Olympic Committee; Mr. John                                
22 Furlong, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation; the                               
23 Honorable Ted Stevens, President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate and member of the Alaska                                
24 Delegation in Congress; and to the Honorable Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator, and the                                      
25 Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.