A Healthier You

photo of Scott Williams, Utah Department of Health Executive Director

Most of us will never be at an Olympian level of health, but we can achieve some sort of optimal health of our own. The Olympics have not been used for that before. Scott Williams, Former Utah Department of Health Executive Director

Hosting the 2002 Olympic Winter Games meant bringing the world's greatest athletes together. For many Utah residents, it also means using the Games as motivation to embrace lives of health and wellness. To help Utahns do this, the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 (SLOC) launched the first Olympic health initiative, A Healthier You 2002.

In the beginning, partnering health agencies identified goals that were synergistic with the Olympics and personal health. Five categories of health were established: healthy behaviors, nutrition, physical activity, prevention, and safety. A Healthier You 2002 then developed six activities people can participate in: Gold Medal Mile, Rx for Improved Health, Fitness Success Stories, Nutrition Tracker, Healthy Behaviors Tracker, and The Spirit of Safety "Wear-It" card.

The Legacy of A Healthier You 2002 continues after the 2002 Games. The program was developed to ensure that future Olympic and Paralympic organizing committees will carry on the legacy of health which A Healthier You 2002 established.

photo of Kim Wirthlin, University of Utah Health Sciences Center assistant vice president for legislative and public affairs

This program creates an energy and enthusiasm for adults in Utah to be healthy and captures the spirit associated with the Games. It provides a great legacy of health for Utahns and for future Olympic Games. Kim Wirthlin, University of Utah Health Sciences Center assistant vice president for legislative and public affairs