PROVO — Utah's business community doesn't need to wait until 2002 to take advantage of Olympic opportunities, say Utah Division of Business and Economic Development leaders.
Rick Mayfield and David Winder, from the state development office, and Steve Densley, president of the Provo/Orem Chamber of Commerce, hosted an Olympic-venue tour for some of Utah County's business leaders and company CEOs last week.
A busload of civic and community movers and shakers went to seven Olympic-venue sites, were introduced to the gear for some of the sporting events and were peppered with facts and figures about the Games that will bring 3,500 athletes from 80 countries, thousands of media representatives and countless fans for a 17-day period.
The business leaders were urged to start bringing colleagues, contacts and associates to Utah now to get acquainted with the possibilities.
"The athletic events are pure Olympics," said Mayfield. "But the Olympics are really about marketing, wrapped around the Games.
"It's not too early to start trying to host as many business groups as possible from now until February 2002."
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the people of Utah and the businesses in Utah," said Winder.
Carl Roepke, former Olympic luger and tour leader with the Utah Olympic Park near Park City, said even after the Games, businessmen in Utah ought to be prepared for waves of tourists.
"We were told to expect 150,000 visitors the next season," Roepke said. "We're taking the conservative approach and preparing for 100,000."
Mayfield said visitors could be invited to tour the sites by bus or visit the sites individually for pre-Olympic events and to participate in training venues.
Events start in November 2000 and continue almost weekly at various sites in or near Park City, Provo, Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Kearns, Ogden and Midway until the Games start in February 2002.
At the Utah Olympic Park, visitors could try the outdoor bobsled track on a rocket sled. They could experiment with ski-jumping and ride the $100,000 bobsled simulator inside the lodge.
Visitors can skate at the new ice sheet in Provo and learn to play ice hockey.
Groups will soon be able to dine at the Devereaux House just north of the Delta Center and survey the Salt Lake City skyline from the sixth floor of the University of Utah Rice-Eccles stadium press box.
Most of the buildings and competitor arenas will be finished by October 2000, Mayfield said, and can serve as sites of great interest to out-of-state and out-of-country visitors.
Mayfield said the division staff is ready to help organize events, dinners, tours and group experiences, many of which will be easier to book and direct leading up to the Games rather than during the Games. Once the Games begin, parking and housing options will be extremely limited and traveling will be much more difficult, he said.
Call the department at 801-538-8708 for more information.