Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld arrived in town today to meet with Gov. Mike Leavitt, attend some Olympic events and fire up the troops guarding the 2002 Winter Games.
Leavitt met Rumsfeld at the National Guard section of the Salt Lake airport complex and was to accompany the secretary of defense on a tour of the Olympic Village, after which they were to attend events at the Olympic Oval, E Center and Delta Center (Salt Lake Ice Center), governor's spokeswoman Natalie Gochnour said.
Rumsfeld is to spend tonight at the Governor's Mansion and before leaving town, meet Wednesday with some of the 5,000 military troops protecting the Olympics.
"It's a chance to come out and visit, see where they're living, say 'Hello, glad you're out here,' " said Lt. Col. Lisa Bogdanski, spokeswoman for the Joint Task Force Olympics. "It's been in the works; we just didn't have a particular date until just recently."
Rumsfeld is the latest in a long line of President Bush's Cabinet members who've come to Utah at the request of Leavitt. Secretary of State Colin Powell joined Bush during his visit for the opening ceremonies, and Vice President Dick Cheney is expected to attend closing ceremonies on Sunday.
"The governor has very strategically tried to get people important to our state's future to be here during this important time," Gochnour said. "I imagine he will visit with Secretary Rumsfeld just like he has visited with everyone else ? that is, be a good host, share our state's encouraging message and hope that he can see firsthand what makes this such a great place."
FBI Director Robert Mueller and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge both gave glowing reviews to Utah's security preparations for the Games during their visits. In January, Attorney General John Ashcroft said Utah was so well prepared the Olympics could be held here regularly. Following his visit, however, Ashcroft also agreed to send more federal officers to help patrol Park City Main Street during the Games.
Rumsfeld is not scheduled to meet with officials from the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command, a consortium of more than 60 federal, state and local agencies protecting the Games.
"I don't know that there's a reason to meet with him," UOPSC Commander Robert Flowers said Monday, adding that UOPSC is reminding officers to remain alert despite an unusually uneventful first week of the Games.
"To start patting yourself on the back is a little early yet," Flowers said.
Rumsfeld is also scheduled to meet with roughly a dozen military personnel who are competing at the Winter Games in sports such as men's and women's bobsledding and biathlon, Bogdanski said.
"That's another reason for his visit," Bogdanski said. "To congratulate them for making the Olympic team and also for the competition and a game well done."
E-MAIL: djensen@desnews.com