Eighty Utahns deemed "community heroes" will be chosen to carry the Olympic flame through the state on May 10 as the official torch makes its way across the country to Atlanta, host of the 1996 Summer Games.
What's being billed as the largest-ever Olympic torch relay is scheduled to begin April 27 in Los Angeles and end July 19 in Atlanta.The torch is scheduled to arrive in Utah on May 10 and be carried from Ogden to Salt Lake City, then through Emigration Canyon to a train headed for Wyoming.
Community participants must be at least 12 years old and will be selected by local judging panels based on their accomplishments and acts of service to others. Other torchbearers will be Olympic athletes.
Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30 and can be obtained by calling 1-800-496-COKE, or can be picked up at the following locations: YWCA of Salt Lake City, 322 E. 300 South, 355-2804; Jewish Community Center, 2416 E. 1700 South, 581-0098; Catholic Community Services, 2300 W. 1700 South, 977-9119; United Way of the Great Salt Lake Area, 175 S. West Temple, Suite 30, 328-0211; Swire Coca-Cola, USA, 875 S. West Temple, 530-5300; and the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee, 215 S. State, Suite 2002, 322-2002.
Other locations are: Youth Support Systems, 3388 W. 3500 South, West Valley City, 969-3307; The Counseling Institute, 1725 Bonanza Dr., Park City, 649-2426; Family Counseling Center, 46 E. 7200 South, Midvale, 566-5606; Salt Lake Community Action Program, 3041 S. 8560 West, Magna, 250-6414; and Salt Lake Community Action Program, 4703 W. 5400 South, Kearns, 966-1869.
The applications can also be found at McDonalds restaurants along the Wasatch Front including Park City and Heber City, beginning Nov. 15. United Way offices in Logan, Ogden, Bountiful, Provo, Price, Milford, Cedar City and St. George have the applications, too.
Applications must be sent to the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay Torchbearer Selection, P.O. Box 6621, Maple Plain, MN 55593-6621, be postmarked by Nov. 30, and received by Dec. 8.