FEATURE/General Motors Makes Unprecedented Commitment to 2002 Olympic Winter Games; More Than 5,000 GM Vehicles to Provide Transportation Solutions for Salt Lake Games
Asset Caption: Olympic Legend Bonnie Blair and the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Mascots help unveil the General Motors Olympic Vehicle Fleet in Salt Lake City. GM is making an unprecedented commitment of more than 5,00 vehicles to support the infrastructure of the Olympic Winter Games.
Asset Caption: Web-ready logo
Asset Caption: Press release
Asset Description: Word document
Business Editors & Feature Writers
NOTE TO MEDIA: Photo is available in a Smart News Release(TM)
on Business Wire's Home Page at
www.businesswire.com and at www.newstream.com
SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--Jan. 16, 2002--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 Games, are providing 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 includes 2002 model year trucks and cars representing seven GM brands - Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Saturn - and is the largest allotment of vehicles ever used in staging an Olympic Games. The Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games 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 had 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 manages the GM Olympic Vehicle Fleet, which serves 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
As part of the Olympic Motor Pool, a special unit of 200 full-size vans, highlighting GM's commitment to applying innovation and technology to address the world's energy challenges, is assigned to shuttle Olympians to and from workouts and competitions. These bi-fuel vehicles, which include the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana, are fueled by Compressed Natural Gas, producing little evaporative emissions.
"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 these Salt Lake Games."
The GM vehicles were produced at manufacturing sites throughout North America and then shipped via rail to Clearfield, Utah. Before they were officially turned over to SLOC for special Olympic preparation and distribution, each vehicle received the standard new vehicle inspection, including safety and operational checks.
More than 2,500 volunteers have been selected by SLOC to serve as drivers of the fleet vehicles and were supported by a comprehensive, job-specific training program.
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 full line-up of more than 150 Chevrolet cars
and trucks 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.
General Motors, the world's largest vehicle manufacturer and official domestic automotive partner of the U.S. Olympic Team through 2004, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide. By providing transportation solutions for the Olympic Games through its significant commitments to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC), General Motors is helping bring the Olympic Spirit to communities everywhere.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
To download a complete media kit about the GM Olympic Vehicle Fleet, please visit http://media.gm.com.
Note: A Photo is available at URL::
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.011702/bb2