KSL.Com > 2002 Olympic Coverage > KSL Special Reports

Soldier Hollow Soldier Hollow will hold competitions every day of the Olympics, and one-third of all medals will be awarded there. News Specialist Jed Boal takes us out on the course. (Jan. 19, 2002)------ Hear that huffing and puffing? That's the sound you'll hear at Soldier Hollow if you watch a cross country or biathlon race out on the course. Four-time Olympic biathlete Lyle Nelson is the venue sport manager. He believes Soldier Hollow will become the icon of the 2002 Games. Lyle Nelson/Soldier Hollow Sport Manager: IT'S ROLLER COASTERS. TOUGH UPS, QUICK DOWNHILLS AFTERWARDS. THEY'RE GOING TO LOVE IT HERE! For the first time the biathlon and cross country are merged in one venue, which will also host the skiing portion of Nordic combined. At 5,500 feet it's the highest nordic venue ever and with a capacity of 15,000 it's one of the largest venues of the Salt Lake Olympics. During the last two years, Soldier Hollow has held more than a dozen national and international championship races. 1,400 people work the venue, another 1200 athletes will arrive each day. The general manager says everyone is ready to go. Phil Jordan/Soldier Hollow General Manager: YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER GROUP OF PEOPLE TO BE ASSEMBLED, THE GREAT MOTIVATION BEING PASSION. PASSION FOR THE SPORT AND PASSION FOR THE OLYMPICS. John Aalberg/Soldier Hollow Operator and Designer: EVERYTHING IS IN THIS HUGE AMPHITHEATER. John Aalberg-- a '92 and '94 cross country Olympian and University of Utah All-American-- designed the course and started plans to lay out the venue five years ago. John Aalberg/Soldier Hollow Operator and Designer: WE CAN REALLY SHOWCASE THIS SPORT. NORMALLY, YOU SEE SKIERS START AND THEN DISAPPEAR INTO THE WOODS AND COME BACK A HALF-HOUR LATER. HERE YOU CAN REALLY SEE THEM MOST OF THE RACE IN FRONT OF YOUR EYE FROM YOUR SEAT. This venue will rock. The Nordic sports are the football, basketball and baseball of many European countries. The athletes? Their heroes. John Aalberg/Soldier Hollow Operator and Designer: THEY NAME AIRPLANES AFTER THESE GUYS. THEY PUT THEM ON CEREAL BOXES. IT'S JUST LIKE THE MICHAEL JORDANS OF EUROPE THAT COME HERE. Spectators will see the racers battle it out across the course and down to the finish, to win by the tip of a ski. Lyle Nelson/Soldier Hollow Sport Manager: ALL ACROSS THIS BIG BOWL, THIS AMPHITHEATER, SKIERS WILL BE GOING UP AND DOWN. THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THEM. IT'S A CAT AND MOUSE SITUATION. Jed Boal/Eyewitness News: WHILE THE BIATHLON AND CROSS COUNTRY COURSES MAY BE THE BEST EVER FOR SPECTATORS, IT COULD ALSO RANK AMONG THE TOUGHEST EVER FOR THE ATHLETES. Lyle Nelson/Soldier Hollow Sport Manager: THIS COURSE IS THE HIGHEST MAXIMUM ALLOWED ELEVATION. THE AIR IS THINNER AND THE HILLS ARE TOUGH HERE. DURING THE OLYMPICS YOU'VE GOTTA GO ALL OUT ON EVERY UPHILL. But Nelson calls the course enjoyable, and knows the athletes will leave it all out there during the Games.

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