Lit Olympic cauldron is big draw

Ten-year-old Callie Thackeray had a special reason for being one of the first visitors at the new Olympic Cauldron Park that opened at the University of Utah Friday.

The figure skater was one of the "Children of Light" who performed in the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Games. Callie, a fifth-grader, wanted to re-live some of the excitement of performing for billions of people around the world.

"I think it's nice," Callie said as she and her family toured the park's visitors center, located just outside Rice-Eccles Stadium where the Games opening and closing ceremonies were held. "I like how they remembered the Olympics and put up all this cool stuff."

Callie said she didn't cry during the eight-minute film about the Games shown in the visitors center. That may be because although the Children of Light are seen on the multi-panel screen, she wasn't able to spot herself.

"It was too fast," she said, sounding a little disappointed.

Even if Callie didn't cry, plenty of other viewers emerged from the small, special-effects theater with red eyes. Gov. Mike Leavitt was among the teary-eyed types Friday who needed the tissues provided at the theater exit by volunteer Jeff Nakashima.

"It's fun to see the reaction of the people . . . to see them experience the happy memories," Nakashima said as he stood by with a big box of tissues. "I've seen it five or six times, and every time, I get emotional."

Mike and Carol Franklin watched the Winter Games from their home in Nashville, Tenn., but are here visiting her mother, Lydia Trevithick. When the trio heard about the park opening, they decided they had to see the caldron firsthand.

"That'll be a big draw," Mike Franklin said as he stood at the base of the massive glass-and-steel caldron, reading over the names of 2002 athletes carved into a fountain. His mother-in-law added, "It's a good addition. I think it's important that this is remembered."

The caldron was lit Thursday night at a private party for Salt Lake Organizing Committee officials and community leaders, and will burn through tonight. A nightly light show illuminating the other feature of the park, the Hoberman Arch, also debuted Thursday.

The park is open today from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., and this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free, there is a charge ($3 for adults and $2 for children) to view the Olympic film.