In 1999, Daniel Flannery and Leo Bonamy created the bid by Universal Concerts to produce the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. The proposal was developed under the leadership of Universal Concerts President and CEO Jay Marciano and in association with Salt Lake City-based United Concerts, which Universal Concerts had acquired.
United Concerts brought valuable local knowledge and direct Olympic experience to the team, having produced Salt Lake City’s “Contrast, Culture and Courage” handover presentation during the Closing Ceremony of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. The segment introduced the next host city to an international audience through imagery celebrating Utah, the American West, and Salt Lake City’s forthcoming role as an Olympic destination.
Within the Universal team, Bonamy led the administrative, organizational, and production aspects of the proposal, while Flannery created its overall artistic vision. Drawing upon his work on the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Closing Ceremony and his extensive experience in stadium spectacle, world expositions, live television, music, lighting, and large-scale theatrical production, Flannery developed the creative approach for the Salt Lake ceremonies.
The Salt Lake Organizing Committee considered proposals from 56 production candidates. Universal Concerts advanced through the highly competitive process and finished among the two leading contenders. Although the commission was ultimately awarded to Don Mischer Productions in September 1999, Universal’s strong showing recognized the credibility of its combined national and Salt Lake City organization—and Flannery’s stature as a creator of monumental international ceremonies and live spectacle.
