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Samantha Hayes ReportingThe Winter Olympics of 2002, they put Salt Lake City on a world stage. And for millions around the world, the games are still putting Utah on the map.
Midseason numbers indicate Utah's ski slopes could see their third record-breaking season in a row. In terms of exposure and advertising, nothing equals the Olympic Games. But putting on the world's biggest sporting event costs the host country billions. That makes the immediate financial success of the Salt Lake City Olympics a somewhat surprising legacy.
Torino could take a little longer to find itself in the black. We spoke to the Governor of the Piedmont region, of which Torino is the capitol. Mercedes Bresso hopes the Olympics will bring long-term economic success to the city by transforming its image.
Before the Olympics, this Italian city was well-known for two things. It's the home of auto-maker FIAT and the keeper of the Holy Shroud.
Mercedes Bresso, Governor, Piedmont Region: "Not so well known as a tourist destination."
But that's the goal. The governor of the Piedmont region is counting on the Olympics to boost the economy of northern Italy by transforming its image.
Mercedes Bresso: "We expect one million and a half more tourists to this region."
The city also wants to attract services and high-tech companies. And there are plans to utilize venues like the Oval and the Athletes village.
Mercedes Bresso: "As campuses for universities, as low coast apartments for people and for the hospital."
It's all part of the formula government leaders are counting on to make money in the long-term, because as it stands now, Torino lost tens of millions of dollars on the Games.
Europeans pay higher taxes and have a greater expectation of government funding. Whereas in Salt Lake City we benefited from corporate sponsorships and advertising, which netted 150 million dollars back to the city.
Mercedes Bresso: "The games, we expect, will be from a financial point of view, a little loss."
Torino did look to Salt Lake City for security planning.
Mercedes Bresso: "Coming after Salt Lake and the 11th of September for us, as for Salt Lake the problem of security was a very strong problem."
Now, after years of looking ahead to the games, Torino hopes to capitalize on its Olympic legacy.
Mercedes Bresso: "For us, the opportunity to be known is beautiful and exciting."
The city is already benefiting from a new subway system that was not ready for the Games, but certainly accelerated because of it.
