An estimated 40-50,000 turned out for Salt Lake City's
"Party of the Century" to celebrate the city earning the bid from
the IOC for the 2002 Winter Oltympic Games, according to Jay
Baltezore in the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. The event cost the Salt Lake
Area Chamber of Commerce about $175,000 (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE,
6/19). A report in the WALL STREET JOURNAL notes the city won on
the strength of its "well-developed facilities" (WALL STREET
JOURNAL, 6/19). Salt Lake Bid Committee President Tom Welch:
"Becoming an Olympic city is a process, not an event, and over
time we developed credibility through the commitments that we
made. Our taxpayers not only voted that they wanted to pursue
the Olympics, but they were willing to make an investment in
winter sports facilities, and today we have completed or under
construction seven of the eight facilities that we will need for
the games" ("Today," NBC, 6/19).
THE VOTE: Salt Lake received an "overwhelming" 54 votes on
the first ballot to secure the 2002 bid. It marked the first
time in 30 years that an Olympic vote involving more than two
cities was settled in the first round (AP/SALT LAKE TRIBUNE,
6/18). Welch on ABC's "Good Morning Sunday": "There is not a
city in the world that is more ideal for hosting the games than
in Salt Lake" (ABC, 6/18). Frank Joklik, Salt Lake Committee
Chair: "The people of Utah now have a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to distinguish themselves, through the Olympics, in a
manner that can win them the admiration of the world" (Salt Lake
Bid Committee). USOC President LeRoy Walker: "No city prepared
more completely than Salt Lake City, no bid was more thorough and
detailed, and at all times, the athletes of the world were the
principal focal point of the effort" (USOC).
QUEBEC ASKS "PORUQUOI PAS"? In Toronto, George Gross
reports that many incorrectly blame Canadian IOC member Dick
Pound for Quebec's "disastrous last place finish." But Canadian
IOC Member Carol Anne Letheren said: "There's something about
Tom Welch ... He and his countrymen know how to deal in the one-
on-one situations. We don't know how to do it and we haven't
found out how they're doing it" (TORONTO SUN, 6/18). Gross also
reports that Quebec City has not decided whether to bid again
(TORONTO SUN, 6/17).
