I may be the only sane person to say this, but Salt Lake City knows how to throw a party of world-sized proportions!
With the end of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the world now knows what Salt Lake City is all about. We wanted to leave a good taste in the mouths of those who came to see the Games. It is safe to say, for the most part, we did it.
Yet this isn’t the first time Salt Lake has been in the spotlight and been successful. In 1993, the NBA All-Star Game came to town, and, after an overtime game, gave hometown heroes John Stockton and Karl Malone the co-MVPs, the NBA superstars left saying good things about our capital city.
In both 1997 and 1998, the NBA Finals made a stop in the Wasatch Front. Although the Jazz lost both series to the Chicago Bulls, sports writers couldn’t say enough good things about the Utah fans. One even commented that the Chicago Bulls’ United Center sounded like a “librarians convention” compared to the Delta Center.
But none of these events compared to the magnitude of the Olympics. It was our time to shine and we shined like the sun reflecting off a bald man’s head. Athletes and guests voiced their opinions in a positive manner.
Jacques Rogge, International Olympic Committee president, said Salt Lake delivered “superb Games.” With all due respect, I think that’s an understatement.
It did not come without cost. Thousands of hours and millions of dollars went to make these Games as perfect as possible. Volunteers came from all over to give of their time to make the Games move more smoothly. Security personnel and medical teams were working as much overtime as law probably allowed. But their extra time and effort paid off.
Our own school took an unprecedented three weeks off to make room for the athletes and events. Ironic that very few students complained about the extended spring break.
The Utah Jazz and Grizzlies were forced to take very long road trips to clear the E Center and Delta Center. The Jazz, however, might wish for something to get them out for nine straight games every year, as they posted their longest winning streak of a mediocre season during the Olympics.
Construction and road closures tried commuters’ patience, but that’s most likely all over. The roads downtown will open up as the city tries to get back to normal.
But the memories of a job well done will linger with us forever. For just a few weeks, the whole world turned to Salt Lake City and we took our moment in time and turned it into a phenomenal performance of Olympic proportions.
The Games weren’t perfect, as some controversies arose. Jamie Sal and David Pelletier were forced to ask for their gold medals after a French judge admitted that she was “influenced” to pick the Russians. That was an event that will forever change figure skating.
And who can forget Apolo Anton Ohno being pulled to the ice on his gold medal lap after the South Korean lost his balance, fell and decided to take Ohno with him?
But no one can blame Salt Lake for those mishaps. We couldn’t even control our weather, but the heavens smiled down on us, as many described the weather as perfect.
The only things we could control we did, and did them well. The people allowed their city to be the center of the world and the world came and said thank you.
All the time, money, scandal apologies, precautions and worrying seem worth it now, as the world heads away from the Wasatch Front. The only thing they can say is Salt Lake City was a great host. The only thing we can say is “It’s over!” and “We did it!”
Lance welcomes feedback at: [email protected].