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Samantha Hayes ReportingUtahns will be always feel a special connection to the Olympics, after hosting the Games in 2002. It is even more special this year for local families who trace their heritage to Torino. One Utahn who will be visiting family in Italy and carrying the joint resolution making Torino our sister city.
As the Olympic Games move forward to the next destination, this time Torino, Italy, Michael Homer looks back--back in time to when his family lived there.
Michael Homer: "When I served an LDS mission in the 1970's, I first had the chance to visit Torino. I went up into the valleys where my great-grandfather was from, went to the original home they lived in, got to know the current owner of the home. Since then it's been a sort of pilgrimage."
He is returning for the Games and to renew his family connection.
Michael Homer: "The fact that it's right on the heels of the Salt Lake Olympics is sort of fortuitous."
Michael Homer has studied Italian history in detail, and his family's legacy. They were Mormon converts and immigrated in 1854.
Michael Homer: My great-grandfather went out to live on Antelope Island for two years, taking care of Brigham Young's cattle. I do have a first edition Italian Book of Mormon, one of the few that was bound special by Lorenzo Snow, and this was a presentation copy to Wilford Woodruff."
Now the connection continues through the spirit of the Olympic Games. Homer says Torino learned a lot from watching Salt Lake City and is excited to welcome Utahns to their country.
Michael Homer: "And to some extent, I think they got that idea when they were here in Utah. Even though volunteerism has been part of the Olympic city prior to the Utah experience, but I think we took it to a new level. So the Italians are very excited that these young boys and girls from Utah say, 'Hey I want to volunteer in Torino.' So it's going to be very exciting to reconnect with them as well."
Michael Homer is also the chair of the State Historical Society Board.
