Anchorage Puts Show on Road in an Attempt to Win Olympic Votes

A tap-dancing moose from Anchorage, Alaska, stole the show as the 12 cities vying for the 1992 Olympics presented exhibits they hope will sway the vote of the International Olympic Committee.

The candidates--six each for the Summer and Winter Games--presented panoramic displays, films and mountains of glossy literature to members of the 152-nation General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees at Seoul, South Korea. It’s the last important Olympic gathering before the decisive IOC vote scheduled for Lausanne, Switzerland, in October.

Anchorage faces an uphill battle against Berchtesgaden, Germany; Falun, Sweden; Lillehammer, Norway; Cortina, Italy, and Sofia, Bulgaria, for the 1992 Winter Olympics.

But the Alaskan city’s display on a sunlit rooftop of Seoul’s largest hotel drew crowds and applause. The furry-headed moose, actually music teacher Bonnie Rindo in costume, led a troupe of mimes disguised as skiers, skaters and lugers who moved like marionettes to the music.

Candidates for the Summer Olympics who made presentations are Barcelona; Paris; Amsterdam; Birmingham, England; Brisbane, Australia, and Belgrade, Yugoslavia.