LEXINGTON — Half of the visiting United States Olympic Committee members evaluating Cincinnati's ability to host the 2012 Summer Games woke up Wednesday to horses, basketball and bluegrass hospitality.

        The other half woke up to Buckeyes.

        The influential USOC site team, which will recommend to its board of directors a single U.S. city to compete internationally for the 2012 Olympiad, moved away from the Queen City on Wednesday to get up-close views of Lexington and Columbus.

Nick Vehr, president of Cincinnati 2012, answers questions at Kentucky Horse Park on Wednesday (Mike Simons photo) | ZOOM |

        Six members of the site team started their day at the Kentucky Horse Park. They toured the rolling acres of bluegrass divided by white plank fences after eating a breakfast of fruit and waffles under a tent, just a gallop or two away from the Man O' War statue.

        In the center of the tent was a horse head ice sculpture, which began dripping in the heat shortly after the Olympic Committee guests arrived.

        John Nicholson, executive director of the facility, told the USOC team that the Kentucky Horse Park is unlike any other in the world.

        “We are ready every year, all the time, to host an Olympic-quality event,” Mr. Nicholson said. “We would love to extend our hospitality and offer something the world can be proud of.”

        The USOC members ate under a tent at five small tables. Site team chairman Charlie Moore sat at a table with Mr. Nicholson and Cincinnati 2012 President Nick Vehr.

        “We're very excited to be part of Cincinnati's bid,” Mr. Nicholson said. “There is no price you could put on the value of hosting an Olympic event.”

        The USOC team then paid a visit to Rupp Arena, which would host early rounds of basketball, on the University of Kentucky campus. The arena is undergoing a $48 million renovation.

        Bill Owen, chief executive of the Lexington Center Corp., showed off drawings of what the facility will look like after construction — more concession stands, more restrooms, more seats and a new outer skin.

        The arena's new floor arrived about an hour before the site team, he said.

        “This building is exciting for us to walk into, and it's exciting because we know it would be an unbelievable Olympic venue,” said Kathy DeVoer, UK's senior associate athletic director.

        From there, it was on to Commonwealth Stadium after a slow drive around campus.

        “Very impressive,” Mr. Moore said upon entering the stadium.

        The other half of the site team took an early Comair flight to Columbus. The idea was to demonstrate the regional travel options for fans and Olympic officials. They toured the Value City Arena and Nationwide Arena and drove through the Ohio State University campus.

        The second half of the day was spent in a closed-door meeting, where Cincinnati 2012 officials went over their Olympic budget, government support, transportation plan and strategies for competing against international cities to host the Games.

        USOC officials will make their first public comments on their visit at an 11 a.m. press conference today.
       

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