1972 Denver Winter Olympics referendum Innsbruck, Austria would be selected as the replacement city, hosting the Winter Olympics for the second time. 1972 Denver Winter Olympics referendum The Denver Winter Olympics Referendum was held in 1972 following the awarding to Denver of the 1976 Winter Olympics. However, a 300% rise in costs and worries about environmental impact led to Colorado voters' rejection on November 7, 1972, by a 3 to 2 margin, of a $5 million bond issue to finance the games with public funds. It was the only time a city awarded the Games rejected them. Richard Lamm was an obscure state legislator when
Australia at the 2002 Winter Olympics Australia with its second gold medal for the games. Steven Bradbury won Australia's and the Southern Hemisphere's first Winter Olympics gold medal in the 1000 metres event. Richard Goerlitz also attended these games, but did not compete. Australia at the 2002 Winter Olympics Australia competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, winning its first two gold medals in the Winter Games. It was the nation's best performance at the Winter Games prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Australia's first ever Winter Olympic gold, also the first such medal won by a competitor