With 498 days until the Opening Ceremonies for the 2002
Games, SLOC President & CEO Mitt Romney appeared on this
morning's "Today" show to discuss Salt Lake City's
preparations. Romney, comparing Salt Lake's security
presence to Sydney: "We hope to do exactly the same thing.
Have it very, very extensive but have it invisible." NBC's
Matt Lauer noted Sydney built "an entire suburb" for the
Games, while the SLOC hasn't "done as much building in the
Salt Lake area." Romney: "No. Thankfully, God took care of
most of our venues. I mean, our venues are mountains. And
the height and majesty of the mountains is really going to
be able to dwarf anything that we can build. We'll have
great venues ... but the majesty of our venues are really
not man made." Romney, asked about the lingering impact of
the Olympic bid scandal: "The scandal is real. I don't
think we try and hide it, don't cover it up. Acknowledge
it. One of the great things about our country is that we'll
investigate ourselves even as the world is watching."
Romney, on the SLOC's relationship with the IOC: "We have a
very cooperative, collaborative relationship. I think they
also understand that we have some rules we have to live by.
They are; no one is above the rules and, No. 2, nothing can
be hidden. It's inexcusable to hide the truth." Romney, on
U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) saying that the federal
government should not grant the SLOC $77M in aid toward
Games preparation: "We build the venues, we also run the
operating budget, but the federal government has to be there
or we can't have Games. ... We need the money and we hope to
get it" (NBC, 9/29). On MSNBC, Romney said "the [2002] Games
themselves are actually in terrific shape" (MSNBC, 9/28).
