SALT LAKE CITY (voa) – Salt Lake City has welcomed the world to the 19th Winter Olympics. President Bush declared the Games open, as he joined American athletes in the stands of the (Rice-Eccles) outdoor stadium surrounded by 52,000 cheering spectators. Mr. Bush opened the Games “on behalf of a proud, determined and grateful nation.” He was introduced by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, who is presiding over his first Olympics.
Shortly afterwards, the legendary 1980 U.S. hockey team, led by its captain, Mike Eruzione, lit the Olympic flame in the cauldron that towers over the stadium. Eruzione led a young and inexperienced U.S. team to Olympic gold by defeating the Soviet Union (in the semi-finals) and Finland in the Lake Placid Olympics. Now 47 years old, Eruzione scored the game-winning goal against the once-invincible Soviet team in what is considered one of the sport’s greatest upsets.
The opening extravaganza featured ice dancers, huge puppets, American Indian flute players and popular performers, re-enacting stories of early pioneering days in western United States.
The colorful spectacle followed the emotional entrance of a tattered U.S. flag recovered from Ground Zero, the rubble of the World Trade Center. An honor guard of American athletes and New York police and firefighters accompanied the flag which was met with a respectful silence from the capacity crowd. That was immediately followed by the traditional parade of nations featuring thousands of athletes and team officials.
Later, South African archbishop Desmond Tutu, former Polish president Lech Walesa and French skiing legend Jean-Claude Killy were among eight dignitaries who carried the five-ringed Olympic flag into the stadium. Others included Australian runner Cathy Freeman, former U.S. Senator and astronaut John Glenn, Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau.
The first Winter Games in the United States in 22 years are taking place under heavy security, just five months after terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington. Thousands of federal agents and local police are on hand to guard Olympic athletes, spectators and venues.
The first competition of the Winter Games, ski jump qualifying, was scheduled for Friday but was postponed until Sunday because of high winds and blowing snow. Events in moguls, cross-country skiing, hockey, figure skating and speedskating are scheduled for Saturday. In all, more than 2,500 athletes from about 80 countries are taking part, including one sole representative from Thailand, in men’s cross-country skiing.
Meanwhile, several athletes already have been barred from competing in the games after testing positive for banned substances. The 2002 Winter Olympic Games close on February 24.
