2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games Virtual Cache

2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games

According to Jaques Rogges, Chair of the International Olympic Committee, the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Games were "flawless". To date they are the most profitable games, summer or winter. The fact that there was a profit rather than a loss is amazing enough. What's even more astounding is that the profit was large enough to start a fund for the maintenance of the venues. The 2002 Olympic venues continue to be used to for sporting events of all kinds and to train future Olympians. The venues are in such good shape, they make Salt Lake a serious contender to host the 2030 Olympic Games.

The "voice" of the events that occurred at the Utah Olympic Park (UOP)  and continue to be hosted there through today is Carl Roepke, better know as the "Voice of the UOP". This gifted Utah broadcaster has followed the US Olympic Team to all subsequent Winter Olympic Games, including the games that start the day this cache was published in PyeongChang, to be the English voice on site for the luge, skeleton and bobsled events.

In addition to the winter sports legacy the 2002 Olympic Games gave Salt Lake, they left indelible marks on the area. In 2002, Utah was seen as having the most restrictive alcohol laws in the country. Those laws continue to be loosened to make the state more welcoming to visitors. Many people, including me, "discovered" Salt Lake during their visit for the Olympics and moved to the area in subsequent years. As a result, Salt Lake is now one of the fastest growing cities in the US.  Business followed the people. Now Utah is one of the largest technology hotspots outside of Silicon Valley, even earning the nickname Silicon Slopes.

Now we can see the positive legacy the Olympic games had on Salt Lake. Even with all the good things that came from Salt Lake hosting the Olympics nothing is quite equal to the thrill of the games themselves. This virtual takes you to a place where you can stroll down memory lane of the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Games. The questions are designed to help you recall some of the highlights of the games, or perhaps for some younger cachers, to learn for the first time about the when the Olympics came to Salt Lake.

Remember these?

The Utah Olympic Park where the posted coordinates are located is accessible 9 am to 6 pm every day except major holidays. During the winter, there may be events occurring where it will be very crowded potentially making it difficult to find some answers. For any questions about hours, call 435.658.4200. There is no fee to enter the park or museums.

There are two requirements to log this virtual cache:

(There is no physical container for a virtual cache. To log a find online you must complete the two requirements below. Online found logs without the requirements will be deleted which will make me sad. If you want to log a find, PLEASE complete both requirements.)

1) Please message or email me the correct answers to 12 of the 18 questions.  The questions are generally in the order most people go through the museums. They start outside at the posted coordinates and wend their way through the Alf Engen Ski Museum then upstairs to the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum.

2) When you are done with the questions, take a picture of you and/or your GPS in or on one of the sliding devices (luge, skeleton, or bobsled) available in the lobby for that purpose. Please attach it to your log.

1. What are the names of the men in bronze at the posted coordinates?

2. Without instructors and coaches, Olympic skiers would never reach their full potential. Who was inducted into the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) Intermountain Division Hall of Fame in 2013? (Hint: Careful not to confuse Halls of Fame. This question is NOT about the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame)

3. Prior to the construction of the Utah Olympic Park (UOP) for the 2002 Olympics, where did future Olympic ski jumpers practice and compete (What is the name of the venue)?

4. What did Mitt Romney, Chair of the 2002 Salt Lake Games Organizing Committee, say the Olympic cauldron would have been without generous donations?

5. What iconic Utah symbol did Stephanie LaRee Spann run the Olympic torch past upon its entry into the state? [Note: Question is asking for the SYMBOL not where the symbol is located]

6. What sport did US men sweep (won gold, silver, and bronze)? (Hint: Look for the picture with three men in it)

7. What Utah ski resort played host to the downhill ski events?

8. Name three of the animal puppets on display from the opening ceremonies.

9. Who won silver in the men's aerials at Deer Valley? (Hint: His skis are on display)

10. Who is Utah's First Family according to the closing ceremonies? (Hint: They are not human)

11. What country won gold in the debut of women's bobsled?

12. What local Salt Lake City jeweler made the Salt Lake Olympic Games medals?

13. What type of skates did Apolo Anton Ohno wear during his mesmerizing short-track speed skating races? (Hint: There's a pair donated by a different Salt Lake Olympian on display)

14. Who won the gold for women's figure skating beating out the favorite from the same country who fell during her long program?

15. What countries (men & women's) won the gold in curling, a sport which became a surprising fan favorite?

16. What is the official name for the device that Paralympians use to play ice hockey? (Hint: one is on display)

17. What former Salt Lake Mayor helped women's ski jumping become an Olympic sport, unfortunately not in time for the Salt Lake Olympics?

18. What are the names of the mascots of the Salt Lake Olympic Games? (Hint: Check out the pin display)

Virtual Reward - 2017/2018

This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.

A huge THANK YOU to all the cachers who found my caches and awarded them favorite points. This virtual is possible because of you.

If you wish to visit other Utah Olympic Legacy sites, coordinates are provided below in additional waypoints. Most of the memorabilia and information are at this site which is why the virtual is located here.