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International Hospitality Centers
The first of dozens of Olympic hospitality centers in downtown Salt Lake has opened. See the report, and get a link to where the hospitality centers are located.
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(Feb. 1, 2002)------View Real Video - Click On Desired Bandwidth
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The hospitality centers are operated by Olympic or government delegations from other countries, to spread a little culture in our state.
Keith McCord attended today's opening.
It's only fitting that the very first hospitality center represents the place the held the previous winter games.
The "Nagano House" is now open!
A little bit of Nagano, Japan, has arrived in downtown Salt Lake City!
Dan Mabey/Utah Int'l Business Devel. Office: "THEY'RE GOING TO SHARE THEIR CULTURE WITH US AND MANY OF THOSE WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. TODAY IT'S EXCITING TO WELCOME THE VERY FIRST ONE THAT WILL BE OPEN, THE NAGANO HOUSE."
The Nagano Hospitality House was kicked off with a Dragon Dance performed by students at Mountain View Elementary School; another group from North Park Elementary put on a mini concert, playing Japanese flutes.
For the next month, this small two-story office building will be open for people to come and sample traditional Japanese food and buy a variety of products from Nagano.
Japanese businessman, Hideo Harada, who runs the Nagano House says each day, 1,000 bowls of Miso soup will be served.
David Chandler/Interpreter: "AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PRODUCTS OF NAGANO IS MISO SOUP. AND BY SERVING MISO SOUP TO EVERYBODY, WE HOPE TO GIVE YOU A TASTE OF THE CULTURE OF NAGANO."
KEITH MCCORD: "SO WHAT'S MISO SOUP? WELL THEY PASSED OUT A LITTLE BROCHURE TO EXPLAIN IT. IT'S BASICALLY SOYBEANS, RICE, BARLEY AND SOME YEAST TO GIVE IT A LITTLE KICK... YUM!"
The first free servings of soup went to some of the school children who performed... and, the expressions on their faces show that this is probably the first time they've tried it!
But, that will be part of the fun of these foreign hospitality centers-- to learn about other cultures.
Opening soon, right next door to the Nagano House will be the Slovakia House.
Around the corner on Main Street, the Canadian Olympic Committee is getting ready.
And on South Temple, a bed and breakfast will be where Great Britain entertains guests.
And dozens of additional hospitality centers will open in the days ahead.
Many will be "invitation only", but a lot of them will be open to the public.
