| 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 |
|
|
|
|
Caldron crowds
Stadium flame is a hot attraction for steady stream of admirers
By Anne Jacobs
Deseret News staff writer
After the months of anticipation and the drama of the opening ceremonies, the Olympic caldron is living up to its hype and attracting a steady crowd of admirers.
On University Street, a line of parked cars blocks the lane closest to Rice-Eccles Stadium, where people stop to take pictures and marvel at the caldron's fire-and-ice combination.
"I think you get a better sense of the world coming together here than watching it on TV," Kyle Kamalu of Moroni said.
"TV doesn't do it justice," said Carol Vreim of Oregon. She was especially impressed with the rows of flags flanking the caldron and representing the participating nations. Television broadcasts focus on the nations' conflicts, she said, but seeing the flags sends a different message.
"It's just nice to see the flags together," Vreim said. "It should be that way all the time, not just at the Olympics."
Bill and Emily Nordell of Murray were outside the stadium trying to get a photo of Bill "holding" the caldron. Coming to see the flame in person was "definitely worth it," Bill Nordell said. "It's just incredible."
Bill Eldred of Sandy called the torch "spectacular."
"Even in the daylight it looks marvelous," he said.
"The torch is cool," said Eyal Mintz, a Texas resident originally from Israel. "It's kind of the symbol of the Olympics."
Olympic volunteers take turns standing outside the fence surrounding Rice Eccles Stadium because it's so fun to see the caldron and talk to people from all over.
"I'm here every day, and I never get tired of looking at it," Olympic volunteer Debbie Reeves of Salt Lake City said. Reeves felt lucky to be outside the fence when a lieutenant was sworn in and had her bars pinned on during a small ceremony with the caldron in the background.
"I can't imagine the valley missing any part of this," Reeves said of residents who fled the area when the Olympics came. "Even if you don't leave your home, this whole valley is just charged."
The caldron's final resting place is planned for the south end of the stadium. Plans are for the caldron to be incorporated into a fountain with the names of the 2002 medalists and athletes on the base.
E-mail: ajacobs@desnews.com
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February 20, 2002
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