Press Release

22 August 2000
Gonzalez Named SLOC’s Paralympic Managing Director
Organizer of Barcelona, Atlanta Games Comes To Salt Lake After Sydney Effort

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--Xavier Gonzalez, a senior executive of the Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney, has been selected as the new Managing Director of the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Gonzalez will join SLOC after completing his duties as the General Manager of Sport and Games Operations for the Sydney Paralympic Organizing Committee.

Gonzalez is currently involved in the Paralympic Games in Sydney that encompass 18 sports, 125 countries, and 4,000 athletes from Oct. 18-29, 2000. In SLOC’s organizational structure, he is replacing Joann Klonowski, who resigned to accept a position with the Los Angeles franchise of the new eight-team XFL professional football league. Gonzalez will be responsible for the operations and management of the Paralympic Winter Games, including coordination with all SLOC departments and compliance with International and National Paralympic Committee guidelines.

"We have contacted people throughout the Paralympic movement seeking their recommendations for this position," said Fraser Bullock, SLOC chief operating officer. "Consistently, the first name voiced has been Xavier Gonzalez. We are thrilled to bring him on board for Salt Lake’s Paralympic efforts. He clearly is very talented in this area, highly respected in the Paralympic community, and brings tremendous experience from three Games."

SLOC is the first winter organizing committee to integrate its preparations for both the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The 2002 Games for elite athletes with disabilities will be held from March 7-16, featuring about 1,100 athletes and officials from 40 countries. Competition will be held in three sports and 26 events at Soldier Hollow, E Center and Snowbasin Ski Area. Ceremonies will be held at Rice-Eccles Stadium and the Paralympic Village will be located on the University of Utah campus.

Gonzalez previously served as the vice president of sports and venues for the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee where he worked from 1993-96. He was responsible for the organization and management of 17 official sports and two demonstration sports. A veteran of the 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games, Gonzalez served as the director of sports organizations.