The 2002 Olympic Games
With Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley
Washington Post Sports Reporters
Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002; 11 a.m. EST

Is it too late to schedule a trip to the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City? How has the level of security at the games changed since Sept. 11? Who can we expect to bring home the gold?

Washington Post sports reporters Elissa Leibowitz and Amy Shipley were online to answer all your Olympics related questions -- from how to get there and what to see to individual sports and athletes to watch.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Alexandria, Va.: How do you expect the U.S. team to do this year? Where will our country be strong and where will we be weak?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: The U.S. has a goal winning more then 20 medals which would be outstanding and the U.S. team is strong in areas it has been weak in the past such as skiing. It is also strong in some of the newer sports in the program such as freestyle skiing and skeleton.

Austin, Tex.: This might be a ridiculous question, but why do they call the sled-like sport "skeleton?" This has always bugged me.

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: Way back at the turn of the century when the sport was invented in Switzerland a sled that was designed specifically for the sport looked like a skeleton.

Arlington, Va.: How is Salt Lake City dealing with the Olympics? Are the people there excited or dreading the mass influx of people and two week headache of putting on an international spectacle?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: Overall, the folks in Salt Lake are excited to have the eyes of the world on them and are thrilled to host the Games. Take this example: So many locals signed up to volunteer at The Games that organizers had to turn many of them away. When the budget had to be delicately sliced, people did so cheerfully. Well, maybe not cheerfully, but respectfully. And the economy will certainly boom for a month there, and who wouldn’t want that?

People are naturally worried, though, about transportation issues. While lessons seem to have been learned since the transportation debacle in Atlanta in 1996, I would guess that the locals would be worried about crowds aboard the buses and trains and—rightfully so—about people who have no experience driving in snow or on ice. They seem prepared, though.

Those who don’t want to be in town are fleeing for their mountain lodges or the warm coast of California.

Arlington, Va.: Is Salt Lake beefing up security for the Olympics? How has it changed since Sept. 11?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: Security is most certainly beefed up for these Games. With 70,000 visitors expected each day, security is a primary concern. Organizers are spending upwards of $30 million on it. More than 6,000 law enforcement, fire, medical and emergency personnel are expected.

Four years ago, Salt Lake organizers created the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command to unify the local, state and federal efforts for security. A good thing they did, because the events of Sept. 11 are calling for more attention to security. Still, the only changes the safety command says it is making since Sept. 11 is using the Utah National Guard to further bolster their public safety efforts. We’re sure that a lot more is going on behind the scenes, though.

Going to the different venues will be like going to an airport—metal detectors, bag searches, etc. Parking is restricted, as is what you can bring into the different venues. Likewise, airspace over Salt Lake City is restricted during the Olympics.

Florida: Why is it still possible for people to get tickets for this years Olympics? Did Atlanta have such a problem with attendance?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: Many companies and corporations gobbled up tickets at the beginning of the distribution process to give to employees and clients. After Sept. 11, though, fears of travel and a weakened economy led to the return of some of those tickets to Olympic organizers. They then were made available to the public. As one ticket organizer told me a few weeks ago, there are a "robust" number of tickets still available.

This seems to be a unique situation to these Games; a month before the Atlanta Games, few tickets were to be found.

But with decent airfares available right now, especially from the Washington area—you can fly Southwest nonstop from BWI to Salt Lake City International Airport for under $400—you could go to the Olympics for a lot cheaper than you normally would be able to.

Chicago, Ill.: Howdy. Maybe it's just me, but I'm really not too excited about this Olympics. The recent Sports illustrated article detailing how federal dollars have been wasted on "Olympic-related" projects just sort of sealed the deal for me. Before that it was the scandals, Samaranch, the high prices (does anyone else think these ticket prices are exorbitant), Samaranch, and the dread knowledge that I'll have to watch NBC's godawful coverage again. Sorry to vent, but just had to say so. Thanks.

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: You might be slightly interested to know that NBC plans to change their coverage somewhat for these games. Doing more on competition then sappy features. The fact that the Olympics aren't across the world, so there will not be such a time difference, will allow events to be seen live. Also, the fact that too much money may be being wasted on these games doesn't change the fact that the United States will have an unusually strong team for the Winter Olympics as a time when a lot of people are feeling patriotic.

In skiing the U.S should get some medals with skiers like Picabo Street coming back and new stars like Bode Miller on the rise. In all of the so-called X-games sports like snowboarding the United States is the best in the world. In hockey, women's and men's, the United states is strong. In all of the sliding sports, from skeleton to bobsled to luge, the U.S. has the potential to win medals. And of course in figure skating with Michelle Kwan and Tim Goebel -- they will win medals for sure.

Washington, D.C.: Why should I care about figure skating?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: Because it is a sport that is judged it is inherently controversial which always makes for lively debate. It is also a sport in which you see the athletes up close and can feel their pain or elation. Finally, there is always something dramatic emerging at major figure skating events.

Chapel Hill, N.C.: I am a critical care nurse who has long worked with patients post-injury or paralysis, so I was delighted to discover that we will be in Utah during the Paralympics. I looked on the Olympics Web page, and although there is some information, I'd like to know more about how well the Paralympics are funded/organized, etc. What is your take on this event, which I have heard little about? Many thanks!

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: The Paralympics follow the regular Olympic Games and run from March 7-16. They follow a similar program as the Olympics, albeit on a smaller scale. There’s a torch relay, opening and closing ceremonies and the nearly all the same events as the Olympics.

What some of these athletes are able to accomplish is humbling and amazing. Still, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of interest in the Paralympics outside that community.

But the event is well-supported. Dozens of corporations give them money. An Internet-only auction for highly sought-after tickets to Olympic events benefits the Paralympics.

The Paralympics have a separate Web site, which is why you probably didn’t find a lot of info on the official Olympic site. Go to www.paralympics2002.com for more info.

Fairfax, Va.: Good morning,

What's the best way for me to keep up with what events are happening when, as far as watching them on TV? Should I just look at my TV guide, or is there a Web site I could check that will be more detailed?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: Take a look at www.nbcolympics.com.

Bowie, Md.: Is the TV programming strategy going to be "Men will watch anyway, so we have to show lots of figure skating to attact women" again?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: Actually, NBC considers women to be probably its strongest core audience for the Olympic games so they are trying to attract more men between the ages the ages of 18-35 because they feel that audience is missing and declining. Their attempt to do that will include showing more live competition in these games.

Delray, Va.: Can you give us the scoop on the opening ceremony? I haven't heard a thing about it.

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: You can expect an opening ceremony that won't be quite as glitzy and glamorous as for example the one in Sydney for the 2000 games. That was one area that fell victim to some extent to Salt Lake City's budget cuts after the scandal of 1999. No word on who will light the Olympic torch, but Salt Lake leaders admit that they will not be able to top Muhammad Ali at the '96 Olympics.

Washington, D.C.: Help! We have our air, car, and housing all nailed down, but don't have event tickets -- so many were available a week or so ago that we got complacent, and now the slc2002 website is showing most events (except curling) are sold out. Should we panic, or do you think we'll be able to get tickets when we get there? What is the best way for us to get tickets at this late date?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: A lot of people heard in the past few weeks that tickets were widely available, so they started making last-minute plans to travel to the Games. In that time, though, tickets started moving quickly. Have been monitoring www.tickets.com/olympics, which is the official site for purchasing tickets? I just perused it, and there seems to be tickets available to many events. Sure, the premier events, like figure skating and US men's hockey, are sold out, but depending on when you are going, you certainly could see curling, ice hockey, speed-skating, cross-country and an number of other events.

I wouldn't wait until you get there, though. The only tickets that may be available at that point are from scalpers and at jacked-up prices.

Somewhere, USA: Which events and who are the people that we should be looking out for, to make a large impact.

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: For the U.S. in the sliding sports, watch for Todd Hays, Jean Racine, Becky Wilczak.

In skiing look out for Bode Miller, Caroline Lalive, Kristina Koznick, and Picabo Street.

In hockey the U.S. women's team will be fun to watch again. The U.S. men's team has to redeem itself for its poor and disgraceful appearance in Nagano (not only did that team fail to medal but the players trashed their dormitory rooms before they left).

In freestyle skiing there is Hannah Hardaway and Jeremy Bloom

In snowboarding there is Rosey Fletcher and other medal hopefuls.

Those are just a handful of the U.S. athletes to watch.

Washington, D.C.: Is the U.S. going to win in men's hockey this year? Last Olympics was a disappointment.

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: They are certainly capable of winning and they most definitely should have learned from their experience in Nagano. They can't just walk in there and demand a medal.

Virginia: Who is in charge of security? The Secret Service or the FBI?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: Under a presidental directive set in place after the Atlanta Games, the Secret Service takes the lead in planning, the FBI in intelligence and response and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in "consquence management." The state government created the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command to consolidate the local, state and federal forces. All this was solidified during an Oct. 2 meeting that Olympic officials had with the President, congressional leaders, the FBI and Secret Service directors and the secretary of the Army and others.

Copeland, S.C.: Having gone to the Atlanta games, I found that the excitement and much of the competition that I remembered from the 84 and 88 games was gone. Would you expect the Salt Lake City games to be a return to that excitement and fierce competition?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: In my opinion the Atlanta games were disappointing for the excess of commercialism. That won't exist in Salt Lake City so the games should feel more pure. They probably won't return to the level of excitement in '84 simply because security will be so extensive.

Washington, D.C.: Viewership has been down for the Olympics in the last couple of years. Why do you think that is?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: The last two Olympics in Sydney and Nagano have both been across the world, which means that almost nothing has been shown live on television. I think that is the biggest reason the games have been less compelling to watch.

Pulaski, Va.: There has been much reporting done on the Mormon church based in Salt Lake City, notably a Newsweek cover story several months ago. Is there any fear that this Olympics will be used by the Mormons to convert those in attendance, or do you think they will simply "showcase" their religion?

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: Three out of four of Utah's 2.2 million residents are Mormon, including Olympic Chief Mitt Romney. There had been debates about what the Mormon's role would be in these Games.

The Mormons are planning their own activities during the games, including exhibits and shows. Elder Neil Andersen, one of the church's general authorities, has pledged that his folks won't be overly aggressive. As he said, "We want to share our values, but we realize people coming to the Olympics are coming for the Olympics."

Vienna, Va.: With all of the scandals surrounding how Salt Lake City got the program in the first place, why is there so much hoopla over the games there? And why is the media not reminding everyone of these scandals? Apparantly a lot of people have short memories -- I don't.

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: The show must go on. The scandal happened, it was recognized, folks were punished and lessons were learned. Should the athletes be penalized for that?

Reston, Va: I was in Utah (lived in Cedar City for 10 years) over Christmas. When I flew out Salt Lake City airport was closed because of the fog and the temperature inversion. I was surprised as fog and the inversion are not unusual there. It's going to be interesting if the airport closes while people are trying to fly in for the games.

Also, the inversion leads to serious air quality problems. If it's bad, you can taste the air in Salt Lake. It's sort of metallic.

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: It's an interesting point. Hopefully, people are planning to arrive well before the events they are planning to see, in case a flight is cancelled or postponed because of the weather.

Silver Spring, Md.: Vienna had a good point (I think you were too quick to shrug it off) We should not be glorifying a situation that arose out of scandals. And apparantly, contrary to your reply, lessons were NOT learned -- look at how Peking (Beijing) wound up with the next set of games.
True, don't blame the athletes (never mind the fact that probably half of them are on steroids and don't get caught). But don't glorify a situation that doesn't deserve to be glorified. Like Vienna, I will probably boycott the games myself.

Elissa Leibowitz & Amy Shipley: To each his own, I suppose. I think it's possible to recognize the scandals involved with these Games and still enjoy the look of sheer joy when a skier sets a record, to see a hockey team collapse sheer exhaustion after an overtime win, to get teary-eyed hearing the national anthem and to agonize along with an athlete who has trained for years and years, only to get injured at the last minute. While we shouldn't forget the scandals, we also shouldn't be so shortsighted as to forget what the Olympics are about.

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