WASHINGTON ? The U.S. House planned to officially thank the people of Utah on Wednesday for hosting "the largest and most successful Olympic Winter Games ever held."
And in a day of mutual admiration, Utah officials traveled to numerous federal agencies and congressional offices to present Olympic torches in gratitude for federal help with the Games.
The House was expected to pass a resolution Wednesday afternoon praising the Olympics. The measure was sponsored by Reps. Jim Hansen and Chris Cannon, R-Utah, and Jim Matheson, D-Utah.
It congratulates Utah, the U.S. Olympic team and athletes from around the world "for an outstanding and inspiring 2002 Olympic Winter Games" ? and one that several House members said was the safest ever.
"That was no small feat in light of the 9/11 world that we live in, where terrorism and threats are a daily routine," Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., said during debate.
The resolution specifically thanked volunteers and public safety officers. It noted that 19,5000 volunteers helped at the Games, along with 7,000 law-enforcement officers and 5,400 members of the armed forces.
"This year's Olympics were victorious over anxiety and skepticism," said Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla. "I'd also like to thank and congratulate the residents of Salt Lake City for opening up their homes and, more importantly, their hearts to the world and making this a truly magnificent experience."
The resolution also honored the U.S. team for winning a record "34 medals, including a record 10 gold medals." It noted that "African-American and Mexican-American athletes won medals for the first time in Winter Olympics history."
Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., said all that was made possible by such people as former Salt Lake Organizing Committee President Mitt Romney and others who took over after the bid scandal, saying they "recovered from a shaky start and produced a truly outstanding competition."
Lantos also praised Utahns as "gracious hosts who made both our international guests and our fellow Americans from around our nation feel welcome and at home."
Hansen said the Olympics went off "without a single incident," and "truly made America proud while keeping the focus on peaceful international competition and the spirit of human achievement."
Meanwhile, SLOC Chief Operating Officer Fraser Bullock was making the rounds to headquarters of the departments of Treasury, Education and Veterans Affairs and at numerous congressional offices presenting Olympic torches in gratitude for federal assistance at the Games.
In one ceremony, where he presented a torch to chiefs of the Secret Service, Customs Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Bullock said, "The federal government never hesitated one second in terms of its faithful support of the Olympics."
For that, Bullock said Olympics officials felt the need to come and say thanks to federal officials.
Jimmy Gurule, a native Utahn who is now under secretary of the Treasury for enforcement ? and oversees the Secret Service, ATF and Customs, accepted a torch for those agencies and said, "It was a pleasure for Treasury to be part of this very wonderful event."
He said the Olympics were "a demonstration and model of how law enforcement should work, and how it needs to work _ especially post 9-11. We need to look at that coordination beyond just the Winter Olympics."
Bullock especially praised the Secret Service as the lead agency in charge of coordinating security. "They were thorough. They were professional. They knew what they were doing," he said. "To have the confidence that we were protected by the best was truly magnificent."
As an example of the high priority the federal government gave to Olympic security, Gurule said he had two immediate worries when he heard of terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. He said the first was the safety of President Bush and his family.
"The second thought that struck me was security for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics," and he said top priority was given to ensure its safety.
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