SALT LAKE CITY — During news interviews today, President Gordon B. Hinckley
praised the efforts and skills of volunteers who helped make the 2002 Winter
Games a success. "What a great resource we had in the language ability in
so many of our people who had served missions abroad in many countries and speak
with ease in the language of the people with an appreciation for their
culture," he said.
The Church president said the Church kept its promise to avoid the appearance
of making the Olympics the "Mormon Games," as some news media had
predicted. He replied, "We did just the
opposite."
President Hinckley responded also to questions about how visitors felt about
the Church and its people before and after their visit to Salt Lake City. He
said he enjoyed his visit to the snowboard halfpipe competition.
To the question of whether he feels "let down" as some do now that
the games have ended, he replied, "I'm glad it's behind us, that it went so
well, and I'm looking forward to new opportunities." The Church president
said he is now focusing on a general conference in April and the dedication of a
new temple in Arizona.
