| Salt Lake City |
 |
 |
| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
 |
| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
|
| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
|
| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
|
| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
|
| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
|
| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
|
| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
|
| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
|
| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
|
|
|
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Police happy for boring night
By Derek Jensen and Amy Donaldson
The word on security at the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Games: boring.
No incidents. No problems. Just lots of police officers with nothing to do. In this case, no news was great news.
"It was a great night," said Commander Robert Flowers, of the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command. "Everything was exceptional. We didn't have one incident of any magnitude."
Despite helicopters circling overhead, metal detectors, bag searches and police-lined streets, those who braved the cold and crowds to watch Salt Lake's opening ceremonies Friday night couldn't have been happier.
Next to yellow-jacketed police officers, the most abundant scene on the streets surrounding the stadium were smiling people. "I've waited longer in a movie theater line," said Chuck Webster of Virginia. "It was no big deal."
After lengthy and sometimes slow lines during a dress rehearsal Wednesday, Flowers said officials, who have been on high alert since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, made adjustments that worked well Friday.
Frazier Bullock, the top financial officer of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, said he didn't think the obvious police presence detracted from the celebration at all.
"The security personnel did such a good job and things moved so smoothly. People expected more security, but they were completely in the background compared to the wonderful spectacle we saw in the stadium."
As crowds of people swarmed into the stadium in the late afternoon, visitors noticed the heavy security presence but didn't mind. In fact, some found it comforting.
"They're looking at everybody's faces and looking at everybody's bags. I think it's going to be the safest place on earth, and we did not hesitate to come," Michele Davis who drove from St. George to attend the opening ceremonies
The Davis family lived in Atlanta, Ga., in 1996 and attended several Olympic events there. They said the security presence is much more noticeable in Salt Lake City than in Atlanta.
Helicopters passed over the stadium watching the route of President Bush as he made his way to the stadium for the ceremonies.
Bill Zwiebel lives four blocks from the stadium and went to the ceremonies as part of his first Olympics. "I think (the security) is fine," he said as he escorted his wife and two children into the security area. "If I were a terrorist, I wouldn't want to target this."
E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com; djensen@desnews.com
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February 9, 2002
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