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Show 7 W9 "- 5 L-1 1 M t ... ...L. By Carolyn Losee business editor The Signpost Imagine being suspended 30 feet in the air from a gigantic helium balloon, overlooking the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games "Light the Fire Within" closing ceremonies. That is exactly where Weber State University student Deasha Cisney was Feb. 24 during the Olympic closing parade. . Cisney discovered the Olympics is not only about sports; it is also about show business. Cisney, a tumbling coach at the Ogden Athletic Club, had the experience of a lifetime. At the end of November 2002 she participated in a three-process audition to be selected as one of the free-flowing tumblers for the Olympic ceremonies. An accomplished tumbler, Cisney participated in the United States Team Trials Tumbling' and Trampoline competition in Kansas, Las Vegas and North Carolina. Her performance earned her fourth place, and she joined the U.S. team in the Denmark World Age Group Tumbling and Trampoline competitions. Cisney said, "I was happy to place 1 6th in the world." ... Frank Bear, the Olympic coach for the U.S. Arial ski team, coached Cisney and the other balloon tumblers. Cisney said that was the closest she will get to having a personal Olympic coach. Five gigantic colored balloons represented the interlinked Olympic rings that symbolize the union of the five continents. Blue is for Europe, yellow MtiMu t JO Mil IDEOO' fiGOiHGl Ellp 988 VOBOF IPMii Run for Execcutive Council and Student Senate for 2002-2003. Election Packets are now available in the Student Government Offices, Shephard Union Building. it, f ' ' 4 Weber State University student experience to participate in the is for Asia, black is for Africa, green is for Australia and red is for America. Cisney tumbled beneath the green balloon representing the Australian continent. According to Cisney, the show-biz extravaganza was top secret. The rehearsals were held every night for three weeks from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. With the winter weather freezing l ! I If It .... ? i f '. rj- i Uy ; mm ) Deasha Cisney used her tumbling closing ceremonies. cold, Cisney said, "I consumed more hot chocolate in the last three weeks than I have in my entire life." After hours of rehearsal, Cisney entered the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium anxious to perform for the opening ceremonies. She was informed that because of wind three of the helium balloons had exploded. "1 i in 1 u u 5 I ! .. 5 i ? - f i l 11) ht n j U 1 1 3 KXM mis An astronomical cost of $10,000 is required to fill each balloon with helium. The director was faced with a major production decision. The choice was made to repair the damage and present the tumblers during the closing ceremonies, hoping the weather would cooperate. With the possibility of not being able to perform after many hours of effort, Cisney said, "I wanted to kill the whole world. I don't think people understand the pre-performance obstacles that went into the opening and closing ceremonies. The shows represent a huge production that started planning over four years ago," Cisney said. The weather was windy in Salt Lake City before the closing ceremonies, but a small window of opportunity allowed the symbolic Olympic balloons carrying five tumblers to perform. Cisney said she is proud of the Olympic plaque presented to her for participation. It reads, "Winter Games Salt Lake 2002 Light the Fire Within." "People ask me why am I doing this. Well, this is the closest I will get to be an athlete in the Olympics. Tumbling is not an Olympic competitive sport. They are looking at 2008 maybe for tumbling in the Olympics," Cisney said. Cisney said she will always remember her entrance into the stadium. "I felt disbelief as I sat in the harness, high above the stadium, waiting for my performance," Cisney said. "I looked at the Olympic rings on the hillside and the cauldron with the Olympic flame burning. I thought, 'This is awesome. I have the best seat in the house.'" You can reach reporter Carolyn Losee by calling 626-7624. Editor tells her Olympic experience Brandy A. Lee f : . Photo editor Can you see it? You're walking into Rice-Eccles Stadium, which seats over 50,000 people, carrying the flag of your country. Thousands are cheering for your little country of Macedonia in the Opening Ceremonies of the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Games. You wave "hello" to all the people in the audience and even your mom on national television. You are an Olympic Athlete! OK, maybe not, but I got to think so while I was a volunteer for the Ceremonies Production Team. We were the green coats that sat the athletes, made sure all the audience kits were in place (starting at 6 a.m.), removed snow; you name it, we probably did it. As a team of 800 green coats, we were the rejects of the Salt Lake Organizing See Experience page 7 vW?: iMHJ OTIB iKofi) j : rigtfei . ire? v:i$w t r ? )j ;t jt 41 '4 1 f-ijH i ; 1 1 T ' 1 3jIi?4 Mi)J'L'Mi I'P'fuX'iif' t iiir ijgC Villi! Ji'J.f If-MV" |