77 National Olympic Committees (Nations)
2,399 athletes (886 women, 1,513 men)
78 events
22,000 volunteers
8,730 media (2,661 written press, 6,069 broadcasters)

Salt Lake City, 8 February 2002. Climax of the Opening Ceremony

Official opening of the Games by: President George W. Bush

Lighting the Olympic Flame by: The American ice hockey team, gold medal winners in Lake Placid, 1980

Olympic Oath by: Jim Shea (skeleton)

Official Oath by: Allen Church (Alpine skiing)

After knee surgery and a long rehabilitation, Janica Kostelic (CRO-Alpine skiing) made Olympic history. She started by taking the combined title and, after that, she proved unstoppable. More golds followed in the slalom and giant slalom, as well as silver in the super-G, making her the first woman skier to win four medals at one Games. [Full story]

For the first time, women's bobsleigh was part of the programme with the two-person event.[Full story]