Olympics

[RonL]

After September 11 I think we all needed a fix to restore our faith in humankind. Watching the young athletes from around the world marching into Olympic stadium did it for me. The exuberance and idealism was breathtaking. Seeing Peggy Fleming skate in with the Olympic torch was a bonus. I have been in love with Peggy Fleming since as an adolescent I saw her skate in the Olympics. I have never seen anything more beautiful.

RonL

P.S. : Coming to TBN is good too!

 

[Harv]

I hear ya, Ron!

Tickets to the opening ceremonies ran anywhere from $300 to over $800, but from what I saw, it would have been worth it. One of the most dramatic shows I've ever seen.

Besides the artistry and pageantry, I was plenty moved by the dead silence as they marched out the tattered American flag from the World Trade Center. And then to hear our national anthem performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir -- it just about did me in.

Gotta hand it to ol' George, too, to forsake any sort of armored booth and just mingle himself in amongst the American athletes. I got a particularly big kick out of that female athlete whipping out her cell phone to tell her parents, "Guess who I'm standing right next to?", and then the president grabbed the phone to say hello. Can you imagine the parents' reaction? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I think I've always enjoyed the Winter Olympics best, and this year, like you say, it just seems all the more special.

 

[Thomas]

Indeed it shall be great for our country,and lot more of us have become united and the pride has grown even stronger.

 

[s1120]

<font color=red>Gotta hand it to ol' George, too, to forsake any sort of armored booth and just mingle himself in amongst the American athletes</font color=red>

Oh, he had some armor on. Did you se how big that jacket was? But It was nice to see him go out there, he had every reason not to, but I think it does the country good.

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Missed the opening, but I heard about W. I'll bet he did have armor on. And F15's flying cover. And bomb dogs. And snipers. And a whole lot of plainclothes guys around.

I remember years ago being in the JC's and attanding a State meeting where one of the Presidential Candidates was stopping to visit. The visit consisted of a pass through. No speach, talk, etc. Off the plane, into the limo, turn up at the auditorium, walk through, into the limo and gone.

There were an awful lot of non-JC's there. Including one guy with a big briefcase with only one catch snapped. I was outside just before the visit and there were State Police on the roof tops with rifles. That was my only (that I know of) brush with the Secret Serivce, but I can tell you-- in that crowded auditorium, what the suit said (in a quiet voice) "please step back", it was like the parting of the red sea.

SHF

 

[MarkV]

It was a wonderful opening ceremony and refreshing to see something positive on TV. I was taken by the number of teams that were carrying US flags, as well as their own, in a show of support. The Salt Lake committee looks like it is doing a good job so far. After the early controversy with the gifts to bid committee members and then having to rethink all the security after 9/11 I am sure it has been a challenge.

We were lucky enough to be in Atlanta during the preparation and games held here in ’96. It was very memorable. The whole city was excited for years. Lets hope all the extra security can keep the crazies, foreign and domestic, in check.

MarkV

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>Oh, he had some armor on</font color=blue>

I have no doubt about that, Paul, but I bet he enjoyed the warmth of his flak jacket as much as anything.

In fact, those 15 to 20 degree temperatures probably had something to do with his snuggling in amongst the athletes, too. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif