Don't look for the president or any other American celebrities to be in Birmingham, England, this week pitching Salt Lake City's bid for the 1998 Winter Games to members of the International Olympic Committee.
There will be plenty of famous people milling around Birmingham, to be sure. But they'll be busy promoting the bids of other cities vying to be named Saturday as the host of the Games - Nagano, Japan; Ostersund, Sweden; Aosta, Italy; and Jaca, Spain.Nagano and Ostersund, considered Salt Lake City's toughest competition, are expected to send everyone from a crown prince to a prime minister to an internationally recognized ice skater to help lobby IOC delegates.
Salt Lake City's bid backers, however, have a different strategy.
They are going to present themselves to the members of the IOC as just plain folks, according to Tom Welch, chairman of the Salt Lake City Bid Committee for the Olympic Winter Games.
"I don't want the Games to come to Salt Lake because of a movie star or a national political figure. I want the Olympics to come to Salt Lake because they believe in our people," Welch said.
Still, while many of the faces in the Utah delegation aren't likely to be familiar outside Utah, they do belong to some of the state's most prominent citizens.
The list features politicians, including both of Utah's senators, Gov. Norm Bangerter, Salt Lake Mayor Palmer DePaulis and a number of candidates for local and statewide offices.
Business leaders like Geneva Steel's Joe Cannon and First Security Bank's Spence Eccles will be there, too. Not many in the delegation would qualify in their home state as "ordinary people."
Besides the state's heaviest hitters, Salt Lake City will use a brief, prerecorded message from President Bush in the video portion of its hourlong presentation before the IOC on Saturday. But that's it.
"There's no surprises," Welch said. "I hope to remind members of the IOC what a pleasant experience they had when they visited Salt Lake and show them what a wonderful experience they have yet to come."
The video portion of the presentation will emphasize what bid supporters believe is the technical superiority of Salt Lake City as well as the welcome they can expect from Utahns.
Unlike the high-tech presentation shown to the U.S. Olympic Committee two years ago that required 27 projectors and three screens, this video will be viewed on a single 10-foot-by-12-foot screen.
Finishing touches were still being put on the presentation in Salt Lake City this weekend. The first - and only - rehearsal is planned for noon Tuesday in Birmingham.
It's all being kept under wraps until Saturday. Only a select few have seen the video, slides and script that make up the total presentation, or heard the new, still untitled theme song that will accompany it.
Salt Lake City is scheduled to make the last presentation to IOC members before they begin the voting process Saturday afternoon. The balloting is expected to be completed by 6 p.m. Birmingham time - noon Mountain Daylight Time.
The presentation, which has been in the works for almost two years, isn't the only impression that the 220 or so members of the Utah delegation to the IOC meeting intend to make.Those who have hosted IOC members in Salt Lake City will renew those acquaintances in Birmingham. The rest of the delegation has been politely advised to keep its distance.
Even without direct contact with IOC members, just the presence of so many Utah supporters is likely to have an impression. The Utah delegation may be the largest contingent sent by any nation.
Salt Lake City, like all of the contenders, will have a hospitality suite open to provide information about its bid.
Visitors will be able to help themselves not just to brochures but to mesquite barbecued ribs and probably even an official Olympic tie or scarf, just like those worn by the Utah delegation.
The ties and scarves are in the dress code for Saturday, even though only 35 members of the delegation will be able to view Salt Lake City's presentation to the IOC. The rest will have to watch it on closed-circuit television.
The entire delegation is invited, however, to watch the announcement ceremony in person. Utahns who weren't able to cross the ocean will be able to see it, too, via satellite.
The announcement of the IOC's choice to host the 1998 Winter Games will be preceded by short live broadcasts from each of the competing cities.
Although a two-day event at the City-County building as well as the dinner set for the Utah delegation overseas after the announcement are both planned to be celebrations, not even Welch is set to say Salt Lake City is a sure winner.
"We've done everything we can. Is that enough? I don't know," Welch said. "In the last 10 days, my emotions have been like an elevator. They go up and down 30 times a day."
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(Additional information)
Budget balloons to twice the size voters wsere told
The budget being presented to the International Olympic Committee for a Salt Lake City Winter Games in 1998 is $749 million, nearly twice as much as voters were told before the 1989 referendum on using tax dollars for facilities.
Voters agreed to spend $56 million in sales tax revenue on winter sports facilities. The rest of the money the Salt Lake City Bid Committee for the Olympic Games wants to spend would come from private sources.
More than half of the budget is expected to come from the sale of the right to broadcast the Winter Games on U.S. television. The rest would come from corporate sponsorships and licensing, tickets and government services.
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Reporter will follow bid action in England
Tom Welch and other Utah Olympic boosters won't be the only ones watching the proceedings with keen interest when the International Olympic Committee awards the 1998 Winter Games in Birmingham, England, June 15.
Veteran Deseret News reporter Lisa Riley Roche will be in Birmingham throughout bid week providing daily updates for Deseret News readers on Salt Lake City's lobbying effort.
She'll be watching for any late-breaking developments that might affect the success of the bid - pro or con - as well as keeping an eye on what Salt Lake City's competition is up to.
Roche, who has been with the paper since 1987, has followed the ups and downs of the Salt Lake bid since November 1990. She is also responsible for the paper's state government coverage.
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Birmingham dos and don'ts
Don't bother IOC members (or those lobbying them)
"Lobbying of International Olympic Committee members by those Salt Lake City representatives designated for that purpose will take place in the Hyatt Regency Hotel ...members of the Salt Lake City delegation are asked not to visit this hotel unless specifically requested to do so."
"Because the Salt Lake City lobbying team has established these (close,personal) relationships and is most familiar with all aspects of our bid, they are the only group authorized to lobby members of the Olympic family. If additional help is needed, individuals will be so informed ...Your very presence in Birmingham is indicative of Salt Lake City's spirit and support. Your cooperation in complying with these guidelines is appreciated."
Do dress appropriately (and watch out for the press)
"Remember, IOC members and press can be anywhere. Keep all comments to yourself and dress appropriately - no blue jeans!"
"Business style dress is appropriate. Short, straight skirts are sometimes difficult when getting into and out of cars. 'Church' or less dressy cocktail clothes are appropriate for the evening dinners."
"As always, suit the occasion and the place and, for this trip, bear in mind that you represent America on what will be ...a world stage. If you can carry off a cowboy hat, go ahead but be prepared for a little staring."
Do have fun (but no smoking)
"Even though you will be in a social setting, you are on the job. Please enjoy yourself, but, at all times, remember your responsibility. Please do not smoke, even if others do."
Do mind your manners (it'a madame, not ma'am).
" ..It is most important to remember that most people do not use first names as soon in the progress of friendship as we Americans. Therefore, it is wise to proceed slowly in this manner."
"When we meet a woman from another country, we often have trouble catching a complicated name, and we do not know whether to call her 'Miss' or 'Mrs.' The solution is to call her simply 'Madame.' (Not Ma'am).
"
...Unless she's the queen
"You're not likely to meet any members of the royal family, but just in case, the queen is addressed as Your Majesty and the various princes and princesses are addressed as Your Royal Highness."
Don't forget to look both ways (and have a nice day)
"The British drive on the left side of the road. This may be the most important bit of miscellaneous information you get...it's easy for Americans to get hit by a car in Britain, so please don't take this warning as just an overanxious silliness. Always check out traffic from the safety of the sidewalk and look both ways before you cross.:
"...Many Britons find Americans genuinely charming in their smiling openness, and they tend to get a kick out of any sort of drawl. They also joke about 'Have a nice day.' Just bear in mind that Americans sometimes seen to come on a little strong, so pull back just that tiny bit.
-From "A guide for the 97th Session," compiled for the more than 250 Birmingham-bound supporters of Salt Lake City's bid for the 1998 Winter Games.\