Ogden-born lawyer Tom Welch and car salesman Dave Johnson were in charge of the Salt Lake Bid Committee and took an aggressive approach to winning the Olympics. They flew out to Europe, Latin America, and Africa to meet with the International Olympic Committee members.
Even after all of this, the 1998 Games went to Nagano, Japan, in a 46-to-42 vote. Many felt the reason was that the US had recently been awarded the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Others, including Welch, believed it was because Nagano had better wined and dined the officials.[1]
Welch and Johnson decided to try harder the next round. Prior to the IOC vote for 1998, they had given out Stetson hats to delegates. For 2002 they decided to give out more than hats.
Millions were spent on perks including all-expense-paid ski trips, thirteen scholarships, Super Bowl trips, and plastic surgery. IOC members were given deals on real estate, and their family members were given jobs.[2][3] Cash bribes may have been employed. When the scandal broke, the cryptic "geld document" allegedly recorded personal preferences of IOC members.[4] Beside some members' names, the document contained the word "geld", (German for "money") arguably indicating such members' receptiveness to cash bribes.
The plan worked, for in 1995 the IOC announced Salt Lake City the winner. 50,000 people gathered outside the Salt Lake City and County Building to hear the formal announcement.