Winter Olympics 2034

I hope some of you enjoyed the Opening Ceremony in Paris. It was an outdoor show that went for hours in the rain and was very entertaining and spontaneous. The fact that the King of 420 got to carry what looked like a massive doobie of a torch was too perfect.

Salt Lake City announced it is hosting the 2034 Winter Olympics! The cross country events will be held a mile from my home at Soldier Hollow. My new friend manages that venue and we happen to be getting dinner last night when he told me a story I just had to relay.

During the 2002 Olympics the organizing committee here in Utah was made up of…mostly Mormons. My friend was younger and had been an olympian in the previous two olympics. He was thrilled to help where he could in 2002. A massive press conference and celebration was taking place and that is when he got the call from Mitt Romney to come down and be the token non-Mormon who can drink the champagne in front of the press and video cameras.

So my friend gladly took one for the team. Mormons are hard core, but not so hard core that they won’t let their friends drink in proxy. Many Mormons have funny ideas about alcohol and they believe one drink could get you drunk. It could be the very reason none of the olympic committee members in Utah dared try the champagne. They probably assumed they would be drunk on camera for all to see.

With the Olympics coming back in 10 years, what will be different this time around? Utah has so much more flavor now. The 2002 Olympics seemed to be a catalyst for change in our State and the culture is not the same as it was back then. In 2034 it would be a relief to see all of the Olympic committee enjoy champagne, even just a sip and even if they are Mormon or Muslim. Hopefully it’s a diverse group this time around that better represents how diverse we are as a State.

I wonder who in Utah will rise up like Mitt Romney did in 2002. I am a big fan of several people that I think could do the job. There is a new type of Mormon developing in Utah, and they are way more tolerant of others’ lifestyles. I would love to see one of them step up. Kristin Andrus would rock at this calling. So would my friend who manages Soldier Hollow. Me and my gang and all the companies I advise will get behind whoever is chosen and we will make sure 2034 is lit, and Snoop will be there too.

Happy 420 friends

sp