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Romney Campaign Press Release - Mitt Romney and the Winter Olympics: An American Success Story

February 22, 2012

The Undeniable Success Of The 2002 Winter Games Has Been Noted On Both Sides Of The Political Aisle:

In April 2002, Congress Unanimously Passed A Resolution Declaring The Salt Lake Olympics The "Most Successful Olympic Winter Games Ever Held." "Whereas the State of Utah hosted the world during the largest and most successful Olympic Winter Games ever held; Whereas the people of Utah opened their hearts and their homes to the athletes of the world and represented the Nation well to the world community;..." (H.Res.363, Introduced 3/7/02)

  • The Resolution Praised Governor Romney's Work, Saying He And Other Leaders "Did A Spectacular Job." "Whereas the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, its president, Mitt Romney, and its chairman, Robert Garff did a spectacular job in staging a great Winter Olympics with class, dignity, and a proper focus on the athletic competition;..." (H.Res.363, Introduced 3/7/02)
  • The Resolution Passed 425-0. (H.Res.363, Roll Call Vote #84, 425-0, 4/10/02)

Utah's Democratic Party Chairman: Romney "Did A Commendable Job" Leading The Olympics. "[Utah] Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis said Utah's minority party has 'no gripe with Mitt Romney's handling of the Olympics. He did a commendable job. I don't think it's useful for the Utah Democratic Party to say anything other than the truth.'" (Deseret News, 2/18/12)

White House Olympics Task Force Chair Thurgood Marshall Jr. And Olympics Committee Representative Stephen Bull Praised Romney's Leadership:

Thurgood Marshall Jr. And Stephen Bull: "Romney's Skill, Energy Made Salt Lake Games A Success." (Thurgood Marshall Jr. and Stephen B. Bull, Op-Ed, "Romney's Skill, Energy Made Salt Lake Games A Success," Tampa Bay Times, 1/27/12)

Marshall And Bull: Romney "Deserves Immense Credit" For The Games' Success. "Romney met all of these challenges with relentless skill and energy, and he deserves immense credit for what was declared to be the most successful Olympic Winter Games ever." (Thurgood Marshall Jr. and Stephen B. Bull, Op-Ed, "Romney's Skill, Energy Made Salt Lake Games A Success," Tampa Bay Times, 1/27/12)

Marshall And Bull: Political Criticism Of Governor Romney's Olympics Leadership "Misses The Mark." "Recent criticism of Mitt Romney's leadership of the Salt Lake effort by political opponents misses the mark. It overlooks the unprecedented challenges that he overcame and the significant risk that he faced. We saw that on a daily basis." (Thurgood Marshall Jr. and Stephen B. Bull, Op-Ed, "Romney's Skill, Energy Made Salt Lake Games A Success," Tampa Bay Times, 1/27/12)

A Reminder — Senator Santorum Consistently Voted To Provide Funding For Security And Other Critical Purposes At The Salt Lake City Games:

December 2001: Senator Santorum Voted In Favor Of Passage Of H.R. 3338, Which Appropriated $10 Million To The Salt Lake City Olympics For "Emergency Expenses To Respond To The September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks." "For emergency expenses to respond to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, for 'Emergency management planning and assistance', $10,000,000, to remain available until expended, to be obligated from amounts made available in Public Law 107—38, which shall be available for support of the 2002 Winter Olympics." (H.R. 3338, Roll Call Vote #380, Passed 94-2-4, R: 44-2-3, D: 49-0-1, I: 1-0-0, 12/20/01, Santorum Voted Yea)

July 2001: Senator Santorum Voted In Favor Of Passage Of H.R. 2216, Which Appropriated Nearly $60 Million For Security At The Salt Lake City Olympics. "For an additional amount for 'Salaries and Expenses' to reimburse any agency of the Department of the Treasury or other Federal agency for costs of providing operational and perimeter security at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, $59,956,000, to remain available until September 30, 2002." (H.R. 2216, Roll Call Vote #228, Passed 98-1-1, R: 48-0-1, D: 49-1-0, I: 1-0-0, 7/10/01, Santorum Voted Yea)

May 2000: Senator Santorum Voted In Favor Of H.R. 4425, Which Appropriated $8 Million To The Department Of Defense For Communications Equipment, Infrastructure, And Logistical Support For The Salt Lake Olympics. "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there is appropriated to the Department of Defense $8,000,000 for communications, communications infrastructure, logistical support, resources and operational assistance required by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee to stage the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, such sums to remain available until expended." (H.R. 4425, Roll Call Vote #106, Passed 96-4, R: 52-3, D: 44-1, 5/18/00, Santorum Voted Yea)

September 1999: Senator Santorum Voted In Favor Of Passage Of H.R. 2084, Which Appropriated $5.5 Million For Transportation Programs For The Salt Lake City Olympics. (H.R. 2084, Roll Call Vote #278, Passed 95-0-5, R: 54-0-1, D: 41-0-4, 9/16/99, Santorum Voted Yea)

June 2000: Senator Santorum Voted In Favor Of Passage Of H.R. 4475, Which Appropriated $60 Million For Transportation Facilities And Transit Vehicles For The Salt Lake Olympics. "Provided further, That of the funds provided under this heading, $60,000,000 shall be available for grants for the costs of planning, delivery, and temporary use of transit vehicles for special transportation needs and construction of temporary transportation facilities for the XIX Winter Olympiad and the VIII Paralympiad for the Disabled, to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah..." (H.R. 4475, Roll Call Vote #132, Passed 99-0-1, R: 55-0-0, D: 44-0-1, 6/15/00, Santorum Voted Yea)

  • H.R. 4475 Also Appropriated $3.3 Million To The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency For Drug Testing At The Olympics. "Of the amounts provided to the Office of National Drug Control Policy for fiscal year 2001 for the anti-doping efforts of the United States Olympic Committee, the Director of such Office shall make direct payment of $3,300,000 to The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Incorporated ... The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency shall have the sole authority to obligate these funds for the promotion of anti-doping efforts relating to United States athletes in the Olympic, Pan American, and Paralympic Games." (H.R. 4475, Roll Call Vote #132, Passed 99-0-1, R: 55-0-0, D: 44-0-1, 6/15/00, Santorum Voted Yea)

Mitt Romney, Romney Campaign Press Release - Mitt Romney and the Winter Olympics: An American Success Story Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/300315

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