January 24, 2001 – On 29 January, 2002, athletes, coaches and officials from around the world will celebrate the opening of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Village on the University of Utah campus. On 26 January, 2001, The Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) and the University of Utah will mark the one-year countdown to the Olympic Village opening with a special media preview and tour of the facilities.

Though opening ceremonies at Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium will not take place until 8 February, 2002, the Olympic Village opening, on 29 January, 2002, will mark the start of Games operations for many SLOC staff members. At this time all staffing, systems and resources will be in place, and the Olympic Village will be fully operational.

The Olympic Village will house some 3,500 athletes, coaches and officials from 29 January until 26 February, 2002. And from 1 March until 19 March, 2002, the same facilities will serve as the Paralympic Village.

"The athletes will find the Olympic Village a wonderful facility that is efficient and welcoming," said Mitt Romney, SLOC President and CEO. "The Village will serve as a home and haven during the 2002 Games, and I'm confident the athletes will leave here with lasting memories."

"We are delighted to be able to offer such a valuable experience to the world's visiting athletes, and pleased to have this wonderful legacy for our students," added University of Utah President J. Bernard Machen. "I'm especially proud of the University's success in integrating the construction within the fabric of historic Fort Douglas to revitalize this National Landmark."

The extensive renovation of the historic buildings along Officers' Circle is nearing the final stages, and the new construction for the student housing project is complete. January 29, 2001 marks the one-year anniversary of completion of the first building within the residential complex.

In addition to the new housing units, the 70-acre Olympic Village will offer its residents a full host of goods and services, including 24-hour dining, entertainment and recreation activities, world wide web center, packaging and mailing services, dry cleaning, a bank, post office, store and newsstand, salon, coffeehouse, photo shop and florist. Most of these services will be located in the historic Fort Douglas buildings on Officers' Circle (Village International Zone). With the exception of a few historic buildings, most of the Fort Douglas structures will be incorporated into the Olympic Village.

The Olympic Village, with 21 new buildings (1 million square feet of new construction), will accommodate 3,500 athletes, coaches and officials in apartment and suite-style housing units. Occupancy rates range from single to three- and four-bedroom furnished apartments, with an average of two athletes to a bedroom and up to four persons sharing a bathroom. Most bedrooms are approximately 160 square feet in size. All bedrooms are equipped with quality furnishings, decorated with artwork crafted by Utah schoolchildren and will be provided with daily housekeeping services. Olympic athletes and coaches are scheduled to start moving into the dormitories on January 29, 2002.