"When you're discussing the need for international cooperation in meeting major human rights and medical challenges, especially in developing countries and also addressing a global environmental crisis like climate change and the need for countries to come together, I think it's important for the mayor to signify the fundamental importance of all of us working together to meet these challenges by putting in this sort of effort," he said.

The message, according to the group, was well received in Torino. As the Salt Lake contingent entered the city, they were greeted by Olympic volunteers, municipal leaders, a police escort and national and international media.

"They have just made us feel very honored and welcome," said Wright, who admitted she was once an Olympic-hater who didn't want the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

"I was a skeptic that was definitely won over by the success of the Salt Lake Olympics," she said.

Lillehammer, Norway, host of the 1994 Winter Games, began the message-passing tradition by taking a message of peace, youth and the environment to 1998 host Nagano, Japan, which delivered a message to Salt Lake prior to the 2002 Games.

Local documentarian Mike Dunn followed Salt Lake City's message as it traveled from Utah to Torino and plans to release a documentary on the journey this fall.

The message left Salt Lake City via bicycle April 4. A separate group of cyclists took the message to New York, where it was put on a sail yacht for Brussels and was picked up by the European bike contingent. The trip cost $175,000 — $25,000 was funded by tax dollars and $150,000 by private donations.

Torino's XX Olympic Winter Games are scheduled for Feb. 10-26, 2006.

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E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com