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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 12:31 p.m., Friday, March 28, 2008

Olympics: Colo. Springs offers $53M to keep USOC headquarters

Associated Press

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Colorado Springs has proposed a $53 million deal aimed at keeping the U.S. Olympic Committee headquarters in the city.

The proposal, first reported Friday by The Gazette newspaper in Colorado Springs, would give the USOC a new headquarters building, renovations to an existing building and 158 new housing units for athletes at the Olympic Training Center.

The City Council scheduled a special meeting for Monday to formalize the agreement.

The USOC board discussed the location of the administrative headquarters and the future of the training center during a conference call Thursday, USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel said. The board didn't formally accept a proposal "nor was it asked to do so," Seibel said.

The USOC, a fixture in Colorado Springs for nearly three decades, has been considering various proposals to relocate from its aging, cramped facilities.

The proposal to keep the USOC where it is includes $23 million in private contributions through Landco Equity Partners and $27 million in low-interest financing arranged by the city.

Mayor Lionel Rivera said he will also lead a fundraising campaign.