Although Utah is an almost-dry state, several exceptions will be made for the Olympics. Salt Lake City leased Gallivan Plaza to Anheuser Busch brewery, though only 3.2 per cent beer will be served. But the big event will be the city-sponsored Downtown Festival in Washington Square. Drinks will be served in only one self-contained area; alcohol will be served in specially-coloured cups so police can easily spot minors drinking; there will be separate lines for checking identification and buying alcohol; and only one drink at a time can be purchased. Also, the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has banned Irish coffee and chocolate laced with schnapps from the square. But for the outdoor Festival, brandy in specially labeled cups, spiced wine and 3.2 per cent beer has been approved.
Metal detectors are going up this week around Temple Square, the 35-acre complex owned by the Mormon Church in downtown Salt Lake City. Detectors will go up at entrances to Temple Square, along with most of the other church buildings in the complex. Guards and hundreds of security volunteers will staff the metal detectors and perform bag searches.
They may be protested, but starting this weekend some 120 SafeGames 2002 volunteers will be in downtown Salt Lake City and Park City handing out free condoms, health information cards, glow sticks, hand warmers and lip balm. The agencies responsible include Planned Parenthood of Utah and the American Red Cross. Salt Lake City will be the first Olympic host city where a quarter-million “safer sex kits” will be distributed. During the Atlanta, Nagano and Sydney Games athletes had access to free condoms at Olympic medical clinics. But Utah will be the first provider of the safe-sex kits to the general public.
Even mascots are being protested. The Animal Protection Institute in Sacramento is upset that some people in Utah hunt coyotes, the same animal that is one of the cartoon mascots for the 2002 Winter Games. Zeroing in on the mascot named “Copper”, the organization has issued a news release headlined “Utah slaughters Olympic mascot”. Camilla Fox, the group’s national campaign director, said, “when athletes and visitors descend upon Utah, this disregard for an Olympic mascot is not the image of America we want the world to see”.
And finally, e-bay.ca is getting into the Olympic act. On the e-bay Web site the Canadian Hockey Association is offering “a hockey lover’s fantasy package” which includes 20 tickets in a luxury box in the main arena for every Olympic hockey game including the Gold and Bronze finals; 20 tickets to a Team Canada social where you can have dinner with Canada’s top hockey stars from the Men’s and Women’s Olympic hockey team; an official autographed Wayne Gretzky Team Canada jersey and an official autographed Mario Lemieux Team Canada jersey. The auction ends February 10 at 6:00 p.m. EST.
