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Western Slope Resident Helps Bring Olympics to Life

by KREX News Room
by Amanda Brandeis

Story Created: Aug 12, 2012 at 5:56 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 12, 2012 at 6:37 PM MDT

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. The 2012 Olympics have come to an end, but not without leaving their mark on London.

Bob Campbell, executive director for the Glenwood Springs based company Whitewater Parks International, said, “Olympics is a funny creature. You know, it’s a lot of effort, a lot of money. A lot of concern for what’s going to happen after investing all this money.”

After these Olympics, London’s been left with a venue that can transport people to the white waters of Colorado.

“You know we’re a state that’s known, really world-wide for our opportunities for recreation and adventure,” said Campbell.

London organizers turned to Whitewater Parks International to bring Colorado quality whitewater to the Olympic games.

“Putting it inside of an Olympic venue so those competing athletes can have the challenges of the best whitewater that they might find anywhere in the world,” said Campbell.

After creating successful venues for both the Athens and Beijing games, Campbell and his team set even higher standards for London.

“It was almost more important to insure that there was a facility constructed that was going to service the community, the region and the country in ways that could benefit a wide range of constituents," said Campbell.

By learning from past mistakes and lessons along the way, they say this time around they nailed it.

“The caliber of the whitewater, the consistency of it for each of the racers. We got a lot of great feedback from both athletes and coaches how this was the best yet,” said Campbell.

Thanks to Campbell’s venue, locals and visitors to London can get a glimpse of the adventure that we have here in our backyard.

The facility has been open to the public for over a year now, already providing a successful legacy just like the designers intended.

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