Exclusive: Salt Lake Olympics Don't Want Scouts – Just Their Money

The Great Salt Lake Council of Boy Scouts (GSLC) has requested an opportunity to participate in the ceremonies associated with the 2002 Olympics. Traditionally, Scout groups have appeared in uniform at past Olympics hosted in the United States. The SLOC has established rules that exclude Scouts from being eligible to volunteer because of their age.

Despite the fact that the Scouts have been excluded, the SLOC has no problem making more than $200,000 from the Scouts and their leaders by charging for the use of the 2002 Olympic logo on a Scout patch.

"The only relationship we’ve had with the Salt Lake Organizing Committee is the permission to use the logo on our patches for the [National] Jamboree next year. Those patches ordinarily cost us between 75 cents and $1 apiece. By putting the Olympic logo on that patch they are now $3.50 apiece. We ordered 75,000 patches, so look how much money we’re making for them on that little gimmick alone,” explained R. Lawry Hunsaker, president of the GSLC.

Based on Hunsaker’s figures, the SLOC will make between $187,500 and $206,250 from the sale of the patches to the very boys they plan to exclude.

The patch is optional and must be purchased by the boys who wish to wear it on their uniform. The GSLC has about 80,000 boys and 35,000 adults as members.

Hunsaker told NewsMax.com that he was frustrated because the SLOC president and CEO, Mitt Romney, has not responded to requests for a meeting with the Scouts to work out a solution.

"See, we have been after Mitt Romney ever since he got here because we wanted to put something together where the Scouts could be involved, and he has never returned our calls yet," said Hunsaker by phone Monday night.

Call the Salt Lake Olympic Committee at 1-801-212-2002. Their fax number is 801-364-7644.

Call the Salt Lake Olympic Committee at 1-801-212-2002. Their fax number is 801-364-7644.

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Dan Frisa says