This was extremely apparent during the four hours when the world
watched the opening ceremonies in Salt Lake City.
By By: Christopher Cogley
There has never been a better time for the Olympics, and there
has never been a more appropriate time for America to host
them.
This was extremely apparent during the four hours when the world
watched the opening ceremonies in Salt Lake City.
Although there were some minor adjustments, such as the former
Olympians carrying into the stadium the tattered American flag that
was found under the rubble at Ground Zero, I assume that the
majority of the show wasn’t changed much because there is no way
the people who choreographed the opening ceremonies could have
changed the plans significantly in five months.
Yet everything about the opening ceremonies seemed to relate to
Sept. 11 and how the world has changed since.
The five tribes of Native Americans that joined together in one
place for the first time in history; the French and British teams
that carried American flags in addition to their own; and the
symbolic inner-flame that represents hope all seemed to portray the
theme of unity that the Olympics normally embody. But it seemed
especially relevant this year.
The most moving and memorable event, however, was the lighting
of the torch.
The choice of the 1980 American hockey team as the final
torchbearers couldn’t have been more appropriate to the games in
general, and to this year specifically.
This was the team that everyone said had no chance to bring home
a medal, let alone the gold. They had little talent, especially
when compared with the fearsome Soviet team that was heavily
favored to dominate everyone.
The Americans, however, were not daunted. They knew they had one
of the biggest challenges of their lives ahead of them, and they
welcomed it with silent determination.
They could have easily folded in defeat, and no one would have
thought less of them. They could have let the Soviets take the gold
without anyone saying that they didn’t give it their
best.
But they didn’t.
They not only rose to the challenge, they surpassed it. They
showed every person watching what can be accomplished when people
with a common goal join together and rise as a team.
They showed that nothing is for certain, nothing is
unattainable, and nothing is hopeless.
They came together as a group and reminded us of the power of
hope, the strength of conviction, and the joy of overcoming
unthinkable odds.
The lesson they taught the world 22 years ago has never seemed
more pertinent than it is right now.
They fought together, they won together, and Friday, they
lighted the Olympic torch together as a symbol of what we can all
do as a team. As Americans.
Christopher Cogley is a News-Press staff writer.