About the Games (Salt Lake City 2002)
Expanding Programme
The Games saw the expansion of the Olympic programme to 78 events, including the return of skeleton and the introduction of women's bobsleigh, with the two-person event. Athletes from a record 18 National Olympic Committees earned gold medals, including first-ever golds for China and Australia.
Nordic Gold
Samppa Lajunen of Finland became the first Nordic combined athlete to win three gold medals at one Games. He entered the 15km cross-country phase of the individual event in third place and easily made up ground to win the gold. In the team event, he anchored Finland to victory, then added another gold in the sprint.
Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympic Games Legacy
Discover the lasting legacy that this edition of the Olympic Games created for its hosts.
Memorable Firsts
By taking the silver medal in singles luge, Georg Hackl of Germany became the first person in Olympic history to earn a medal in the same individual event five times in a row. In the women’s bobsleigh, Vonetta Flowers of the U.S. became the first Black athlete to earn winter gold, while ice hockey player Jarome Iginla of Canada followed as the first Black male winner.
Ski Jump Surprise
Having never previously won a World Cup event, Swiss ski jumper Simon Ammann rose from obscurity to win the normal hill in a closely fought contest. Four days later, he proved victory was no fluke by storming to victory on the large hill with the best jump in each round.
NOCs: 77
Athletes: 2,399 (886 women, 1,513 men)
Events: 78
Volunteers: 22,000
Media: 8,730 (2,661 written press, 6,069 broadcasters)
Skeleton
There were two events: one for men and one for women. The event was held for the first time at the 1928 Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
New Technology for the Judges
Introduction of instant video replay in figure skating.
An Oval Almost in the Sky
1,425m is the altitude of the Utah Olympic Oval, the highest covered oval in the world.
Two Olympic Champions
Two golds were awarded in pairs figure skating rather than a gold and a silver. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board decided to award Jamie Salé and David Pelletier from Canada a gold medal in the figure skating, pairs competition in Salt Lake City. Following a meeting with IOC President Jacques Rogge, International Skating Union (ISU) President Ottavio Cinquanta called an ISU Council meeting on 14 February, following the figure skating, men's free skate, competition.
The ISU Council decided to suspend Judge Marie Reine Le Gougne for misconduct and to recommend to the IOC Executive Board that it also award a gold medal to Jamie Salé and David Pelletier. The IOC Executive Board agreed with and accepted the recommendation from the ISU to award the gold medal. The IOC Executive Board thanked the ISU Council for its speedy resolution of the matter for the sake of the athletes involved and those still to compete.
For the First Time
Estonia and Croatia won their first medal in Olympic Winter Games history.
USA in Bobsleigh
With two medals in the four-man competition, the United States won its first medal in men's bobsleigh since 1956.
Ceremonies
8 February 2002, Salt Lake City. Climax of the Opening Ceremony.
Official Opening of the Games by:
President George W. Bush
Lighting of the Olympic Flame by:
The American ice hockey team, gold medal winners in Lake Placid, 1980.
Olympic Oath by:
Jim Shea (skeleton)
Officials' Oath by:
Allen Church (Alpine skiing)