Let healing Games begin, says Times story
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Reports of favorable first impressions are coming from distant places including New York as the 2002 Winter Olympic Games approach Salt Lake City's doorstep.
In a New York Times article — "In Salt Lake City, Time for the 'Healing Games,' " published Jan. 6, writer Selena Roberts has much good to say about Utah, its physical geography and culture.
She wrote about the challenges these particular Games have encountered including the Olympic bribery scandal and then the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and attendant security concerns.
"No doubt, this will be a very different Olympics experience from those in Atlanta, Nagano or Sydney," she wrote. "Although visitors will arrive from practically every nation, the war on terrorism will make the chants of 'USA, USA' at the 10 sites for Olympics events seem cathartic, a reason organizers have termed these the 'Healing Games.' "
Along with upbeat comments about the state's mountains ("the dramatic Wasatch Range"), Olympics venues ("No Olympic venue is more than 60 miles from Salt Lake City") and culture ("An impressive arts festival should maintain the Olympic tradition of combining artistry and sports"), Ms. Roberts also makes generous mention of the Church ("In Salt Lake City, attractions include the vast Temple Square for those who are curious about the Mormons who settled the land in 1847").
Ms. Roberts discusses some of the social issues facing the games, including the debate over alcoholic beverages, but adds: "Not every Mormon connection to the Winter Games causes a moral debate. Anyone with the fortune to have a ticket to the opening ceremony . . . can hear what should be an inspiring combination: the noted Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Utah Symphony performing music by leading composers."
Wrapping up her article, Ms. Roberts wrote: "To grasp the true history of Utah, however, visitors must head for Temple Square, one of the state's top tourist attractions. Only members of the church are allowed inside the opulent six-spired Salt Lake Temple, but the remaining one-by-two-block area, with its parklike setting and twinkling lights, is open to the public."
