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American Morning

Look Back at Olympic Issues

Aired February 25, 2002 - 08:11   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: So the Olympics ended, as they always do, on a high note. But over the past 17 days, Salt Lake City was the scene of incredible security, some great athletic matches and, of course, a lot of controversy.

CNN's Rusty Dornin looks at what kind of mark on the city the 2002 winter games will leave behind.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The torch is out; the celebration history. But there's some party favors left over for Salt Lake to enjoy. A new stadium, an ice rink, and more freeways to make rush hour a little easier, to name a few. Expensive taxpayer gifts, some critics say, won't do a lot for folks who live here.

CHRISTOPHER SMART, EDITOR, "CITY WEEKLY": Freeway system, we need it. Light rail line, we need it. Do we need 120-meter ski jump? Don't think so.

DORNIN: But city fathers have big plans for those big-ticket items.

MAYOR ROCKY ANDERSON, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: We will be in this area the premier training and competition site for winter sports for, I think, generations to come.

DORNIN: Utah also sees potential dollar signs from folks who might want to experience for themselves that place they saw on TV.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But I think the resorts will -- you know, they -- a lot of people have seen Park City now and they'll want to go back. But I'm not sure about downtown Salt Lake.

DORNIN: Downtown Salt Lake became party central during the Olympics. A lifestyle some here could grow to like.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like excitement. I like the energy that it's brought. And I hope it changes and we continue to have a lot more excitement and fun.

DORNIN: But fun, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) alcohol, had partygoers throwing bottles at police Saturday night. Still a Mormon-dominated city and state, alcohol use is frowned upon. ANDERSON: Rocky Anderson, how are you?

DORNIN: But Salt Lake City Mayor, Rocky Anderson, has high hopes events downtown will continue, alcohol included.

ANDERSON: We're going to provide that kind of downtown experience on Friday and Saturday nights and continuous going. And I think there is a real hunger for that.

DORNIN: No one here expects Utah's liquor laws or conservative attitudes to change overnight. But when the world came to town, one group of Utahans were here in mass.

SMART: The most impressionable group here are the young people. They're the ones who have been crowding the Medals Plaza. They're the ones that this is going to have a big impact on them. And, you know, perhaps they're going to -- they're going to come out of this a little bit more cosmopolitan than their parents or Utah's leaders.

DORNIN (on camera): Barring scandals before and during the games, protests and one riotous party, the Olympics were a success. A success likely to give a big boost to this city's self esteem.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Salt Lake City, Utah.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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