Editorial

Funding the tour

From The Kansas City Star: Sports fans across the nation and in 111 other countries watched as bicycle racers zipped by the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, through the Ozarks and past Kansas City's Liberty Memorial during the just-ended Tour of Missouri. As officials at the Missouri Department of Tourism note, the state can't buy that kind of exposure. ...

It cost Missouri only $1.5 million to be a partner in the race. Still, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's administration considered axing race funds in this very tight budget year. The opposition smelled of politics with Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder as a big backer. Nixon, a Democrat, eventually relented and supported the race. ...

The race is a great asset to the state. Not only do thousands of Missourians turn out to watch, race organizers trot out the economic impact: almost $30 million from spectators from 32 states and 21 countries in 2008 (this year's numbers aren't yet known).

But it's not just the money that comes into the state during the race that matters. The race, only three years old, is already attracting global attention and is considered one of the best races outside Europe, where the sport is much more popular. ...

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