Norway's Tromsoe gains support for 2018 bid

The Arctic city of Tromsoe won the crucial backing of the Norwegian Olympic Committee on Friday in its proposed bid for the 2018 Winter Games.

OSLO, Norway — The Arctic city of Tromsoe won the crucial backing of the Norwegian Olympic Committee on Friday in its proposed bid for the 2018 Winter Games.
    Tromsoe, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, was picked ahead of the central Norwegian city of Trondheim and the capital Oslo, which hosted the 1952 Winter Games.
    Despite its far north location, Tromsoe is kept relatively warm by the heat of Gulf Stream waters, and is surrounded by spectacular fjords and snowy mountains. If picked, Tromsoe would be the first Arctic city to host an Olympics.
    However, any Norwegian bid requires parliament's approval of required guarantees for the costs, now projected at more than 15 billion kroner ($2.5 billion US).
    Minister of Culture Trond Giske, whose portfolio includes sports, said he will consider the proposal, but that backing from the government and parliament cannot be presumed.
    The Norwegian town of Lillehammer hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics.
    The IOC won't pick the 2018 host city until 2011. The U.S. Oympic Committee is expected to put forth a candidate to host the 2018 Games as well. Officials in Denver, Colorado, have begun to generate interest for a possible run at garnering the U.S. bid.