[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 99 (Friday, June 16, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8543-S8544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SALT LAKE CITY 2002 WINTER OLYMPICS

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, the Members of this body have had 
experience in Utah with our winter sports facilities, as my 
predecessor, Jake Garn, invited Senators to come to Utah and enjoy the 
Senators' Ski Cup.
  It is now my happy duty and privilege to announce to all of the 
Members of the Senate that the winter sports facilities of Utah have 
now attracted more than even the U.S. Senate. Just a few minutes ago, 
the International Olympic Committee announced that Salt Lake City, UT, 
will be the site of the Winter Olympics in the year 2002. This is a 
demonstration of the superior facilities that are available in Utah. We 
think it is well deserved.
  I want to pay tribute here on the floor to the thousands, if not tens 
of 

[[Page S8544]]
thousands and even hundreds of thousands, of Utahns who have gathered 
together to support the Olympic bid. We lost it for the 1998 Olympics 
by one vote. We have learned here in this body how elections can be 
decided by one vote. There are some who suggested that the awarding of 
the Summer Olympics to Atlanta in 1996 hurt our bid, as the 
International Committee felt they did not want to have Winter and 
Summer Olympics back-to-back in the same country. Be that as it may, 
the disappointment of losing in 1998 has now been washed away in the 
excitement of winning in the year 2002.
  We have a slogan in Utah that has been prepared for the Olympics. It 
is emblazoned on the banners as you come into our city. It is in the 
airports. It is all over the State. It is: ``The world is welcome 
here.'' We are delighted to be able to announce that the world that has 
been welcome in Utah is now coming to Utah. We are looking for the most 
exciting Winter Olympics in history in the State of Utah in just a few 
short years.
  We were so excited I had to come over to share this news with the 
Members of the Senate. I thank the Chair and the Members for the 
opportunity to express this. It is a great day for the people of our 
State and, frankly, for the people of our Nation as well. This is the 
first time the Winter Olympics have come back to America since Lake 
Placid in 1980. I think that is a long enough wait. We are delighted to 
be able to say, as I said, the world is welcome in Utah. And the world 
is coming to Utah.

                          ____________________