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Show WASATCH MOUNTAIN FINALLY - A FRESH FISH APPAPORT APPIN: TIMES P.C. Film Fest or Winter Games? One Must Go By LB. Rappaport SUNDANCE — A joint press conference with actor Robert Redford, Tom Welch, Olympic Organizing president, and oil baron Earl Holding has just revealed that there isn’t enough room in Park City for the 2002 Winter Games and the Sundance Film Festival. The pow-wow has _ followed months of speculation that the town just isn’t big enough for the two of them — the film fest drawing tens of thousands of New Yorkers and Los Angeleans and other weird types, who drink booze and imbibe in things we can’t mention here. Increasingly, Park City residents and businesses have been complaining about the crowds drawn to the film festival. There is moaning about lack of parking, lack bar stools and a lack of people who spend money on ski equipment and lift tickets - or even pretend to look athletic. Perhaps worst of all, is the complaining about the wardrobes of the film-goers, who dress almost entirely in black. The friction became hot last month when the schedule of the 2002 Winter Olympic events was released. The slalom and giant slalom skiing events were somehow scheduled during the very same 10-day period usually dominated by the Sundance independent film extravaganza. In what is being called a compromise, the Olympic ski races will be moved out of Park City to make room for an expanded film festival. The men’s and women’s slalom and giant slalom races will be moved to Earl Holding’s Snowbasin ski resort, Welch announced. In exchange, the film festival has agreed to show several Warren Miller ski flicks. Additionally, Holding will pay Welch a sum that will make his salary commensurate with that of the president of the Atlanta Summer Games. In essence, that means the oil magnate will pay Welch about Welch, donning a black leather jacket in a show of solidarity with film-goers “Ski races at Snowbasin is an idea whose time has come.” Later, in a private conversation, Welch was overheard to say he desemved “every (cent: “It's” my Olympics, I brought ‘em here. I can do what I want.” Back at Park City, however, everyone was not happy. Launa Lerr, a city council member, complained that the film-goers were weird, rather than cool. “My constituents are tired of seeing all these people dressed in black. It puts us in a bad mood,” she said. Beyond that, the city councilwoman said film fest attendees are slovenly and rude. “They don’t even know how to order wine. Skiers are much cooler than these so-called Hollywood types,” she said The Park City Chamber of Commerce wasn’t sure what to make of the Olympics-Film Fest announcement, but a group of Main Street merchants is circulating a petition in an effort to bring the Olympics back to Park City. Calling themselves “Merchants for Olympics, or Nothing” (MOON), Moonies for short, the business people say they won't be robbed by Holding or the Sundance Kid. “We'll go right to Juan Antonio RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED 649-3140 7 DAYS A WEEK « 5:00-MIDNIGHT ¢ OYSTER BAR & RESTAURANT 350 MAIN ¢ PARK CITY, UTAH The next time you go out in ask for Park City Squatters Ales & Lagers. If your favorite place , doesn’t have 1T Samaranche, himself, to get the Games back,” said Park City Gadfly Ruth Geewhiz. “We are the heart of American skiing,” she said. “And if anyone says otherwise, they’re dead meat.” Ah, yes, that’s the Olympic spirit! @ Take New Home a Best Friend $372,000 a year through 2002. A that beaming the deal Welch told will make reporters everyone happy, except for some of the grumpier people in the Park City ski community. “This is a win-win situation,” said 801-649-5441 SPAY OR NUETER YOUR Good PET PAGE 13 for what ales you.™ | | |
