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'Other' opening ceremonies will be as spectacular as first, SLOC says
By Seth Lewis
Deseret News staff writer
These are the other opening ceremonies, but organizers say the talent and television coverage are anything but second-rate.
Stevie Wonder will be the headline entertainer for the 2002 Paralympics' opening ceremonies in Rice-Eccles Stadium, organizers announced Friday.
The March 7 show will also feature local artist Donny Osmond, country star Wynonna, classical violinist Vanessa-Mae and 13-year-old country singer Billy Gilman.
Add in the same sound system, same lighting and much of the same props from the Feb. 8 opening ceremonies, as well as 1,000 performers, and the Paralympics' extravaganza should be a "massive spectacle" of its own, organizers say.
"We think the (Olympic) party will continue," said Scott Givens, creative director for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.
The opening ceremonies' talent is perhaps trumped only by the Paralympics' TV deal with NBC, which will show a one-hour taped special on the ceremonies March 9.
Before the NBC arrangement, the 2002 Paralympics were already set to become the best-covered Games yet. The cable network A&E will air 13 hours of Paralympics events, with six of those hours in prime time.
It adds up to a lot more air time than the four hours each at the Paralympics in Atlanta and Nagano.
"It brings our athletes to another level of awareness in this country," Paralympics managing director Xavier Gonzalez said.
The Paralympics opening ceremonies will have a theme, but not the "Child of Light" storyline used in the Feb. 8 show. Instead, organizers have molded the entertainment around the Paralympics' motto: awaken the mind, free the body, inspire the spirit.
"We tie the two Games together," said Givens, who worked with both opening ceremonies, "but we wanted a slightly different story."
Tickets for the opening ceremonies range from $25 to $100 and are available at www.paralympics2002.com or by calling 1-800-TICKETS.
E-MAIL: slewis@desnews.com
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February 23, 2002
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