The 2002 Paralympic Winter Games are still more than six months away, but a world record has already been set, with the most countries ever signed up to participate.
Thirty-four nations, including four from the former Soviet Union and newcomers Greece and South Africa, have confirmed they will be sending athletes to the 10-day event that begins March 7.
More than 1,000 athletes are scheduled to participate in the three events — alpine skiing, nordic skiing and ice sledge hockey.
The record number of participants in the Paralympics is just one reason "the Games will be a great success," Franois Terranova, vice president of the event's coordinating commission — who at least half seriously views the regular Olympics set Feb. 8 to 24 as the "test event" for the Paralympics — said Friday.
"The same staff will be involved, and we will benefit from what they have learned."
International Paralympic coordinators, meeting in Salt Lake City this week, also want to set a world record in public participation. They have decided to move closing ceremonies from the indoor Olympic oval in Kearns to the outdoor medals ceremony plaza near the Delta Center. Staging the event there will allow many more people to come — they hope about 225,000 — and give both of the Games a big exclamation point.
"This is the final event of the entire celebration," said Susanne Reiff, director of communications with the International Paralympic Committee. "Having it downtown will allow a lot more people to come, and with the Olympic flame burning in the night sky, we think it will make a much nicer atmosphere."
Organizers want to emulate the spirit if not the numbers of the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Paralympic Games in Sydney. About 1.2 million people turned out.
"Obviously, this won't be on that scale, but we still want to give people and the athletes a chance to come together for a one last celebration as the Olympics close," said Xavier Gonzalez, managing director for the Paralympics.
Gonzalez, who has directed three summer Paralympics, said he has every indication that Utahns are getting excited about the winter events here, noting that 900 volunteers have signed up specifically for Paralympics events. Programs are starting now in the elementary schools to attract student involvement, he said.
Tickets for the ceremonies and events will go on sale approximately mid-November, Gonzalez said. "We would like to make them available sooner," but in the past people tend to wait to buy until after the regular Olympics are under way or during the week between the two Games.
In another decision to boost excitement in the Games, Paralympics organizers decided this week that medals will be awarded in the opposite order they are traditionally handed out, with bronze first, silver second and then gold medal winners. The order will also be used for the first time at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
They also said TV coverage of the Games will be live coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies and a daily half hour taped account of the day's events.
Coordinators said they also reviewed plans for the actual opening and closing celebrations. They would not give any details about the shows but said they celebrate the heritage of the Western United States as well as highlight the Paralympic motto: "Mind, Body, Spirit."
E-mail: jthalman@desnews.com