| 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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Real work about to begin for Olympic filmmaker
By Peter Thunell
Deseret News staff writer
While many people involved with the Olympics will finally be breathing sighs of relief once the final firework pops at the closing ceremonies, for Olympic filmmaker Bud Greenspan there will be no taking it easy after Sunday. "We'll start making the Olympic film Sunday, so there's no post-Olympics letdown for me."
Greenspan has been keeping himself busy throughout the Salt Lake Games with screenings of some of his movies, counting down his top 10 Winter Olympians and, of course, filming and keeping a close watch on the Games themselves. Greenspan's official Salt Lake Games film will debut on Showtime in six or seven months.
Greenspan said he is starting to decide which stories to include in the film. Chris Witty, Bode Miller and the intense cross country relay battles between Italy and Norway are all on the short list to get in. Some big stories like the Canadian figure skating pair will most likely not be featured in it, though.
"I always get letters from people asking 'How could you leave this out of your movie?' With some stories like the Canadian figure skaters there isn't a lot left to be said," Greenspan said. "When we decide what to put in our films we look at getting our audience to say two things: one, 'Gee I didn't know that,' and two, 'Where were the networks when that happened?' "
One thing Greenspan's films are known for is the fact that they don't always just talk about the gold medal winners.
"People don't pay enough attention to those who come in fourth, seventh or 10th place," Greenspan said. "It amazes me every time that someone can lose by a fraction of a second and no one pays attention to them."
For Greenspan, the Salt Lake Games have been great. And since Greenspan has gone out on a limb to name his top 10 winter Olympians, where would Salt Lake rank in his list of favorite Olympics?
"My top favorites are Lillehammer and Mexico City. After that comes in Los Angeles and Salt Lake," Greenspan said. "One memory stands out about Salt Lake and that is the graciousness of the people and the volunteers who have day in and day out been so courteous. This has been a delightful experience."
One aspect of these Games, though, that has irritated Greenspan has been the complaining and political posturing.
"The Salt Lake Olympics were great up until a few days ago, until the Russians and Koreans started to complain," Greenspan said. "All the Cold War talk was uncalled for. They wanted their figure skater to be elevated to gold. It's all tit for tat like the government boycotts of the '80 and '84 Games."
For years Greenspan's name and work have been synonymous with the Olympic Games. Greenspan is one of only 17 Americans to have received the "Olympic Order" from the International Olympic Committee and has received numerous awards for his films like "16 Days of Glory: Los Angeles" and "100 Years of Olympic Glory."
Salt Lake, though, could possibly be Greenspan's last Olympic film.
"Life needs to be a challenge. After having done so many Olympic films I feel like I'm repeating myself in some ways," Greenspan said. "I don't want to be known as a composer of one note. . . . I'd say the possibility of me doing another Olympic film is 50-50."
Greenspan's new direction is feature films, although he is not leaving sports behind. He is currently writing a script about Roger Bannister's quest to break the four-minute mile nearly 50 years ago. He hopes to have the film completed by May 2004, just in time for the 50th anniversary of the history-setting mark. Greenspan also said he thinks Brad Pitt would be ideal to play Bannister.
Even if he moves on to other things, Greenspan insists the Olympics will stay close to his heart. "Once you get Olympic fever it's hard to get rid of it."
E-MAIL: pthunell@desnews.com
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February 24, 2002
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