Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park
Encyclopedia
The Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park is a plaza located at the south end of Rice-Eccles Stadium
on the campus of the University of Utah
in Salt Lake City, Utah
. During the 2002 Winter Olympics Rice-Eccles Stadium was known as Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium and was the site of the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the XIX Olympic Winter Games
. The plaza contains a 2002 Winter Olympic museum, the Olympic cauldron, and other memorabilia from the 2002 Olympic Games.
and Bill Schuffenhauer
. The first phase of construction, which included moving the cauldron and getting it operational was completed in February 2003, in time for the one-year anniversary celebration. The second phase, which included the visitors center, was completed later that summer, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held August 22, 2003. The park cost $12 million to construction, and was paid for with revenue and extra surplus from the 2002 games. Following the park's opening the Salt Lake Organizing Committee
(SLOC) turned over control and maintenance of the park to the University of Utah, giving them a $1 million endowment. The park is open to the public free of charge, with the exception of the film shown in the Visitor Center. Money from ticket sales for the film, along with the original $1 million endowment pays the park's operating costs.
The park has three main highlights: the cauldron, the Hoberman Arch, and the visitor center. The park is also landscaped with fountains, plants, stones, and concrete walls. 17-panels, one for each day of the Olympics, are attached to a fence on the park's southern edge. The interior side of each panel describes the Olympic highlights and events of its particular day, while the exterior sides bear the same images that were wrapped on buildings in downtown Salt Lake City
during the games.
that was lit during the duration of the 2002 winter games. The Cauldron was designed with the official 2002 Olympic motto Light the Fire Within and the Fire and Ice theme in mind. It was designed to look like an icicle
, and was made of glass which allowed the fire to be seen burning within. The actual glass cauldron is 12 feet (3.7 m) high and stands atop a twisting glass and steel support, while the flame within burns at 900 °F (482.2 °C). Together with its support the cauldron stands 72 feet (21.9 m) tall and was made of 738 individual pieces of glass. Small jets send water down the glass sides of the cauldron, both to keep the glass and metal cooled (so they would not crack or melt), and to give the effect of melting ice. The cauldron was designed by WET Design of Los Angeles, California
, its frame built by Arrow Dynamics
of Clearfield, Utah
, and its glass pieces created by Western Glass of Ogden, Utah
. The cauldron's cost was 2 million dollars, and it was unveiled to the public during its original install at Rice-Eccles Stadium on January 8, 2002.
During the games the cauldron was installed atop stands at the south-end of the stadium, which allowed it to be seen burning from various points around the Salt Lake Valley
. Following the completion of the games, the cauldron was taken down and moved to the plaza just south of the stadium. It now sits in a reflecting pool, at the center of the park, and is flanked by a V-shaped stone wall. The stones on this wall are engraved with the names of the 2002 medalists, and water cascades down into the reflecting pool from the top of the wall. The cauldron is still operational and is lit on special occasions, which included the opening weekend of the 2006 Winter Olympics
.
The striking Hoberman Arch
was originally located at the Olympic Medals Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City
. It was used as a mechanical curtain for the Medal Plaza's stage, and opened like the iris
of a human eye. When installed at the plaza it would open to reveal a large 3D sculpture of the 2002 Olympic logo and a second Olympic cauldron, known as the Hero's Cauldron. The stage not only hosted award ceremonies, where the athletes received their medals, but was used as a concert venue during the Olympics, hosting many performing artists.
Following the Olympics, plans to install the arch in some kind of park were formulated; many of Salt Lake's citizens wanted the arch to be used in an amphitheater or some kind of concert venue. But because the arch was a symbol of the 2002 games, the United States Olympic Committee
put restrictions on possible future locations for the arch (to protect Olympic sponsors from other businesses who don't have Olympic sponsor contracts). Because of these restrictions, and a lack of consensus among Salt Lake's leaders on where it would go, SLOC announced plans, on December 5, 2002, to install the arch in the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park.
On July 30, 2003, the arch was lifted onto its new permanent base using 3 cranes. It is no longer functional, although it is lit with various colored lights at night. It is located just outside the park's southern fence and is partly open which allows visitors to walk through it. A large plaque is located in the park, just in front of the arch, and gives details on the arches design and use during the Olympics, including photographs.
The center's theater plays a 10-minute film which looks back on the games and their success. This film is displayed using three different screens and special effects such as fog and lights. While the remainder of the park is open to the public free, there is a charge to see the center's film.
The film's unique experience begins in the dark, while inspiring quotes are played through the theater's sound system. Fog then fills the room, and a single light is displayed on the screens. As that light grows larger it turns out to be the lantern of a skater, known as the "Child of Light", from the opening ceremony. Then skaters are seen whooshing across the three screens, and a voice sings "there's a flame that burns in every heart"; the athletes are then shown entering the stadium for the opening ceremonies. The film continues with highlights from the opening ceremony, the sporting competitions, and ends back at the stadium with the closing ceremony.
The free areas of the center include the art gallery, which contains more than 50 photographs taken during the games (originally printed in the game's official commemorative book), and filmed highlights are available for viewing on Interactive kiosks.
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Rice-Eccles Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the campus of the University of Utah. It is the home field of the Utah Utes of the Pacific-12 Conference...
on the campus of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. During the 2002 Winter Olympics Rice-Eccles Stadium was known as Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium and was the site of the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the XIX Olympic Winter Games
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
. The plaza contains a 2002 Winter Olympic museum, the Olympic cauldron, and other memorabilia from the 2002 Olympic Games.
Park History
Construction on the park began October 2, 2002 with a ground-breaking ceremony attended by Olympians Shannon BahrkeShannon Bahrke
Shannon Bahrke is an American Olympic freestyle skier and entrepreneur. Bahrke was the silver medalist in moguls at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the bronze medalist at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and in 2003 was the World Cup Champion...
and Bill Schuffenhauer
Bill Schuffenhauer
Bill Schuffenhauer is an American bobsledder who has competed since 2000. Competing in three Winter Olympics, he won the silver medal in the four-man event at Salt Lake City in 2002.-Early years:...
. The first phase of construction, which included moving the cauldron and getting it operational was completed in February 2003, in time for the one-year anniversary celebration. The second phase, which included the visitors center, was completed later that summer, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held August 22, 2003. The park cost $12 million to construction, and was paid for with revenue and extra surplus from the 2002 games. Following the park's opening the Salt Lake Organizing Committee
Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002
The Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games of 2002 was the organization responsible for the 2002 Winter Olympics and 2002 Winter Paralympics in Salt Lake City, USA....
(SLOC) turned over control and maintenance of the park to the University of Utah, giving them a $1 million endowment. The park is open to the public free of charge, with the exception of the film shown in the Visitor Center. Money from ticket sales for the film, along with the original $1 million endowment pays the park's operating costs.
The Park
Downtown Salt Lake City
Downtown is the oldest district in Salt Lake City. The grid from which the entire city is laid out originates at Temple Square, the location of the Salt Lake Temple.-Location:...
during the games.
Cauldron
The park contains the cauldronOlympic Flame
The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928...
that was lit during the duration of the 2002 winter games. The Cauldron was designed with the official 2002 Olympic motto Light the Fire Within and the Fire and Ice theme in mind. It was designed to look like an icicle
Icicle
An icicle is a spike of ice formed when water dripping or falling from an object freezes. Typically, icicles will form when ice or snow is melted by either sunlight or some other heat source , and the resulting melted water runs off into an area where the ambient temperature is below the freezing...
, and was made of glass which allowed the fire to be seen burning within. The actual glass cauldron is 12 feet (3.7 m) high and stands atop a twisting glass and steel support, while the flame within burns at 900 °F (482.2 °C). Together with its support the cauldron stands 72 feet (21.9 m) tall and was made of 738 individual pieces of glass. Small jets send water down the glass sides of the cauldron, both to keep the glass and metal cooled (so they would not crack or melt), and to give the effect of melting ice. The cauldron was designed by WET Design of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, its frame built by Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
of Clearfield, Utah
Clearfield, Utah
Clearfield is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. The population was 25,974 at the 2000 census. The city grew drastically during the 1940s, with the formation of Hill Air Force Base, and in the 1950s with the nation-wide increase in suburb and "bedroom" community populations and has been...
, and its glass pieces created by Western Glass of Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. The cauldron's cost was 2 million dollars, and it was unveiled to the public during its original install at Rice-Eccles Stadium on January 8, 2002.
During the games the cauldron was installed atop stands at the south-end of the stadium, which allowed it to be seen burning from various points around the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
. Following the completion of the games, the cauldron was taken down and moved to the plaza just south of the stadium. It now sits in a reflecting pool, at the center of the park, and is flanked by a V-shaped stone wall. The stones on this wall are engraved with the names of the 2002 medalists, and water cascades down into the reflecting pool from the top of the wall. The cauldron is still operational and is lit on special occasions, which included the opening weekend of the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
.
Hoberman Arch
Hoberman Arch
The Hoberman Arch was the centerpiece of the Olympic Medals Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Following the Olympics the arch was moved to the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park where it is now, along with the Olympic cauldron, one the main highlights and an...
was originally located at the Olympic Medals Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City
Downtown Salt Lake City
Downtown is the oldest district in Salt Lake City. The grid from which the entire city is laid out originates at Temple Square, the location of the Salt Lake Temple.-Location:...
. It was used as a mechanical curtain for the Medal Plaza's stage, and opened like the iris
Iris (anatomy)
The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. "Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel , grey, violet, or even pink...
of a human eye. When installed at the plaza it would open to reveal a large 3D sculpture of the 2002 Olympic logo and a second Olympic cauldron, known as the Hero's Cauldron. The stage not only hosted award ceremonies, where the athletes received their medals, but was used as a concert venue during the Olympics, hosting many performing artists.
Following the Olympics, plans to install the arch in some kind of park were formulated; many of Salt Lake's citizens wanted the arch to be used in an amphitheater or some kind of concert venue. But because the arch was a symbol of the 2002 games, the United States Olympic Committee
United States Olympic Committee
The United States Olympic Committee is a non-profit organization that serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and coordinates the relationship between the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency and various...
put restrictions on possible future locations for the arch (to protect Olympic sponsors from other businesses who don't have Olympic sponsor contracts). Because of these restrictions, and a lack of consensus among Salt Lake's leaders on where it would go, SLOC announced plans, on December 5, 2002, to install the arch in the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park.
On July 30, 2003, the arch was lifted onto its new permanent base using 3 cranes. It is no longer functional, although it is lit with various colored lights at night. It is located just outside the park's southern fence and is partly open which allows visitors to walk through it. A large plaque is located in the park, just in front of the arch, and gives details on the arches design and use during the Olympics, including photographs.
Visitor center
The park's visitors center is located at the western edge of the park and consists of an art gallery, theater and video kiosk area. Large bay windows allow the cauldron and arch to be seen by visitors from inside the round glass and sandstone building, which also serves as a ticket office for the nearby stadium.The center's theater plays a 10-minute film which looks back on the games and their success. This film is displayed using three different screens and special effects such as fog and lights. While the remainder of the park is open to the public free, there is a charge to see the center's film.
The film's unique experience begins in the dark, while inspiring quotes are played through the theater's sound system. Fog then fills the room, and a single light is displayed on the screens. As that light grows larger it turns out to be the lantern of a skater, known as the "Child of Light", from the opening ceremony. Then skaters are seen whooshing across the three screens, and a voice sings "there's a flame that burns in every heart"; the athletes are then shown entering the stadium for the opening ceremonies. The film continues with highlights from the opening ceremony, the sporting competitions, and ends back at the stadium with the closing ceremony.
The free areas of the center include the art gallery, which contains more than 50 photographs taken during the games (originally printed in the game's official commemorative book), and filmed highlights are available for viewing on Interactive kiosks.