| 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 |
|
|
|
|
Skater's Olympic Aid gets $77,448 gift
Funds will help sports programs in refugee camps
By Jeff Oliver
Deseret News staff writer
It may not have been the Olympic podium appearance Eric Bergoust was hoping for; however, for some it was just as valuable.
The U.S freestyle aerialist stood on the stage at Samsung's Olympic Rendezvous center in Olympic Square Friday and presented legendary Norwegian speedskater Johann Olav Koss with a check for $77,448.
The money, raised by Samsung through the auction of equipment from Olympic athletes, will go toward Koss' Olympic Aid foundation.
The foundation will use the money to benefit children in refugee camps through the initiation of sports programs.
"We replace the hate and anger with hope through sports," Koss said.
Bergoust also donated an autographed ski to be auctioned at one of Samsung's daily silent auctions.
The ski was not part of the pair Bergoust used during his disappointing performance at the freestyle aerial finals. That set will be placed in Bergoust's home, next to the pair he used to win gold at Nagano, Bergoust said.
Other auction items included a signed skate from Michelle Kwan, a snowboard signed by gold medalist Ross Powers and a parka used by NBC correspondent Katie Couric.
Koss said Samsung's donation was one of the larger donations Olympic Aid has received.
Founded by Koss during the 1994 Games in Lillehammer, Norway, Olympic Aid was originally organized to help refugee children in Sarajevo after war destroyed the former Olympic city.
At the time Koss donated all of his Olympic winnings — quite a sum considering he won four gold medals at Lillehammer — to the fledgling foundation.
Since then Olympic Aid has spread its funding to refugees in Africa and Afghanistan as well.
E-MAIL: joliver@desnews.com
|
|
February 24, 2002
|
