2002 SLC Winter Olympics Flashback - Checking the Scene

When first arriving in Utah, we took our second look at the torch which come through Logan late in the evening in the world-round relay. Folks from the town came out to line the streets depsite the cold.  Earlier in the day, I stopped by the local ice rink to watch the Swiss hockey team practice.  Teams and athletes were spread out all over the region (even up into Idaho) for practice facilities before their individual events kicked off.

A few weeks prior, Dan and I walked down to the Olympia's Farmer's Market to see the hand-off and a pre-Olympic rally of sorts - a few corporate trucks and local performers.  The torch bearers is accompanied by a couple of attendents and followed by a ugly, (here un-named) corporate-sponsored vehicle with a coldroun of flamage in the truck bed.  The torch-bearers (selected from applications) wear sporty suits (which they get to keep) and run 1km or so.  For $300 you can buy your torch and many were and selling them on eBay for more.

After Logan, we headed south to get prepared for the games, exchange some tickets, hook up with crash pads and figure out the routine for getting up and back to the venues via buses, car and the slick light rail system.

So, the night before the games really got underway, Dan Funboy and I joined up with our friend Dane for a night-time reconnaissance of the downtown SLC environs surroundings.  

Before the Games really get going, there is the metaphorical calm before the storm.  Everything is set to go but no one is really positive that the next day, suddenly the floods of humanity will pour in, load upon shuttle buses, wait through security checkpoints, find seating, order hot-dogs and beer and *then* the events will finally, really, actually begin.  

As it was at this point, the temporary structures are put into place, the last of the security precautions were are complete as evidenced in the sandbagged trailers, barricades, retaining walls and riot fences preparing for all sorts of mayhem (remember this was four months after well-documented incidents on September, 11 2001).

Yet, the streets of Salt Lake City were quite empty and rows of shuttle buses sat unused waiting to bring curiosity seekers from the 'burbs into downtown to dig the vibe.  Murmur was that few locals had come downtown because the media had scared them off with warnings of traffic chaos and out-of-town ne'er do wells carousing the hallowed boulevards.  

Note: In the spirit of Olympic participation, various transit companies from around the US sent buses to help shuttle folks to and fro events.  Must of been fun road-trip to drive a city bus cross-country.  Each bus displays its own local sign-age and flair.

Hotels and bars were rather busy but not hectic, and the hospitality houses were still getting final preparations ready and not really hosting the public (much more on hospitality houses later), mostly we saw small groups here and there of media types and team personnel.  Right away you notice various coats - team coats for every corporate, sponsor, country team, Olympic volunteer squad, whatever.  Groups of Red CBC coats at that part of the bar, orange and beige of German Olympics officials gathered across the way, green Monster.com coats in groups on streets, restaurants, vans - you get the idea (note to self, more on ubiquitous blacked out SUVs later)

Outside of Symphony Hall, Washington-based glass artist Dale Chihuly displayed a few commissioned works - in all, he had more pieces on exhibit around the events.  Outside Symphony hall, sat a giant sun and moon, posted high and glistening in the lightly falling snow and catching and reflecting lights from all over <sigh>. 

Inside, was a red waterfall of molten glass and a Chihuy-ized Steinway piano.  Bear in mind that the Games are just one part of the Olympic Festival - arts and culture are also a big part of the festivities, you just don't see that on the ole' television.

Throughout downtown, skyscrapers were adorned with enormous screens with athletes depicting various sports causing doubletakes from passer-bys.

 

A few early-round sporting events had started the day before but the opening ceremonies weren't slated til the next day.  We didn't attend the opening (or closing for that matter) ceremonies, instead concentrating on a variety of sporting action spread over the length of the Olympics, tailing off towards the end when the high ticket events (e.g. gold hockey) finished off the sporting games (until the ParaOlympics kicked in.

Indeed, we had hooked up with a heap of killer tickets - scored using cunning and timing to say the least, ... but i'll hit that topic up a bit later on.  At this point, we had a few scheduling conflicts to resolve and weren't sure how to resolve that but at this point, we are just stoked to be there, with tickets, places to crash (thanks friends), and a trunk full of beer.


Next up, our first day of events with two hockey games - "Belarus vs. Ukraine" and "Austria vs. Latvia" in Provo ...