PROVO — Mitt Romney's Olympic spirit does not seem dampened by the bribery scandal swirling around Salt Lake's bid for the 2002 Winter Games.
The president and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee spent Thursday morning in Provo attempting to spread his infectious enthusiasm to top-ranking county officials from around Utah who may hold the key to success in 2002.
"What will define our Games is the people who will welcome the people from around the world," said Romney, urging the county leaders to actively promote voluntarism during the 17-day global event. "The volunteers will be the face of Utah to the world."
Some 26,000 volunteers are needed for the Winter Games and the 10-day Paralympic Games. The ranks of free labor will be trained for specific tasks at specific venues.
SLOC has about two years to find enough people willing to work long shifts in the Utah winter snow at the various venues across the state. Last month's volunteer drive kickoff party featured football star and part-time Provo resident Steve Young as the first volunteer.
"When people arrive in Utah, I don't think they are going to stand back and say, 'Wow. They have mountains in Utah.' Every host city of the Winter Games has had mountains," Romney said. "They will comment on the people who helped them, who took their bags, who drove them places. That's what will define Utah."
The Salt Lake Organizing Committee, with a budget of $1.9 billion, faces an uphill financial and public-relations battle, concedes the Republican from Boston.
The bribery scandal, which has been a mainstay on the nightly broadcasts and newspapers for about two years, marred the city's reputation and hurt interest among potential corporate sponsors.
Several probes turned up evidence that Salt Lake bid representatives gave more than $1 million in cash and gifts to International Olympic Committee members and their families.
Although a "tiny amount" of people made errors while pursuing the bid, Romney said, referring to those under scrutiny by federal investigators, Salt Lake City continues to be seen in a bad light.
And if venues aren't operated smoothly, if volunteers don't step forward, if the locals are cool to visitors, the image of Utah will be blemished, he said. The 9,000 journalists expected in 2002 will spread the message.
"They'll say, 'These are the guys who bribed to get the Games and then they couldn't put on good Games anyway,' " Romney said.
Instead, he wants the world — an estimated 2.5 billion people are expected to watch the opening ceremonies — to see Utah's scenic byways, ski resorts, first-class venues and friendly cities.
"To a great extent we'll be branding Utah in how we host the 2002 Games," he said. "It's enormously complicated and draws on all of our community to make it work."
Romney's words, coupled with a slickly produced video highlighting Olympic victories, seemed to win over the county officials, some of whom have been skeptical about SLOC.
His appearance Thursday is believed to be the first in front of the organization that includes leaders who have jurisdiction over Olympic sites in Bear Hollow, Soldier Hollow and Snow Basin ski resort, said L. Brent Gardner, executive director of the county association.