Group Looks To Serve Visitors During 2002 Games
The Sydney Olympics have attracted scores of Utahns seeking a first-hand
look at what hosting an Olympics entails,
especially for government agencies, and the organizers of our 2002 games.
But some Utahns went in preparation for another dimension of the
Olympics.
Bruce Lindsay has the story from Sydney's Olympic Park.
Over three weeks, we've shown you Utahns who've come here to consider
ways to house, move, protect, welcome, and entertain visitors from around
the world.
A few Utahns have come here to consider how to serve those
visitors, and, perhaps to address their spiritual needs.
Wayne Froderberg, Major, Salvation Army: "IT'S A WONDERFUL TIME TO COME INTO THE COMMUNITY AND JUST SERVE. TO JUST
SHARE THE LOVE OF GOD AND SAY WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE
CELEBRATION TOO. WE'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO MAKE A
CONTRIBUTION."
Major Froderberg heads the Salvation Army in Salt Lake.
At a tent in Olympic Park, he's getting a look at one aspect of
efforts by Sydney's Christian community to give service during the games.
Besides providing diversions like face painting, and
offering printed stories of faith, the coalition of churches is providing
homes and hosts for athletes' families, and hospitality centers in town.
June Evans, Utah Games Network: "WE WILL BE LOOKING TO BE A PART OF SHOWING THE WORLD THAT SALT LAKE
LOVES PEOPLE. AND WE'RE HERE TO SERVE."
June Evans of Bountiful is a lay person
volunteering for the Utah Games Network, a coalition of Utah Christian
churches united to provide an integrated ministry during the games of 2002.
Ken Mulholland, Utah Games Network: "IT DRAWS US TOGETHER, BECAUSE PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS OFTEN
APPRECIATE AND RESPECT ONE ANOTHER, BUT NEVER GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK SO
CLOSELY TOGETHER AS WE DO IN AN EVENT LIKE THIS."
Utah Games Network leaders say their Olympic opportunity has more to do
with Christian service than about teaching doctrines.
Lowrie McCown, Chair, Utah Games Network: "I HOPE THAT THE CHURCH COMMUNITY IS SEEN AS A GREAT PARTNER WITH THE
LARGER UTAH COMMUNITY, OF HELPING TO DEMONSTRATE THAT UTAH IS A GREAT PLACE
FOR THE GAMES TO BE HELD."
McCown says churches in the Utah Games Network will try to serve
athletes and other visitors as home hosts, in hospitality centers, as
Olympic volunteers, and will use the games as an opportunity for their own
spiritual renewal.
For more information about the Utah Games Network, go to www.utahgames.org.
