Deseret News Archives - June 17, 1995
One word triggered it all.
"Salt."
IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch said "Salt" and 50,000 people crammed together on the grounds of the Salt Lake City-County Building went crazy.
The roar went on for minutes. Gold streamers emblazoned with the date and place - June 16, 1995. Salt Lake City 2002 - soared from canons fired by American Fork High School Band members. Beach balls bounded from the stage. The Joe Muscolino Band launched into a rousing version of the Beach Boys' hit "Fun, Fun, Fun," with lyrics especially adapted for the occasion.
Suddenly this was the party of the century, just as billed. The celebration continues through Saturday evening, when Utah residents who led the bid will return home to officially present the Games to the state.
Now, nearly 30 years after Utah first sought the Winter Olympic Games, residents are rejoicing that this will be the place in 2002.
Friday morning's festivities started as Olympic gold medalist Tommy Moe carried a hand torch in the midst of a parade of flag-waving children. As he made his way to the stage, a murmur of anticipation swept through 50,000 Utahns gathered at the City-County Building. Moe mounted a platform and dipped his flame into a symbolic version of the Olympic torch.
It was just the beginning.
Football star Steve Young helped work the crowd into a frenzy as it waited for the announcement, leading a chant of "Salt Lake City 2002." He told residents he knew this feeling; it was a Super Bowl moment, he said.
Moments later Samaranch, in a worldwide live broadcast from Budapest, Hungary, announced Salt Lake City would host the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Utah's capital city has reached the ranks of cities deemed capable of hosting an international, world-class festival and sporting event.
No one seemed anxious to leave the party. Broad grins were everywhere. People wrapped themselves in remnants of gold streamers. Booths selling 2002 memorabilia were swamped.
At the corner of 400 South and State Street people posed for pictures in front of the Olympic countdown sign, which bore a big, black zero.
Two blocks away at the office of the Salt Lake Bid Committee - now called the Salt Lake Organizing Committee - volunteers celebrated a wonderful end to a hard-fought campaign.
The office received calls from media around the world seeking information and reaction to the announcement. And then there was the call from the White House, seeking a list of committee members' names.
Not long after, Vice President Al Gore heaped praise on the Salt Lake committee. President Clinton sent congratulations from the Halifax economic summit.
"It is a great thing for the Western part of the United States and indeed for our whole country," Clinton said.
The quiet, stately halls of Congress erupted with raucous cheering and high-fives from Utah offices when Salt Lake City won the bid.
But not all Utahns are enthralled about inviting the world to celebrate athletic prowess here in 2002 and some fear the effects of a rush to cash in on Olympic gold. A handful of protesters braved the Olympic-crazed crowds at the City-County Building to air their views. They carried signs with slogans such as "No place is the place for ego, greed and waste."
If the sentiment that swept the grounds of the City-County Building Friday shows anything, it's that such views aren't widely shared.
Organizing Committee spokesman Bob Hunter said residents need to have some faith now in the team that will plan the coming Winter Games.
"We made some promises to the IOC and those were we would put facilities in place to train athletes," Hunter said. "We did that, and because we did that they've put their faith in us.
"We also need to keep our faith with the people, that the people shouldn't shoulder the burden of this, that we would use the Olympics as an environmental enhancement tool and also that we would involve the people of Utah in these Games," he said. "Just as we kept our promises with the IOC, we will keep these promises with the people of Utah and make these the best Games ever."
