THE SIGN ON the corner of 400 South and State Street announced proudly Wednesday that there were just 100 days left until D-day. That is, Decision Day. Deliberation Day. And for three cities, Depression Day.
The day when the host city for the 2002 Winter Games is announced in Budapest.While 100 days may seem like a lot, Frank Joklik, Salt Lake City bid chairman, considers it only a fraction of time. He and others were working on bringing the Winter Games to Salt Lake as far back as 1989 but were rebuffed two years later when the bid for the 1988 Games went to Nagano, Japan. So, when you consider Salt Lake has been working for six years to make the honor roll, 100 days isn't a long time.
"We have to make good use of each of those 100 days," Joklik said.
Certainly, every city involved is in the final stages of the race for the Olympics. They're all rounding third base and heading for home. They're into the final act. Soon, it will all be over except the riding off into the sunset as the credits roll. Salt Lake bid officials' only hope is they don't get shot off the horse.
Despite widespread speculation that Salt Lake is the favorite to get the 2002 bid, local officials continue to cling to the old Satchel Paige adage about not looking back because somebody might be gaining on you. They're plowing ahead as though they didn't have the finest facilities, the most organized presentation, the best snow and the biggest city in the running.
If they fail this time, it won't be due to overconfidence.
"We consistently have sort of not acknowledged the designation of us as the favorite," Joklik continued.
In fact, getting any Salt Lake bid official to talk about a favorite in the race is like asking baseball owners about profits - they don't want to talk about it. They're taking the Fifth Amendment. Mention Salt Lake being the favorite and the bid people will respond like Gomer Pyle: Who, us? G-o-o-o-o-lly!
Their second-worst fear - next to losing - is thinking they're ahead. They'd rather be coming up on the outside than leading the way. Clear favorites have often been known to lose out in the Olympic process. "We're quite sure our competitors regard their own bids highly," said Joklik. "I'm sure they consider themselves the favorite. Our strategy has been not to look at the competition, but to work as hard as we can to make our bid the best we can until it's June 16."
After working six years on something, one has to wonder if there's anything significant left to do except wait. "There's a heck of a lot left to do," said Joklik. "Honestly, it's not just a matter of waiting. I'm sure our competitors aren't sitting on their hands. They're working their tails off."
Joklik says Salt Lake's next 100 days will be filled by hosting IOC delegates, "communicating effectively with the community to make sure they're well-informed" and visiting delegates who can't come to Salt Lake. About 45 remaining delegates are expected to come to Utah to check things out. In some cases, if they can't come to Utah, Utah will come to the delegates.
"Some (delegates) welcome a visit, others not. It's not up to us," said Joklik.
Some reports have Salt Lake officials saying if they don't get the bid this time, the matter will be over; it will be someone else's concern. But Joklik says they aren't even considering the possibility of failure. They're not talking about their options, they're talking about their goal.
"I would be hesitant to say this is all. You can't predict the circumstances involved," Joklik continued. "We just have to give it our best shot. Who knows what will happen?
"Really, we need to focus on June 16 and making it successful. We don't want to spend too much time speculating on circumstances. Saying it's now or never would be stating things too strongly."
So despite the fact that the facilities are finished or going up, the bid is in place, and Salt Lake has the pole position in the race for 2002, Joklik isn't taking comfort. He and the others will be working seven days a week for the next 100 days, stopping only for meals - hopefully always with an IOC delegate. They'll be shaking hands and snapping photos and hosting luncheons and working the phone lines, right up until June 16.
"There's not much risk of us letting our guard down," he said. "We'll be conscious not to make any mistakes. As far as relaxing, that's not on the agenda."
At least not for 101 days.