Thanks to the Golden Globe Award Show, the organizers of the 2002 Winter Games were forced to announce the lineup for the opening ceremonies. It seems that names of some of the performers, including Sting, were leaked during the broadcast Sunday night.
Mitt Romney, head of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee said, “they surprised us. We had planned to make a separate announcement but they bet us to it.
Headlining will be Sting and other American performers include Rita Coolidge and Robbie Robertson, country artists the Dixie Chicks, LeAnn Rimes and the Bunkhouse Orchestra, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Yo-Yo Ma, and the Utah Symphony.
Don Mischer, who is producing the opening ceremonies, said that while acts such as N’Sync who will perform at the closing ceremonies command fees of $150,000 to $200,000, they will appear for the minimal fee of $900 to $1,000.
“When you perform at the Olympics you have to be willing not to be the sole focus, you have to want to be part of something that is bigger and more important”.
About 12,000 auditions were conducted and 4,000 performers were chosen, 98 per cent from Utah. Cast members range in age from six to 91 years.
Romney said some 450 seats are still available for the opening ceremonies at a cost of $885 available at SLOC’s Web site.
