Drivers, Mechanics Needed for 2002 Winter Olympics

For those who have ever dreamed about being in the Olympics, here is your chance. The Drive for the Gold program is looking for bus drivers and mechanics for its 1,400 buses during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. As of February, 500 drivers applied for positions, according to Wade Ashton, staffing coordinator for the program. He said he hopes to receive around 2,500 applications for the program to cover for those who may not be able to make it at the last minute. Drivers and mechanics hired to participate in the games, held Feb. 8 to 24, 2002, will receive free round-trip airfare, meals, lodging and competitive wages. Drivers, who must have at least one year of experience with a transit agency, will have light work schedules, short routes and no fare collection. Mechanics will be provided tools for light maintenance duty. Applicants preferably should be able to stay the duration of the games, which is expected to draw more than 1.6 million people. If that is not a possibility, they should try to sign up for the first week, which is the busiest time, said Ashton. With the Olympics still two years away, that is the only information available at this time, says Ashton. Applications and updates are available online at www.slc2002.org/games/transportation_frame.html. Once a person has applied, a confirmation card will be sent out and the person will be updated regularly with current information. "The sooner you apply, the better chance you have," said Ashton. Buses will be supplied by various transit agencies throughout the West, said Ashton.