Presently, the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, and nearby resort community of Whistler are endeavoring to host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Competing cities are Pyeongchang, Korea, and Salzburg, Austria. In July, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make its decision and award the bid to one of the three cities.

If Vancouver is successful, Alaska is certain to see economic benefits. In particular, Alaska stands to benefit in the tourism and winter recreation sectors due to overall worldwide exposure of the Pacific Northwest region. As an example, the entire Western region of the mainland U.S. received an estimated $1 billion economic boost from the 2000 winter games in Salt Lake City.

Alaska and British Columbia share close economic, government, sporting, cultural and family ties along a lengthy common border. The primary goal of this resolution is to strengthen these ties through this formal resolution of support.

Passage of this resolution will mean more than simple neighborly expression of support because, traditionally, the IOC gives weight to such resolutions when making its bid determination.

It is likely Alaskan small business owners - from bed and breakfast establishments to microbreweries to fish processors -- will realize the primary economic benefit of a successful 2010 bid by Vancouver and Whistler B.C.

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