Gov. Christine Gregoire annouces state bid to host 2009 World Figure Skating Championships

For Immediate Release: October 26, 2005

SPOKANE - Oct. 26 - Governor Gregoire announced today her support in the quest to land the bid to host the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships for Washington State. In order to win the bid, the entire state of Washington will be called upon to play host.

The World Figure Skating Championships is the most prestigious competition outside of the Winter Olympics for the Olympic sport of Figure Skating, attracting more than 200 athletes from over 40 nations. The objective now is to garner the necessary support required to submit a successful bid to host the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships. If the state of Washington is selected, events would take place in March of 2009 at the Spokane Arena and the Spokane Convention Center.

"Spokane has built a strong reputation for its appreciation of sporting events and its ability to generate tourism," said Gov. Gregoire. "Washington State is poised to play a major role in the 2010 Olympic Games as a partner in tourism, lodging, and overall support for our friends in Vancouver, British Columbia, We have an opportunity to draw tens of millions of dollars to our economy and to place our state firmly on the world stage as a major sporting venue."

If the State of Washington is selected to host the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships, fans that have supported Spokane by purchasing tickets to the 2007 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be given priority. Companies that have supported the U.S. Championships in Spokane as Major Local Sponsors also will be given the first opportunity for involvement.

Cities compete to host the World Figure Skating Championships in much the same way that cities compete to host the Olympic Games. The International Skating Union, the International governing body for the Olympic sport of Figure Skating selects the site for each year�s World Championships. Each country that chooses to bid on the World Championships selects the site that is submitted to the I.S.U. as their candidate city. As a result of the record attendance achieved at Smart Ones Skate America held in Spokane in October 2002, and the record ticket sales thus far for the 2007 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Spokane is a viable candidate to host the World Championships. The next few months will be crucial to Spokane submitting a successful bid, as local organizers work with the entire community to create the best bid.

The International Skating Union�s deadline for countries to submit their bid for the 2009 Worlds is April 15, 2006. At the I.S.U. Council Meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland earlier this month, (October 14-16, 2005) the International Skating Union announced its selection of Gothenburg, Sweden for the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships which will be held March 17 - 23, 2008. The I.S.U. will make its selection of the 2009 site in 2006.

The World Championships were last held in the Pacific Northwest in 2001 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Figures announced by Vancouver Tourism indicate that the overall economic impact of the 2001 World Figure Skating Championships to British Columbia was $81.6 million with $63.7 million in the Greater Vancouver area. 2001 was the last World Championships held prior to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The 2009 World Championships will be the last World Championships held prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Figure skating is consistently the highest rated Olympic Winter Sport on television. The 2009 World Figure Skating Championships will include a total of 17 hours of national coverage produced by ABC Sports on ESPN and ESPN2. In addition to the broadcasts on ESPN and ESPN2, the 2009 World Championships will be broadcast in numerous other nations including Canada (CTV), Japan (TBS), China (CCTV), Europe (EBU), Korea (SBS), and ESPN International.

�I believe that we can host an outstanding World Championships,� said Toby Steward, President of Star USA. �After winning the bid to host the 2007 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships over great communities like Boston, many have learned not to bet against Spokane. We are committed to doing our best to deliver the 2009 World Championships of Figure Skating to the great state of Washington.�

Spokane is on pace to set a new attendance record for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 2007. Continued strong ticket sales for the 2007 Championships will provide more evidence that the State of Washington will strongly support the World Championships. Fans that are interested in purchasing their tickets to help Spokane reach the 2007 attendance record are encouraged to purchase tickets early. Final seat locations will be assigned based on the date the order was received.

The 2007 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships All-Event Ticket Package and the Exhibition of Champions tickets are on sale now. The All-Event Ticket Package is a book of tickets, one for every session of the competition, and includes a minimum of 13 individual tickets. The cost is $495 per package. The Exhibition of Champions is the finale to the Championships where all of the medalists celebrate with a great family show. Tickets for the Exhibition of Champions are priced at $60. Tickets can be purchased by calling 866-USA-2007 or logging on to Spokane2007.com.