SB QST @ ARL $ARLB014
ARLB014 Amateur Radio volunteers support Olympics

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ARRL Bulletin 14  ARLB014
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  February 14, 2002
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB014
ARLB014 Amateur Radio volunteers support Olympics

Amateur Radio volunteers are supporting the 2002 Winter Olympic
Games, assisting with security and remaining available to provide
back-up communication.

''The amateurs involved have assisted numerous local and federal
agencies to develop a unique system that covers the entire Wasatch
Front Area, providing communications to reach numerous Olympic
venues 24 hours a day,'' said Utah ARRL Section Manager Mel Parkes,
AC7CP. ''Amateur Radio will be there should any of the primary
frequencies fail or become unavailable.''

According to Parkes, Utah Section Emergency Coordinator John Mabey,
W7CWK, and Brent Thomas, AC7H, of the State of Utah Comprehensive
Management Office began working on this effort more than a year ago.
A special public safety organization--Utah Olympic Public Safety
Command (UOPSC) was created by the various local and national public
safety organizations that provide the security necessary for the
international event. Mabey, along with Davis County EC Hall
Blankenship, KC7RAF; Kirk Boman, KD0J; Ed Cole, KB7EC; and Mike
Youngs, KK7VZ, headed up the Amateur Radio effort to provide
emergency backup communication for the Olympic Security Command.

Parkes said UOPSC has now involved more than 200 Amateur Radio
volunteers in Utah to support critical security. In addition Amateur
Radio volunteers are staffing a number of Olympic Security Command
centers assisting local and national public safety organizations.

''The hard work and dedication by all these dedicated Amateur Radio
Operators will certainly contribute to a very successful and safe
Olympic Winter Games,'' Parkes said.
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