Sheryl Crow, Creed and the boys of ’N Sync have all signed up for the 2002 Winter Olympics, lending their world class talents to the festivities. A different top-selling act will perform each night of the February games and are expected to attract record numbers to the Olympic Medals Plaza in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“We’ve tried to combine some of the festival of Lillehammer in 1994 with the live sites of Sydney in 2000,” says Salt Lake Organising Committee (SLOC) president Mitt Romney of the concert series. “This is the gold standard of musical entertainment, from country to pop to alternative and Latin.”
“We really wanted bands that would be attractive to the athletes,” said Scott Givens, managing director of SLOC’s creative group. “Even in approaching the acts, what interested them was that they would be performing for the athletes.”
“There is little financial compensation for these bands compared to a regular tour date,” he added.
Twelve acts have been confirmed in all, including pop rockers Smash Mouth, country singer Martina McBride and Latin heart-throb Marc Anthony.
Yet with the exception of Canada’s pop act Barenaked Ladies, there was a notable absence of non-US stars on the bill. However, four slots still remain unfilled and Givens assures those concerns will be rectified in time.
“I think you’ll be very proud at the end of the day of the roster we will be putting out,” he says.
The concerts will take place at the 20,000 capacity stadium constructed for the winter games. The Dave Matthews Band will kick off the festivities on February 9, with Motown legends the Temptations wrapping things up on February 24.
Demand for the concerts will likely be astronomical, with producers promising the largest celebrations in Olympic history. Tickets are set to be handed out free of charge, but will be required for admission. Each medal-winner will receive ten tickets to the concert on the day they receive their prize.
US network NBC will air one song from each act nightly as part of their coverage.
The final line-up, including opening acts, will be unveiled in January.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
