While German athletes were busy dominating the medals count during the Olympics, officials and others were conducting behinds-the-scene business on the U campus.
The German National Olympic Committee rented the Alumni House from Feb. 1 to Feb. 24. Sponsors of the German NOC, primarily Adidas and two German companies, paid the Alumni Association $100,000 for the Olympic rental period.
Close to the Olympic Village, the German NOC used the Alumni House as a meeting point for athletes, journalists, officials and sponsors. The house offered a business lounge, sports bar, Internet cafe, athlete lounge and a room for press conferences, according to Hans Bierkel, managing director of German Sports Marketing.
“We enjoyed the time,” Bierkel said. “Everything that I heard from the athletes was positive.”
Only some of the German delegation actually used the German House, Bierkel said. Skeleton athlete Steffi Hanzlik visited the German house Friday evening for the first time to plan her flight home and attend a going-away party.
The German delegation was split as some athletes stayed in the Olympic Village but others, like ski jumpers and bobsledders, stayed in or near Park City, close to their venues. The German NOC had a second house in Park City for them.
While the Germans were there, the Alumni Association held onto its office suite, so business continued to some degree.
“They’ve been terrific guests,” said John Ashton, Alumni Association executive director. “They not only didn’t damage the house but they invited us to some of their events. [We’ve] had a delightful time.”
On March 7, the Canadian Paralympic team will rent out two of the rooms on the third floor. One of the Alumni Association’s busiest times of the year, Founders Days, occurs during the Paralympics, but the loss of the two rooms won’t hinder daily operations.
“We’ll keep right on functioning,” Ashton said.