00Enrolled SJR 7                                                                                                          
01 Expressing support for Vancouver, British Columbia's, bid for the 2010 Olympic Winter                                   
02 Games and the Paralympic Winter Games.                                                                                  
03                                        _______________                                                                  
04 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                             
05      WHEREAS Alaska and British Columbia, Canada, are neighbors who share close                                       
06 economic, cultural, historic, and athletic ties; and                                                                    
07      WHEREAS Alaska and British Columbia provide world-class facilities for outdoor                                   
08 and indoor winter recreation and sports; and                                                                            
09      WHEREAS Alaska and British Columbia enjoy a long history of friendly competition                                 
10 in all winter sports of the Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games; and                                   
11      WHEREAS a close relationship has developed between Alaska and British Columbia                                   
12 by working together on world-class civic events such as the 1986 World's Fair in Vancouver,                             
13 British Columbia, Canada, and by sharing the economic benefits of other world-class events;                             
14 and                                                                                                                     
15      WHEREAS the Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games provide                                         
16 worldwide exposure and promotion for the host city and the surrounding region; and                                      

01      WHEREAS the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games in Salt                                        
02 Lake City, Utah, generated over $1,000,000,000 in revenue and spending in the entire western                            
03 region of the United States; and                                                                                        
04      WHEREAS a successful bid for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic                                        
05 Winter Games is projected to create over 250,000 new jobs and generate up to                                            
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.