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VANCOUVER -- For the past four Olympics, a Salt Lake man has been in charge of the athletes' villages. He's lived all over the world setting up the accommodations where the different countries stay; but this village, he and many others say, is the best yet.
This Olympic village is so good, Dan Merkley may call it quits after this. The Sugarhouse man's wife just had a baby and doesn't want to move to London or Russia to raise her. Plus, he says Vancouver may be hard to beat.
Overlooking False Creek, on the west end of downtown, the village is prime real-estate.
Speed skater Catherine Raney-Norman said, "When I wake up in the morning, I have a view of the Vancouver skyline. I tell people I have waterfront property. I love it here."
Even the snowboarding half pipe crew couldn't hold back their smiles!
The man to thank is Merkley. "They're saying this is the best they've seen. They, meaning the international delegations and athletes. They're giving us some great accolades right now," he said.
There are three things Merkley and his crew have to get right. He said, "I call them the bed, bread and sled."
The beds have to be comfortable, the food nutritious, and transportation smooth. But what sets this village apart: location, location, location.
"We've got downtown Vancouver right behind us. We have a gorgeous harbor, and the village is situated in a metropolitan center," he said.
Once the Olympic games are over the building will be turned into housing. Some of the penthouses on the top floor are going for $1,000-$2,000 a square foot.
Freestyle aerialist Jana Lindsey said, "We're in these great apartments. Everything is huge! I need to explore it more."
Jeret "Speedy" Peterson said, "I didn't even have to bring a toothbrush. We have everything."
The Olympic village is home away from home for 82 nations during the Olympics, the most ever during a winter games.
It's perhaps the last village Merkley will be a part of. Being a Utahn at heart, he hates to admit this about the village here: "Sorry Salt Lake, I think Vancouver got you beat!"
He's not sure what he will do once the Olympics are over. He's hoping to move back to Salt Lake because it loves the state so much.
There is also a separate Olympic Village at Whistler for the athletes competing there.
E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com
