HOSTING THE WORLD
A common saying in Utah recently has been that the Olympics are bringing the world to our doorstep. BYU can say the same. Many Olympic visitors will come to Provo to see everything from hockey and skating events to cultural performances. But even those who don't visit campus may get a taste of BYU.
GO FORTH TO SERVE
Of the more than 26,000 volunteers that are expected to help stage the Olympic Games, almost 4,000 are current BYU students. And as of October—with hiring just beginning—nearly 600 more students were scheduled to be either full- or part-time employees of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) during the Games. BYU students will serve as events staff, interpreters, and family hosts as well as weather aides and medics. In addition to students, thousands of BYU alumni are volunteering for or are employed with the Games.
Jennifer R. Kusch, '02, BYUSA vice president of campus activities and a student volunteer, says, "As soon as I found out that they were recruiting volunteers, I wanted to do it. I feel like it is going to be an amazing experience to meet people, to serve people, and to learn about new cultures. There's a huge level of excitement among the volunteers just because it's so close to home."
BLUE AND WHITE AMBASSADORS
Mitt Romney is one of many BYU alums behind the scenes of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Fraser Bullock, '78, SLOC's chief operating officer and chief financial officer, engineered the Salt Lake Games' financial turnaround (see marriottschool.byu. edu/marriottmag). In addition, former Cougar quarterback Steve Young, '84, is the titular head of the thousands of Olympic volunteers and will emcee the presentation of gold, silver, and bronze medals each night.
A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE
The music and dance of BYU will be seen from the opening ceremonies to the closing ceremonies and just about everywhere in between as more than a dozen BYU groups participate in Olympic entertainment.
Many BYU ensembles will be showcased in The Light of the World, a stage extravaganza in the Conference Center of the Church of Jesus Christ. Randall W. Boothe, '79, a BYU associate professor of music and codirector of the production, says, "I have received nothing but the most enthusiastic and willing responses from our performing groups, even while rehearsing in a parking lot under a hot sun. These students have toured the world and have a real appreciation for the people who have welcomed them so warmly. This is their chance to pay back that hospitality."
BYU groups will also perform at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, the Olympic Village, various competition venues, and downtown Provo.
GUIDING THE FLAME
You can discover where Leonard R. Moon is today by finding out where the Olympic torch is. A former BYU ROTC commander and current admissions office employee, Moon is the troubleshooter for the Olympic flame's course to Utah through the United States. Also assisting with the torch run are BYU student Steven E. Mott and graduate Alicia A. Keller, '00.
Moon left from Atlanta just after Thanksgiving and will arrive in Utah Feb. 8. By then he will have logged some 13,500 miles and worked with thousands of runners. When he gets to Utah, he and his wife will get to run with the torch themselves. Barbara D. Lockhart, '71, a former Winter Olympian and a BYU physical education professor, will also run with the torch in Utah.
