Word: saltingly
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June 16, 1995: It's announced that Salt Lake City has won the right to be host of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Grumbling from press row. "Trouble ahead," says a grizzled veteran of the Games with a sigh. "Mormon morals--that'll bring 'em down...
What wasn't presaged by even the most knowing, most inside, most keen-nosed Olympics hound was that, more than three years before any torch lighting, the head of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee--a fine Mormon he was--would be brought down by a spousal-abuse charge, and his successor and others would fall in a huge, still widening bribery scandal. Salt Lake City wanted to hot up its image for the Olympics, and today it has no worries...
...that regard, at least. On other matters--whether it can put together an untainted administration to oversee the Games, whether it can raise enough money to support the Games, whether its reputation as an oasis of virtue in a desert of iniquity is forever forfeit--Salt Lake has nothing but woe. "We are stunned and bruised," said Utah Governor Mike Leavitt, who along with Salt Lake mayor Deedee Corradini controlled appointments to the S.L.O.C.'s board of trustees. "This does not represent the values of this community...
...worst part is, it's really not so bad-at least it wouldn't be if everyone didn't continue to point out to me just how bad it is. Some of my relatives, who smilingly call our fall semester exam system "torture", unintentionally rub salt in an open wound. Most of the friends I've kept from high school are used to my touchiness on this issue by now. They still ask how long I'll be in town for, but they only raise their eyebrows or pat me comfortingly on the back in response. But by then...
Whether or not more wrongdoing is uncovered, the Games will go on--and they will almost certainly be held in Salt Lake City. Even with three years to go, the city is on a tight construction timetable, and it's not feasible to change the location. The 16-day extravaganza, expected to cost $1.5 billion, will be the most expensive Winter Games ever. Sponsors and broadcasters are expected to shoulder $1.1 billion of the cost, but Games promoters still have to raise $250 million from corporations. So far, none of the sponsors--among them Coca-Cola, IBM and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED...