For Immediate ReleaseContact:Daron Cowley801-442-2834[email protected]
OLYMPIC BABIES IN UTAH ALL WRAPPED UP
Salt Lake City, Utah, February 6, 2002 - Many anxious prospective parents anticipate the birth of their baby as much as any Olympic athlete looks forward to that gold medal-winning race down a bobsled track or a fast run down the ski slopes.
In commemoration of two unique events, the birth of a child and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Intermountain Health Care (IHC) will send all babies born in any of its hospitals during the Games (February 8-24) home wrapped in a special Olympic baby blanket.
The blankets have the logo for the Salt Lake City Olympic Games, one for the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games, and an IHC logo. IHC is the medical services provider for the Games.
"This is a once in a lifetime event," said Doug Fonsebeck, IHC Olympic liaison. "As the medical services provider for the Games, we felt this was something we could give parents that would be unique and remind them of all the excitement in the community at the time their baby was born."
The blankets will be given to babies born at IHC hospitals after 12:01 a.m. February 8 through midnight February 24 and again during the Paralympic games March 7-16. Fonnesbeck said they estimate about 2,000 babies will be born during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
"While this is a huge event for Salt Lake City and Utah, our hospitals will still be operating as usual and part of that operation is delivering babies," said Fonnesbeck. "We thought this would be an exciting thing for parents and a nice way to bring some of the Olympic spirit into our hospitals. Who knows? Maybe some of these babies will grow up to be future Olympic athletes themselves."
IHC is a charitable, community-owned, nonprofit health care organization based in Salt Lake City that serves the health needs of Utah and Idaho residents. The IHC system includes health insurance plans, hospitals, clinics, and affiliated physicians.
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