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After the Games, venues to live on
By Sara Giles
Deseret News staff writer
For many, the 2002 Winter Games will end when the last fan marches out of the Olympic venues.
But the Utah Athletic Foundation's job will be just beginning.
The UAF will assume responsibility for the venues after the Salt Lake Organizing Committee turns them over to the state on May 1.
"Our mission is two-fold, to have viable venues open to the public and the development of high-level sports," said Cathy Priestner-Allinger, who will take over as the foundation's chief executive officer once her stint as SLOC's sports director is over.
She said after past Games, Olympic venues have been neglected. In the case of Lake Placid it cost $25 million to get the venues up and running long after the Games were gone.
She said she thinks Salt Lake is in a position to avoid those problems because of the planning involved for the venues' post-Games operations.
"It's been very valuable to look at the successes and the failures of other cities and try to avoid many of their mistakes," Priestner-Allinger said Wednesday morning.
UAF will be funded with a $40 million endowment from SLOC. The foundation will also receive a share of any money raised above SLOC's budgeted revenues.
To keep in the forefront of the international sports world, UAF is determined to hold at least one major sporting competition a year at the venues, as well as maintain training areas.
So far UAF has secured the 2005 luge world championships and hopes to add bobsled and speedskating competitions to the list.
The UAF was adamant in providing a location where the public, not just the elite athletes, can enjoy the venues.
"We want the public to have access, which means we don't want to charge exorbitant fees," said Randy Dryer, chairman of the foundation's board.
E-MAIL: sgiles@desnews.com
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February 21, 2002
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