Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson welcomed hundreds to the Salt Palace Convention Center for the city's Olympic Open House Agenda meeting Wednesday, August 1.

"We hope our constant communication will foster the most community involved Olympics ever," Mayor Anderson said.

Mayor Anderson also spoke of his experience of witnessing the community togetherness of the Sydney Olympics, which he attended.

After initial comments by the mayor and other officials involved in city Olympic planning, the crowd dispersed to talk to individual city and Olympic organizers.

Representatives from the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, Police Department, Chamber of Commerce, Permits and Licensing, Community Events, Transportation, Fire Department and Post Office set up shop to educate and answer questions about changes to Salt Lake City during the Olympic confusion.

Most of the representatives said they were excited for the opportunity to participate in the open house to discuss plans for February.

"Who would come to listen to police babble on? But they did," said Scott Folsom, Salt Lake City Assistant Chief of Police.

The open house was also an opportunity for recruitment. Ramona Lobato, a recruiter for Host City Olympic Planning used saltwater taffy as enticement for people to pick up volunteer applications.

Lobato gave away about 350 applications and hopes to get about 2000 volunteers by the time the games begin.

"Once it gets closer people get excited. When it's actually here we can get into it or be miserable," Lobato said.

The event was, as the title inferred, free and open to the public. Some of the visitors included representatives from the Utah Animal Rights Coalition complete with a cow costume to protest the Olympic Rodeo.

"The only reason this thing bucks is the flank strap, also called a bucking strap. Other devices they use are things like a 5000 volt electric prod," said David Berg, the Legislative Director for UARC.

The members of UARC solicited signatures for a petition adressed to Mitt Romney for the purpose of halting the Olympic Rodeo.

A few city organizations appeared to anticipate little change. Both the Salt Lake City Fire Department and the Postal Service said that they anticipate doing very little differently.

"We will continue the same level of service in the city," said Scott Freitag, SLC Fire Department public information officer.



Copyright Brigham Young University 6 Aug 2001