| Salt Lake City |
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| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
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| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
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| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
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| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
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| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
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| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
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| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
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| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
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| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
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| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
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Ethnic Village — a 'hidden' Oly treasure
Visitors missing white tent south of Gateway
By Jerry Johnston
Deseret News staff writer
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson dropped by the Ethnic Village Monday in hopes of giving the place a shot in the arm.
Located on 500 West at the south end of Gateway, the village needs a boost. If this were the Summer Olympics, people could see the it for what it is: an open-air market filled with booths featuring ethnic foods, crafts and music. But tucked into a great, white tent to protect it from the elements, the village blends into the background.
"From what I've seen, people walk right around us. They go to the corner and down to the ice area," said Cal Nez, president of NAPAH, the group behind the village. "We've tried to put up more signs. We're thinking about flags, maybe greeters. Some people are even talking about putting dancers outside."
At the Monday news conference, Anderson praised the organizers for their grand vision and said, "This village is a tribute to remarkable people."
He said, "The place was built on unbelievable commitment and tenacity."
Anderson has taken a personal interest in the village since it incorporates the city's "Strength Through Diversity" theme. Nez, in fact, was the artist who designed the pin for the mayor.
Throughout the village, however, merchants remain a bit skittish.
"We haven't had a lot of people coming through, there are a lot of things to distract them," said Beth Mani of Seaside Treasures, a Polynesian handicraft outlet.
"They'd planned on crowds from the shuttle stopping close by, but I haven't seen the effects of that," added Juan Mejia, who operates a Peruvian food booth.
Others were taking a wait-and-see attitude, willing to hang in and hope visitors will slowly warm to the fact the village is there and is open late. (Village hours are from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.).
When NAPAH put the kibosh on beer sales last week, the move cut deep into profit margins. So for now, the goal is just to break even. And though there have been some differences, the feeling is still upbeat.
"We've had our differences and disagreements," said an emotional Martha Chavez, the Hispanic representative. "But we're like a big family, we all love each other. We are one, that is our motto. We are one, we are one."
When asked what he'd do differently next time, Nez shook his head. "That's a loaded question, at this point," he said. Still, he stressed the fact the people at the Ethnic Village were not outsiders dropping in, but everyone's friends and neighbors. "If you want to know Utah's people, they are here," he said. "These people will be here after the Olympics leave. This place was built from the heart."
As a display of solidarity on Monday, young Vicki Chavez sang "Star Spangled Banner." Chavez, who has an Hispanic father and an American Indian mother, stepped to the microphone in an Indian outfit decorated with the stripes and stars of the American flag.
Then she sang the anthem in the style of African American pop diva Whitney Houston.
E-MAIL: jerjohn@desnews.com
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February 12, 2002
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