Few communities boast as many Olympic boosters as Salt Lake City and few countries have more Mormons than Brazil. It's no surprise, then, that Latter-day Saints in both places cheered when Rio de Janeiro landed the 2016 Summer Games.

And they couldn't help but ponder the possible benefits for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Most Utahns would have preferred it to be Rio than Chicago," said an exuberant Gary Neeleman, who has a longtime connection to the exotic South American destination. "Brazil's a big [LDS] church stronghold in the south."

Indeed, there are more than a million Mormons in the populous nation of 185 million, with 27 missions and at least 4,000 LDS missionaries. Mormon leaders just announced a temple for Fortaleza in northeastern Brazil, the country's seventh.

Through the years, up to 10 percent of the missionary force has been to Brazil and many, like Neeleman, have established permanent religious and business ties there.

Neeleman returned to Brazil as a foreign correspondent for United Press International (UPI) and later became the Los Angeles Times ' South American bureau chief. His son, David, was born in Sao Paulo, and later served his own mission in Rio.

Continuing the connection, David Neeleman, founder and former CEO of JetBlue Airways, last year launched a domestic carrier in Brazil. Neelemen's youngest son, Mark, now works there as well.

The senior Neeleman currently is traveling with the Brazilian consul from Los Angeles. He will accompany him around Utah this weekend when the consul meets with some of his 12,000 compatriots who live here.

The Olympics could be a "boon for the missionaries who might act as translators for athletes and their trainers," Mark Grover, a Brigham Young University Latin American scholar, said in an e-mail. "BYU has by far the largest Portuguese language program because of the return missionaries."

Already, eager young returned Mormon missionaries are contemplating a way back.

"The news of the Olympics going to Rio certainly does give me reason to plan a return trip at that time," said Eldon Beck of Salt Lake City, who was a missionary in Rio from 1998-2000. "I suspect there will be a good portion of us who have served in Rio, and in Brazil generally, who will be very interested in getting involved."

The LDS Church recognized that such international sporting events and their attendant publicity are logical places to share its faith and values in a public way.

During the 2002 Winter Olympics in the church's headquarters in Salt Lake City, it didn't allow missionaries to proselytize but did set up a Family History Center on Main Street in Park City. Every night the church staged a live extravaganza, "The Light of the World," at the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City to showcase Mormon history.

Since then, LDS missionaries routinely have joined the many volunteers at Olympic venues, handing out literature, answering questions or providing nonchurch-related services.

In Athens, all 76 full-time missionaries exchanged their white shirts, ties and familiar name tags for volunteer uniforms at the 2004 Games in Greece, where they staffed various information or ticket booths.

Two years later in Turin, Italy, 17 missionaries handed out specially designed LDS pins, featuring a golden Angel Moroni image and the inscription: "Torino 2006."

The Brigham Young University Ballroom Dance Company participated last year in Beijing's Olympic Cultural Festival.

It is not yet clear how, if at all, the LDS Church will contribute to Rio's Games.

Elder Claudio Costa, an LDS general authority from Brazil, declined to comment, as did David L. Beck, president of the church's Young Men organization who returned in 2008 from a stint as president of an LDS Rio mission.

"It is premature," church spokesman Scott Trotter said.

Still, some members can imagine the possibilities.

U.S. missionaries who speak fluent English and Portuguese definitely will "have a shot in participating," said Randa B.S. Viera, a Rio attorney who has worked at a Salt Lake City law firm since 2006.

In the meantime, the LDS Church will use its "Helping Hands Program" to generate positive publicity. On Monday, about 100,000 Mormons, dressed in yellow T-shirts, will take to Brazil's streets and neighborhoods for the "National Volunteer Action Day." They will clean, make blankets, assemble newborn kits or do whatever is needed.

"Rio is a lovely city but does need some cleaning," Grover said. "The church does a good P.R. push with these programs. It is one of the better things we do."

pstack@sltrib.com