POCATELLO -- Idaho economic officials anticipate businesses in the state could make $150 million when the 2002 Winter Olympic Games take place in Salt Lake City.
"The bulk of that will be in southeast Idaho," said Georgia Smith, information officer for the Idaho Commerce Department. "If you look at the amount of services and different needs the Olympics are going to generate, it's a tremendous opportunity for Idaho."And Carl Wilgus, the Commerce Department's administrator of tourism development, said southeast Idaho's proximity to Salt Lake City gives it a strong advantage.
"That whole area will be ground zero to the Olympics," he said.
Olympic organizers expect more than 200,000 people a day to visit the Wasatch Front during the Games, which will run Feb. 8-24. An additional 3 billion people around the world will watch on television.
Businesses that stand to benefit directly include ski and winter resort areas, hotels, restaurants, gas stations and retail stores. Other businesses that could benefit include security, transportation and other services-related sectors that would handle overflow business in Salt Lake City.
In addition to targeting corporate leaders by offering travel packages, the Idaho Travel Council hopes to turn cities like Pocatello into base camps that Olympic ticket-holders can use to commute to the Games.