In rolling out the red carpet to welcome the world to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City next year, the Church is calling on its members throughout the Wasatch Front to be good hosts and to work as a part of a broad community effort.

In recent weeks, the Church's Public Affairs office has been deluged with calls from media organizations asking about the Church's preparations for the Olympics.

"We are answering their questions," said Bruce L. Olsen, Managing Director of the Church's Public Affairs Department. "But we're making it clear that the Winter Games were awarded to Salt Lake City and the State of Utah — not the Church. The Church will be fully supportive of the community effort, but President [Gordon B.] Hinckley has made it clear he has no interest in making this the 'Mormon Games.' "

Photo by Tom Smart

Salt Lake Temple, ablaze with light as part of cityscape, is nestled at base of Wasatch Mountains. The temple will likely be a point of interest among Olympic visitors.

Part of that community support happened early. In November 1998, a letter was sent from the First Presidency to members throughout the Wasatch Front, calling attention to the long tradition of volunteering in the Church, and asking those interested in helping with the Olympics to contact the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.

Only this week — when SLOC's recruitment was well advanced — is the Church sending out another letter to bishops asking for its own volunteers.

"Our members need to honor any commitments they have already made to SLOC," said Janette Beckham, coordinator of the Church's volunteer efforts. "There has been a conscientious effort to avoid competing for the same resources."

Hundreds of volunteers with a variety of skills will be needed for the Church efforts. Positions include hosts and hostesses, telephone operators, receptionists, computer operators, tour guides, office workers, media relations specialists, security support personnel, computer technicians, writers and family history specialists.

Because of close proximity, members living in Salt Lake and Davis counties are being invited to apply first, though applications from elsewhere are welcome.

In addition to volunteer preparations, the Church has responded to requests from SLOC over the past few years for specific land that the Church owns, and which is needed for the Olympics.

This includes:

• The loan of "Block 85" — a prime downtown block of real estate — to be used as the Medals Plaza for the nightly Olympic award ceremonies.

• Agreement to use two parcels of Church-owned land near Park City, each more than 80 acres, for venue park-and-ride facilities. The sites will be restored to their original condition following the Games.

• A gift of 16 acres of land to the Utah Department of Transportation, providing for an access road from Highway 224 just south of Kimball Junction, Park City, to the Winter Sports Park.

In recent years, the cultural program of the host Olympic cities has received increasing emphasis. On Thursday, SLOC officials announced details of the Olympics cultural program for the first time. Among dozens of cultural events, the Tabernacle Choir will present four concerts during the Olympic period. Big name artists are expected to perform with the choir. Other cultural contributions by the Church will be announced later.

An estimated 70,000 people are expected to fill the downtown streets of Salt Lake City each evening as they attend the awards ceremonies and cultural events. Those who choose to visit Temple Square will be given guided tours by sister missionaries, as is done throughout the year.

Another effort by the Church is to prepare for the onslaught of thousands of members of the media.

Past experience demonstrates that the media will want to feature the Church, Brother Olsen said. "Whether we look for it or not, the Church is strongly associated with Utah in the minds of media. It's only common sense to be prepared."

Part of that preparation is a News Resource Center in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, which will be open to media visitors interested in writing or reporting about the Church. The center will be housed in the present FamilySearch facilities, which will be temporarily relocated for a few weeks, and will include working space, phones, Internet and e-mail access, and other facilities.

The Church's News Resource center will not compete with the official Main Press Center for the Olympics, or with the Utah Media Center planned by the Utah Travel Council.

"Each will do different things," Brother Olsen said. "The Main Press Center is for officially accredited media only, and is a huge and sophisticated operation focused on the Games. The state facility will be focused mostly on travel and tourism, economic development and culture. Our facility will tell the Church's story for those interested in that aspect. Altogether, the media should be well served."

The Church's Web site is also undergoing significant improvement as materials are added for journalists and the public. A new graphic, featuring the temple spires and the phrase "Friends to all Nations" in many languages, captures the essence of what the Church hopes to share during the early months of 2002.