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News Release
July 28, 2003
Contact: Kort Utley, (801) 538-1053

Team Utah Comes Home
Youth games a success for Utah, despite the tough competition

Team Utah arrived at Salt Lake City International Airport today with plenty of tired eyes, a few bruised egos, and lots of broad smiles. The 250 Utah athletes were brimming to tell family and friends about their unique experiences over the last 12 days of competition in the Moscow-Utah Youth Games in Russia.

“The games were a great success,” said Governor Mike Leavitt. “It was a thrill to watch our youth compete, and it was an honor to watch them represent our state in a dignified way. We built friendships and diversified our experiences. Utah will be better because of it.”

Some highlights from the games include the following:

• Utah’s baseball team and women’s soccer team won gold medals.
• Two Utahns stood out against otherwise dominant Russian competition in wrestling and gymnastics. Billy Green won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling, and Jessica Duke tied for first on the floor and placed third on the uneven bars.
• Utah swimmers set 12 state records.
• Team Utah got a first hand look at Russia’s capital city, including a visit to the Kremlin and Red Square.
• The games featured Olympic-like opening and closing ceremonies, and many of the competitions were held in venues from the 1980 Moscow Olympic Summer Games. All of the athletes were accommodated in the athletes village from the 1980 games, which is adjacent to Moscow’s premier flea market.

Although the Summer Games are now completed, Utah will host Team Russia, February 2004. These games will feature approximately nine winter sports including hockey, speed skating, and freestyle skiing.

Team Utah athletes and coaches were privileged to travel to Russia for a markedly reduced cost due to a generous contribution from Utah-based Neways International.