Civic pride, unity, a key legacy for Salt Lake 2002 Winter Games

May 14, 2007

Human legacy tops economic and other benefits, says former CEO

The third volume of a report commissioned by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) shows how the legacies of the largest sport program in the history of the Olympic Winter Games created unparalleled pride and unity, turned a profit and left behind a legacy of world class venues and an environmental blueprint for future Games to follow.

“The legacy we hold dear in Salt Lake City includes the heart-felt memories of a time when everyone in our community came together to host the world,” says former Salt Lake 2002 Organizing Committee (SLOC) CEO Fraser Bullock. “We remember the awe-inspiring stories of the athletes and the message to our rising generation of what is possible. We have permanent facilities that are not only world-class, but are utilized every day by our citizens and are training the next generation of Olympians. Economic development increased through a permanent increase in the level of tourism and businesses relocating to our State. Finally, we have the legacy of being an Olympic City and everything that is associated with that special title among cities” he said.

The Salt Lake Report, which was released today on vancouver2010.com, is the final volume of the Legacies of North American Olympic Winter Games report commissioned by VANOC. The first two volumes ( Lake Placid and Calgary) were released April 30 and May 7 respectively; an executive summary will be released the week of May 21.

Among the many economic and environmental legacies identified in the Salt Lake report are the following:

• The Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games was held less than six months after the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on September 11th, at a time when the American economy was in a recession and travelers were jittery about air travel. Nevertheless, the Games turned a profit of $100 million.
• The Games produced 35,000 job-years of employment, an income of $1.5 billion, infrastructure investment of $435 million, visitor spending of $123 million, and a net revenue to state and local government of $76 million.
• Olympic Games-related construction and employment cushioned the state of Utah against the dramatic economic falls being experienced elsewhere in the United States in the months up to and following 9/11.
• More than 100,000 trees were planted in Utah, and 15 million worldwide, in keeping with SLOC’s commitment to environmental conservation. During the Games, SLOC recycled or composted 95.6 percent of the Games’ waste.
• As of August, 2005, Outside magazine was talking about Salt Lake City as “one of [its] 18 towns that have it all.” In an article called Where to Live Now, Outside described the city as “gradually wriggling itself into the environmental forefront…. Light rail lines, christened just in time for the 2002 Winter Olympics, reduce auto traffic by funneling 44,000 riders a day in and out of downtown, while the SLC sewage treatment plant turns released methane in to electricity to help run itself.”

VANOC CEO John Furlong said “Salt Lake City has shown how it is possible to take an environmental approach in planning for the Games. In addition to their financial success and their remarkable venue legacies we can look at Salt Lake's performance with growing confidence that our sustainability legacies can be achieved as well,” he concluded.

Cathy Priestner Allinger, VANOC Executive Vice President, Sport, Paralympic Games and Venue Management commented on Salt Lake’s legacies for sport noting, “VANOC is encouraged by the Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games’ significant contributions to the Utah Athletic Foundation, which is now the largest private non-profit funder of sport in the United States. The Utah Athletic Foundation is able to maintain the Olympic Games facilities without any financial support from the government.”

VANOC commissioned the Legacies of North American Winter Games report believing the most appropriate model for understanding the potential legacies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is the experiences of other Winter Games held within the North American context since 1980. The independently-written reports offer a detailed look back on the experiences of previous North American Olympic Winter Games hosts.

All reports are based on research obtained from many documents including newspaper and magazine articles, official reports, studies, books, and original interviews to outline the legacies to the host communities. The Legacies reports, separately and combined, show how the host communities of Olympic Winter Games in North America continue to:

• increase tourism in their regions
• remind the world of their attractions at subsequent international competition
• build sports participation
• be national hubs for recreational and competitive sport
• help the country’s top athletes achieve their full potential
• attract major sports companies to locate there
• encourage local children to excel in sport and other areas of life

“The report shows that, on a continent where enthusiasm for and participation in winter sports is widespread, hosting a successful Winter Games can have numerous, multi-faceted benefits, many of which last for generations to come,” said Furlong.

“VANOC is determined to continue this trend, delivering an outstanding Games experience in 2010 and legacies that will continue to benefit the community for many generations to come,” he concluded.

About VANOC

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

About the Legacies report

VANOC commissioned the Legacies of North American Winter Games report believing the most appropriate model for understanding the potential legacies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is the experiences of other Winter Games held within the North American context since 1980. The independently written reports offer a detailed look back at the experiences of previous North American Olympic Winter Games hosts.

All reports are based on research obtained from many documents including newspaper and magazine articles, official reports, studies, books, and original interviews to outline the legacies to the host communities of the Games.

About the Legacies Report and Author

Kate Zimmerman has been a journalist in Canada for 27 years, writing for numerous newspapers and magazines. VANOC commissioned her in July 2006 to research and write the Legacies of North American Olympic Winter Games report. She lives in North Vancouver, BC.

Contact

VANOC Communications
mediarelations@vancouver2010.com