General Motors Commitment To 2002 Olympic Winter Games
FOR RELEASE: November 7, 2001General Motors Makes Unprecedented Commitment To 2002 Olympic Winter Games
More Than 5,000 GM Vehicles to Provide Transportation Solutions for Salt Lake Games
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - As the world's largest vehicle manufacturer and official domestic automotive partner of the U.S. Olympic Team through 2004, General Motors is making an unprecedented commitment of more than 5,000 vehicles to the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
The vehicles, supplied by GM to help support the infrastructure of the upcoming Games, will provide transportation solutions by "driving" Olympic athletes, dignitaries, officials, coaches, staff and volunteers to and from competition venues, hospitality and housing areas and other key locations throughout Salt Lake City and surrounding areas during Games time. The GM Olympic Vehicle Fleet will include 2002 model year trucks and cars representing seven GM brands - Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Saturn - and the largest allotment of vehicles ever used in staging an Olympic Games. The Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games will take place February 8-24, 2002.
"General Motors is very pleased to provide a critical solution to some of the inherent logistical challenges that are a part of every Olympic Games," said Steve Tihanyi, Director of Marketing Alliances & Regional Operations, General Motors. "Both USOC and SLOC have a monumental task in preparing for this international event, and we're just proud to help contribute to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games with a fleet of reliable, quality vehicles. Supporting this effort is a natural fit for us."
SLOC's Olympic Family Transportation unit will manage the GM Olympic Vehicle Fleet, which will serve three primary transportation categories:
- Olympic Motor Pool - Transporting athletes, coaches, dignitaries, officials and volunteers
- SLOC Vehicles - For SLOC staff, security and contractors
- Key Olympic Groups - To serve transportation needs of International and National Olympic Committees, Media and Olympic sponsors
"Staging an Olympic Games presents countless operational requirements. Reliable transportation is one of them, which is why the support from General Motor is so important," said Mitt Romney, SLOC president and chief executive officer. "Never before has there been such a massive undertaking for Olympic Games transportation like the one GM is behind for the upcoming Salt Lake Games."
The GM vehicles are being produced at manufacturing sites throughout North America and then shipped via rail to Clearfield, Utah. Before they are officially turned over to SLOC for special Olympic preparation and distribution, each vehicle receives the standard new vehicle inspection, including safety and operational checks. Final vehicle shipments are expected to arrive in Utah in late November.
More than 2,500 volunteers have been selected by SLOC to serve as drivers of the fleet vehicles and will be supported by a comprehensive, job-specific training program which launched earlier this week.
To complement this massive "on-the-ground" vehicle effort in Salt Lake City, Chevrolet - which is GM's lead division for the Olympic Winter Games - is providing even more transportation solutions for the Olympic Movement with vehicle support through the following initiatives:
- Chevrolet is a presenting sponsor of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay, with a convoy of 50 Chevrolet vehicles helping to carry the Olympic Flame across the United States.
- Chevrolet also is supporting aspiring U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls and their families through a direct vehicle donation program, Chevrolet The Team Behind The Team, where selected athletes receive a Chevrolet Tahoe, Silverado, Malibu or Venture through Chevrolet's network of 4,300 dealerships nationwide.