The premiere of "Light of the World" drew thousands to the LDS Conference Center on Tuesday night, among them Olympic dignitaries, media and community leaders.
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and other IOC members were welcomed to the performance by Bishop H. David Burton, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Also attending were Salt Lake Organizing Committee President Mitt Romney, SLOC board member Bob Garff, Gov. Mike Leavitt, congressmen, state legislators and other community leaders.
Tuesday night's production was dedicated as a benefit for Olympic Aid, a charity event to benefit children worldwide. President Gordon B. Hinckley welcomed those in attendance, telling the crowd, "I didn't come to preach. I came to see the show." He praised Olympic Aid as a "great cause." Of the production, which details parts of LDS history intertwined with Olympic biographical sketches, he said, "I hope you will find it beautiful, informative and entertaining."
Audience members were handed contribution envelopes as part of the evening's program, and receptacles for donations were waiting in the foyers following the event. There was no official tally of funds raised available at press time.
Olympic documentary filmmaker Bud Greenspan, whose work was featured as part of the production, called the performance "marvelous. There's nothing else to add."
The production features short segments of several former Olympians who overcame adversity to triumph in spirit, if not on the medals platform.
Co-producer David Warner said all of the more than 800 volunteers involved in the project "hope the production speaks not just for us (as a church) but for people everywhere who see the light in the athletes and all who reach for the highest within themselves."
His colleague, Randy Boothe, praised the synergy generated by volunteers working together in "an exceptional collaboration."
Olympic Aid spokesman Johann Olav Koss praised the church during a reception following the production for its willingness to host the benefit. A four-time speedskating gold medalist, he promised that charity organizers would "give what you have given tonight to the kids that need it the most."
The charity has become an officially sanctioned part of the Olympic movement and drawn the support of several world leaders. Archbishop Desmond Tutu and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan will participate in a roundtable discussion on Friday sponsored by Olympic Aid. They will be joined by World Health Organization Director General Dr. Gro Brundtland and Ruud Lubbers, high commissioner of the U.N. refugee agency. Rogge will also attend.
Ann Romney, wife of Mitt Romney, was instrumental in helping organize the benefit performance, and thanked Utahns at the reception for the "warmth and love we have felt in this community," and praised their efforts to aid children.
Local developer and Olympic Aid supporter Kem Gardner also thanked the LDS Church and the charity's organizers who have secured the cooperation of many athletes who will be donating their skates and skis to raise money for the charity on eBay. Some past donations, including Koss' own such donations, have raised tens of thousands of dollars to benefit the charity. After his performance during the Sydney Games, Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe's signed swimsuit went for $100,000.
Koss has said Olympic Aid's goal is to raise $5 million in Salt Lake City. Olympic Aid was initiated during the Lillehammer Winter Olympics.
Gardner said Utahns have an added incentive to donate, noting that half the money raised "will remain in this community to help our children."
E-MAIL: carrie@desnews.com