WHITEHORSE — While Toronto agonizes over the decision on hosting the world’s leading international sporting event, the northern city of Whitehorse has made its official bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
“I’m so happy to announce this for our city,” said Mayor Dan Curtis whose town of less than 28,000 people has placed a formal bid with the International Olympic Committee. “What we lack in facilities, personnel and a long summer, we make up for in spirit.”
Yukon’s capital already has a head start with existing facilities from the 2007 Canada Winter Games, but the subarctic city founded by gold stampeders will have to construct at least three dozen superstructures for summer events.
“We’re already set for the softball and baseball events,” added Mayor Curtis referring to the dozens of ball diamonds his city has already built. “But we’ll have to get a little creative to convince the IOC that we’re the best city to host.”
Several residents have been very supportive of the city’s ambitious quest to host the Games, but are skeptical about whether anything new needs to be built.
“As someone who was born and raised here, this makes me very proud,” said Mary Middleburg. “But I’m pretty sure there’s enough room in the Takhini arena to host the opening ceremonies and F.H. Collins High School can host the track and field events since they already have a track.”
According to sources, the official mascot for the Whitehorse 2024 Olympics will either be white horse or a scruffy, semi-inebriated miner panning for gold.
