Salt Lake City Olympics will put focus on diversity
Patrons visiting Salt Lake City during the 2002 Winter Olympics will find a city remarkably packed with diversity, even with the prevalence of the predominant culture.
As reported in an article in Newsweek magazine last fall, many commentators have already dubbed this year’s Olympics the “Mo-lympics,” but according to Salt Lake Organizing Committee officials and representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this might be one of the most culturally diverse Games yet.
“We wanted the athletes and visitors to all be recognized equally so we started the diversity initiative,” Kirsten Goulet, a spokesperson for SLOC, said.
The diversity initiative is a program launched by the organizers of the Games to promote faiths and cultures from around the world.
“We have also set up an Interfaith Council which will give all the athletes participating a chance to worship the way they want,” Goulet said.
She said The Church of Jesus Christ has helped a lot in the preparation for the Olympics, but only when called upon to do so.
“They were treated like every other organization in the Salt Lake community,” Goulet said.
Randy Ripplinger, a spokesperson from the church’s Public Affairs Department, said before the Olympics were awarded to Salt Lake City, the church’s president indicated they must take a neutral stand.
“Once the bid was awarded to Salt Lake, the leaders asked themselves the question, ‘What will be the church’s role during the Games?'” Ripplinger said.
Because of the large influence of The Church of Jesus Christ in the Salt Lake area, they knew it would be important to be a good host for the visiting nations, but they would only do whatever was asked of them and not sway the decisions of the organizing committee one way or the other, he said.
“We simply wanted to be a good community partner,” Ripplinger said. “We want to be good hosts and help people enjoy themselves.”
A letter was also issued by The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ to congregations in Utah requesting the participation and support from the members in the area.
According to the letter, “The church is supportive of Utah’s efforts to make the 2002 Winter Games successful and memorable – not only for the thousands of people who will come here to watch or participate in the Games, but also for the citizens of the state who will work together to accomplish this historic task.”
As the planning process began, The Church of Jesus Christ did not promote its facilities or resources for use during the Games, but it did provide the organizers the assistance they needed when it was requested.
“One of the biggest ways that the church has assisted is by allowing the use of land in various locations around the state,” Ripplinger said.
For instance, the property where the ski jump is located in Park City is owned by the state, but the area where the ski jumpers land is owned by the church, he said.
The only action The Church of Jesus Christ has taken without being prompted by SLOC has been the organization of the production, “Light of the World: A Celebration of Life,” which will provide Olympic-goers a broad view of cultures from around the world.
The production itself is geared to address the diversity of the nations of the world and the common ground everyone has by being a part of the human race.
“Light of the World” also includes pre-show performances by people from various cultures around the world.
Ripplinger said, “[The show] focuses on the things we have in common regardless of race or creed.
“We sought for people who speak different languages and come from different cultures,” he said.
SLOC has worked with The Church of Jesus Christ and other organizations in the Salt Lake area to make the 2002 Olympics an enjoyable experience for everyone attending.
“The cooperation between the organizing committee and the church has been very good,” Ripplinger said. “I assume they have treated every community partner the same.”