The Associated Press
South Sound resident Alex Goff says visitors to the Olympics, such as these fans at Tuesday's speedskating competition, have ample opportunities to have fun.

It's easy to have a good time at the Games

Originally published Wednesday, February 20, 2002

Is this the no-fun Olympics? Far from it. During a lull in the women's aerials -- and there weren't many -- the presenters interviewed former NFL great and Utah native Steve Young about the games and his home state.

People may have been surprised, Young said. They may have had some notions about Utah that the Games have put to rest.

Oh, we know what he's talking about, don't we. The no-drinking, all-business, holier-than-thou Utah. Well, it's not here. You can find a party in Utah, and you can have fun at the Games, on the slopes, or on the streets.

This was supposed to be the Olympics that scared away the sophisticated Europeans because you had to jump through a series of hoops to get a drink. But judging from the rousing business being done for the locally produced Polygamy Porter (showing Utahans have a sense of humor, too), anyone who stayed away was mistaken.

People are having a good time. From the group of men with sparkly antennae offering Free Olympic Hugs -- "Everything else is expensive, but our hugs are free" -- to the a cappella, red-haired Bobsled Singers, to Sheryl Crow performing at the Medals Plaza, people here are finding a party.

Yes, you can buy a beer at a restaurant, and no, going a day without a beer wouldn't kill you (my wife, Jennifer, teases me as I feel bound by honor to sample any region's microbrew). But over and above that, the events are plain fun.

And like any good party, they're fun in part because they're planned right. Transportation problems? Bring in buses from all over the country. That's even becoming a game. Which did you ride on today, San Diego, Chicago, Cleveland, Tacoma?

How about the fact that at every venue you have thousands of people who don't know what's going on? Have lots and lots of volunteers who know the answers to the questions. Oh, and they're so nice. You feel like you're the only one there.

We point out a policeman to explain to our son where he should go if he's lost. The policeman comes over, says hi to our kid, gives him a high-five and offers him a pin.

We arrive at the mountain and there's one person there just to tell us where the toilets are. Toilets. Never underestimate the importance of the number, availability, and cleanliness of toilets. At this venue there are toilets only halfway up the mountain -- but so many!

"Wow," says Jennifer, noting there are equal number for men and women.

And then there's security, where the people handing out plastic buckets for your metallic objects (I didn't know I had that much metal on me) chat about how awesome the prelims were, how much people are offering them to let them in without a ticket (a lot), and our son's cool hat.

The security personnel are friendly, nice to kids and pleasant with anyone they have to scan with a wand.

We come out of the aerials and a line of volunteers and national guardsmen are there to high-five anyone who comes through, especially kids.

This is the where they made an effort. It's not easy to travel the miles and miles to get to and from the events, but there's always a bus waiting, or at least someone to tell you where to go (in the nice way).

There are people to give you something to do as you wait for the start, and there are food, music, people in goofy hats, beer, and, yes, Free Olympic Hugs.

South Sound resident Alex Goff, his wife ,Jennifer, and their 5-year-old son are at the Olympics this week. Alex is writing daily stories for The Olympian about their activities.

On the Web:

The Olympian Copyright 2002

back to Salt Lake 2002 index