Comments about ‘Salt Lake's Winter Games investment pays off in Vancouver’

Dr. Seppo Rehunen, Finnish NOC team MD, and I sat in front of a large fireplace at Homestead near Soldier Hollows. It was the hotel where many of the 2002 cross country teams stayed.
The Games were coming to an end in two days... Suddenly Seppo turns to me and says:

"We have been to many places, in the past, where people fake friendships, but here it is genuine."

what makes this the best complement of the Games - is that it came from a Finn (we are NOT a complimenting nation - no small talk). It came from his heart. AND he knew, because he had been part of several Olympic Games and other major sports events around the world during more than 20 years prior to 2002.

There will always be bigger venue sites, faster rinks, more beautiful constructions and elaborate ceremonies - BUT such genuine friendships, that promote an unsolicited midday expression such as Seppo's - is a hard act to follow.

The real LEGACY was, and is, the PEOPLE who sacrificed for the Games and for the comfort of the participants. They made the world feel welcome AND the world saw the honesty of their hearts.

Real Salt Lake will have an even bigger impact on our state.

During the "olympic Scandal" I was quite embarrassed for our state; but in the end Utah put on one of the most amazing Olympic program ever!

Wasn't Welch fired for his crooked dealings about the olympics in Utah? His credibility is in doubt and him handing over someone else's donations and taking the credit makes it even worse.

As for Utah benefiting from the olympics has yet to be seen. Although there were many people made millions from it, the tax payers are still paying for it in the 10 years of graft that has followed. These millionaires who continue to profit from taxpayers has made the olympics a financial disaster.

Just because Utahan's are more friendly doesn't mean the olympics was a good thing. Now if the tax payers were relieved of the perpetual tax burden that would be a good olympics.

Is Welch looking for another job in Utah? Why not, he would fit right in with all the other graftee's we support with generous tax funds.

While watching the Vancouver winter games it was amazing how many references the announcers made to Salt Lake City. It is amazing how much we accomplished with the $600,000,000. of federal, state, and local taxes that went into the games. Can you imagine how great we could make our schools with that kind of commitment to adequate funding?

I'd love for Utah to host the Olympics again. Everyone had such a great experience they'd have to turn away volunteers!

I am forever grateful for having been a part of Team 2002. I can say I helped. I hope the Olympics come back. What do you say Tom, let's do it again!

The US got 37 medals because, they have what.....300 million people to choose from??? for the best athletes. Canada has what....33 million people to choose from? how bout you americans choose your athletes, from California. There population is the same as Canada, then lets see if you guys can actually make the top 10 in medal standings. Canada has the most gold EVER and one of the smallest populations. I'd say, with how many people live in Canada....they did the best!!!!

If anyone should be embarrassed about the Olympic Scandal it is the IOC. They are the ones who nurtured the culture of corruption and the sad thing about it all is that many of those IOC members have never resigned or have been prosecuted. Salt Lake officials were prosecuted for making the bribes but nothing significant ever happened to those taking the bribes or knowing about them. Just look at the UN where the oil for food scandal never led to high profile prosecutions. World politics is much more corrupt than those at the local level.

Welch played the IOC game. The IOC was the crook. Mr. Welch should be proud of his efforts and the efforts of the thousands who participated in putting on the games. I'm sure that those who volunteered and became a part of the 2002 Games had a once in a lifetime experience. Some will always sit back and criticize the efforts of others and experience nothing. The facilities here are a tremendous asset to our communities. My son watched Apollo Ohno speedskate in the Games and became a huge fan of speedskating. How fantastic is it that he can go learn on the same ice that Ohno trains on! Can't do that anywhere else in the Country and it's in our backyard. A community either grows and creates opportunity or it begins to die and then taxes the citizens into oblivion in order to survive. That is not the case in Utah. I agree with liberal Larry, that we need to find a vision to establish a better, more efficient education system that would be world class. That too would benefit us as a State and a Nation.

Thanks Tom,

You and your team sowed the seeds of what has become an extraordinary Legacy for the State. My children and I are the rich recipients of your work and of those who followed you in creating a great Olympic infrastructure.

All charges filed against Welch and Dave Johnson were dismissed. See KSL's website and type in the following headline: Judge Dismisses Bribery Case Charges.

It is easy to accuse but harder to prove those accusations. Nothing illegal was done. Even the investigations were suspect. If there is nothing there, then the DA is going to drop charges.

As for the person who talks of the graft and the financial disaster, please cite your source. Please cite your source about the perpetual tax burden.

Perhaps that "tax burden" might be worth it if tax revenue comes in etc.

Honestly, if it wasn't for the efforts of Tom Welch and Dave Johnson, Salt Lake City would not have hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002.

Bear in mind, also, that the Games was almost cancelled due to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on America.

I participated as an Olympic volunteer and still cherish the awesome memories of those Games.

It was unfortunate that the scandal broke out, but, remember it had been going on with other cities vying to host the Games and way before Salt Lake City was awarded the Games.

As far as I'm concerned, the scandal is "water under the bridge" and both Tom Welch and Dave Johnson deserve to have their moment to relish in their achievement and success in having the Winter Olympics awarded to Salt Lake City.

In my eyes, Tom Welch and Dave Johnson are not the crooks, but, the scapegoat and I want to formally extend my deepest gratitude to both of them for the life changing, once in a lifetime, opportunity and memories of the most AWESOME Winter Games of the 21st century!

Thank you, and remember to "Light the Fire within!" CHARGE!

Olympic Guy... The US with nearly as many people got creamed in Calgary, so the population difference means little. Anyway, we don't have 33 million people who are snowbound, like Canada. Most of in US barely even see snow. The difference is commitment and training and Welch helped set that table.
Good luck in hockey in 2014 now that the Russians are as ticked off as the US was....Canada, nearly lost to the US and that would have been down right embarrassing for Canada.

"It is amazing how much we accomplished with the $600,000,000. of federal, state, and local taxes that went into the games. Can you imagine how great we could make our schools with that kind of commitment to adequate funding?"

Public Schools - Unions
Olympic Games - No-unions

Public Schools - Government run w/little-no private sector input
Olmpic Games - Private sector experience and knowhow.

Public Schools - work to the the lowest common denominator
Olympic Games - Raise the bar and then surpass it.

Seems like the prevailing wisdom here is that the ends justify the means. As long as something good comes of it, you can commit any illegal, immoral and unethical act and its ok. Also, if a crime is not prosecuted or fully prosecuted, then it as if it never existed.

I bet Utah still loves Richard Nixon.

@liberal Larry

Why would the Federal government just give Utah $600 million for education?

The Olympics not only benefited Utah but our nation and it was worth the investment, especially for Utah.


The idea that just throwing money at education will improve it is a total fallacy. Please provide any proof of this correlation. It is far easier to show that increased funding for education does not provide the desired results.

GOOD FOR TOM WELCH & DAVE JOHNSON! I am shocked to read some of these comments. These two and their families sacrificed so much for the benefit of all of us. Tom and Dave lead the work to get the Games here, and Mitt and his team finished it! Good for all of them!! The Olympics are an incredible emotional experience and my family LOVED all of it!

"The Olympics not only benefited Utah but our nation and it was worth the investment, especially for Utah." 3.2 billion dollars was a rip off used to construct a road for a billionaire named Holdings? We can afford another Utah games economically or morally.

Having been to Vancouver for the Olympics, I can say that it was a more positive experience than SLC. Canadians were awesome, more friendly, didn't try to ram their religion down my throat, and so much easier to party than Utah. Downtown was simply buzzing, SLC had like 2 square blocks. Dumb dumb dumb.