University of Utah Office of Olympic Planning and Operations records, 1988-2002

Salt Lake City was selected as the site for the 2002 Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee in June 1995. The University of Utah was designated as the site for the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies and the location of the Olympic Village. In September 1995 the University formed an Olympic Oversight Committee to engage in negotiations with the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) with the aim of upholding the University's academic mission during the course of Olympic planning as it pertained to the students, faculty, and staff. By March 1997, the Olympic Oversight Committee was at a point in its negotiations with SLOC that it perceived a need to have one point person to better coordinate the University's issues, concerns, and objectives. Dr. Wayne McCormack, Professor of Law, was appointed as the Olympic Coordinator in March of 1998. He established an Office of Olympic Coordination with the purpose of directing all Olympic planning activities across the University campus, coordinating intern recruitment for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, fostering placement of Olympic volunteers from the University's students and staff, overseeing all Olympic events related operations as they drew near, and promoting academic and cultural opportunities for the campus from its Olympic connection. The office's name was later changed to the Office of Olympic Planning and Operations in 1999.