Knowing the inclinations of service-oriented Utahns, the Salt Lake Organizing Committee's recent campaign to recruit volunteers for the 2002 Winter Games and Paralympics may have an unintended consequence: too many offers of help.
Who could blame Utahns for wanting to be part of the Olympic experience? Volunteering will give Utahns an opportunity to be in the thick of things when the world comes to visit. And it will give guests from around the world a glimpse of Utah's most valuable resource, its people.While Utahns will be quick to respond to the call, they should do so understanding that they must be available to work daily shifts of eight to 10 hours during the 17 days of the Winter Games or the 10 days of the Paralympic Games. Some 26,000 volunteers will undergo general training, followed by job-specific training and finally, venue training. This will be an immense undertaking.
Yet, it will be an unprecedented opportunity for Utahns, who possess a vast variety of skills and gifts, to extend Western hospitality to visitors and possibly rub elbows with the world's elite athletes. To quote Steve Young, Team 2002 volunteer chairman: "Why don't we show off what the heck we're all about?"
Indeed. Utah must capitalize on its moment on the world stage. Obviously, the television audience will see Olympic venues and Utah's natural wonders, be it rock arches or pristine mountain slopes. But volunteers will also have an opportunity to introduce visitors to Utah's many cultural attractions. It is imperative that volunteers not only carry out their assigned tasks, which could range from driving cars to food service, but they must also serve as ambassadors.
SLOC must do a good job staging the Games, but it will be the one-on-one contact with visitors that will leave a lasting impression of this community and its people.
SLOC also is asking the business community to give employees time off work -- part of it paid vacation -- to serve as volunteers. SLOC president Mitt Romney is asking Utah employers to permit 10 percent of their workers to volunteer during the Games by providing them their regular salaries for six days and enabling them to take six vacation days.
As strange as it may sound nearly two years away from the start of the 2002 Games, preparations are entering crunch time. Organizers have less than 700 days to recruit, screen and train volunteers, who will be the backbone of the Games and Paralympic work forces.
We urge Utahns who can make a focused commitment for either the Winter Games or Paralympics to begin the application process. Call SLOC at 212-2002 for information.
We do not envy SLOC's job of selecting volunteers because many capable people will likely apply. And that's important, because Utah wants to put her best foot forward in 2002.