Olympic digest

By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 9, 2002

At a glance

WHEN: Through Feb. 24.

WHERE: Salt Lake City and surrounding area.

WEATHER: Predicted high of 29 with light winds.

BEYOND THE VENUES

The gold standard

U.S. gold medalists will receive $25,000 from the U.S. Olympic Committee, a $10,000 increase over past Winter Games. Silver medalists will earn $15,000, up from $10,000, and bronze medalists get $10,000, up from $7,500.

Speaking of medals ...

Athletes will receive hand-crafted medals made from native materials and designed to look more like fine sculpture than the oversized coins Olympic awards usually resemble. They resemble weathered stones plucked from a mountain stream, and no two are exactly alike. Each took about 20 hours to make.

Can anyone get a drink?

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints frown on alcohol, but according to the Colorado Springs Gazette, it's no problem to get a drink with dinner in Salt Lake City, though you have to finish one before ordering another. Beer is available at grocery stores, but the alcohol level is 3.2 percent, not the 5 or 6 percent alcohol available in Florida. Liquor and wine by the bottle can only be bought at state package stores. At bars you need to buy a $5 membership, sort of like a cover charge.

MEET A COUNTRY

Norway

LOCATION: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden.
POPULATION: 4.5-million.
CAPITAL: Oslo.
COMPARATIVE AREA: Slightly larger than New Mexico.
WINTER OLYMPIC STARS: Ivar Ballangrud (skating), Bjorn Dahlie (skiing), Stein Eriksen (skiing), Sonja Henie (figure skating), Johann Olav Koss (speed skating), Birger Ruud (skiing).
BEST CHANCES FOR GOLD: Kjetil Andre Aamodt (men's combined alpine skiing), Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (men's 10K, 12K pursuit biathlon), Bente Skari (women's 1.5K, 10K classical cross-country skiing), Adne Sondral (men's 1,500 speed skating), Kari Traa (women's moguls).
RECOGNIZED BY IOC: 1900.
NOTABLE: All-time medals leader for Winter Olympics.