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Show Saturday, September 23, 2000 The Park Record A-7 Copy ye on the Sydney Games by Vera Rothwell 0 Behind the scenes in Sydney -2 IW not very often that 1 am stuck for words, but it is hard to describe exactly how 1 feel about the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. First, I would have to say that I have never been more proud of my city, my country, and my fellow Aussies. When the Australian team marched into the Stadium the tears were streaming stream-ing down my face. After nearly eight years (for me, longer for some), it was hard to believe that time was really here. I thought I would be wildly excited, and although I was excited to some extent, at the same time i almost felt that I was in a bubble, somehow detached from reality. It was the strangest feeling. Marching out onto the field with the team from Bermuda was incredible. I wanted to shout and scream, jump up and down, maybe turn cartwheels cart-wheels (if I'd done that, I'm sure I would have dislocated something!). At the same time I almost felt embarrassed, a fraud, that I really shouldnt be there. After all, as I've mentioned before, I'm no athlete, mbbm just a middle-aged mom fulfilling her wildest dreams. However I have "trained" for these Games for so many years, maybe I deserved it after all. I just felt that it really is the athletes' moment of glory, all their sacrifices and hard work paying off at last. 1 didnl like to wave too much, because the crowd wasnt there to see me and I did not want to detract from the athletes. ath-letes. However it was hard to keep the grin off my face, and of course I did wave, how could you not? It turns out that I had my own cheer squad in the stands the torch relay team w as rewarded reward-ed for their 100 davit of hard work with a ticket to the Opening Ceremony and they saw me and screamed out my name. Unfortunately. I didnt hear them, but it's nice to know that they were cheer ng for me! What can I say about the ceremony itself? I am so proud to think that Sydney produced such a wonderful show. We were all a little worried about the "cringe" factor Aussies love to knock themselves. I think it's a bit of an inferiority inferior-ity complex but. as it turns out, there was nothing noth-ing to ennge about. As for the lighting of the cauldron, surely the only thing that could top that would be for a space ship to come down and the aliens light the cauldron. It was so spectacular, spectacu-lar, so incredible, and so moving to see the Olympic Flame burning brightly in my city you may be able to tell, but I am one proud Aussie! I didnl get to see much of the entertainment that took place before the parade of athletes as we were all marshalled in the Sydney Superdome, which is next to the Stadium and the venue for the gymnastics. The action was being shown on the screens in there, but with no sound, so it was hard to really appreciate what was going on. However, we were having a great time of our own. The Mexican wave went on several circuits of the Superdome. done with wild enthusiasm (with the exception of the While the athletes' parade was continuing, a group of athletes sat themselves down in the middle, mid-dle, pulled out a pack of cards and commenced a spirited game. " Vera Rothwell Chinese team who didnt seem to know what it was all about). The teams were all giving renditions rendi-tions of lher wai cnes, with the prize for the best war cry goinj to the team from New Zealand who did the haka. a traditional Maori war cry-that cry-that they perform at all major sporting events (especially rugby matches!). The Kiwis nearly-brought nearly-brought the house down. The Aussies sang "Waltzing Matilda" (twice) and were accompanied accompa-nied by all the volunteers in the Superdome. no matter which team we are-attached to. The American war cry was greeted by friendly cat calls and whistles from the rest of the world. It was the best fun. and one of rhe athletes from Bermuda w ho is at his fourth Games said they have never had so much fun while just waiting. One of the most amusing sights of the night occurred on the middle of the field. While the athletes" parade was continuing, a group of athletes ath-letes sat themselves down in the middle, pulled out a pack of cards and commenced a spirited game. As the time wore on I think they were playing strip poker, because articles of clothing were being exchanged! It was hilarious! There was also a huge amount of pin trading taking place between the athletes. I am building a nice collection of the National Olympic Committee pins myself the Bermuda pins are very popular popu-lar so I have a good bargaining base! The only sad thing for me about the day of the Opening Ceremony was the fact that it was Day 100 and the final day of the Torch Relay. As I'm sure you are aware, the Torch Relay has been so special and. for me, a real highlight of my life. On Day 100, the Torch Relay came through my suburb, two blocks from where I live. Despite the fact that I had been on the road with it for a month, earned the flame myself, been working in the Milage for two and a half weeks, been sleep deprived for what seems like forever, what did I do? Set the alarm, got up earlv and went down to cheer the torch, of course! 1 was so thrilled to see the Olympic Flame come through my suburb, and even more so by the reaction of my fellow locals We have a six-lane highway, which the torch came down and the three lanes, in the direction the torch was hm travelling, were totally filled with people as far as the eye could see. It was all I had dreamed of and more. Day 101, and we said goodbye to the Torch Relay with a party. What a night! It was wonderful wonder-ful to see everyone again, but sad that it may be the last time I ever see some of them as we came from all over Australia and, in fact, the world. Hopefully we will have a reunion in the future, but it is unlikely that everyone will be able to come. One of the highlights of the night was a "party tape" video of all the funny things that the public will never get to see probably just as well! So at last the Games are under way. We have already seen quite a few world records fall how good is Ian Thorpe? And 1 dont want to rub it in (yes I do!), but the men's 4 x 100 meters relay win by the Aussies was simply the best! Go you Aussies! Vera Rothwell is a resident of Sydney and an occasional visitor to Park City. She was one of the first to sign on as a volunteer for the Sydney Summer Games which began yesterday yester-day and she has offered to share her Olympic experience with The Park Record. YARD CURBING Mower or Curb Style $2.50 per foot (801) 232-5988 or (435) 783-6984 1 SMALL CONCRETE JOBS TlZZ landscaping Estimates YARD LIGHTING CALL TODAY! Australian experience coming to Salt Lake While the 2000 Olympic Games are in full swing in Sydney. Australia. Salt Lake area residents resi-dents will have the opportunity to experience Austra .J in their backyard. The Bank of America Down Under Tour has added Salt Lake City as the final stop on its 48-city. crosscountry cross-country (our. The tour will be open Sept. 26 to 30. in the Gallivan Center, in conjunction with the celebration marking the 500-day countdown count-down to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. The exhibit is free and open to the public and offers fun and educational exhibits for the whole family. The centerpiece of the Down I'nder Tour is a replica of the Sydney Opera House that features an eight-minute film of the sights and sounds of Australia. The exhibit also includes a five-story Olympic flame tower, an Outback Airlines simulator ride which takes passengers on a adventure ride across the Australian Outback, an Aboriginal art exhibit and a rock-climbing experience inspired by L'luru (Avers Rock). "We're very proud of our sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Team and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games," said Dockery Clark. Bank of America Olympic, Sports and Event Marketing Manager. ."Bringing the Down Under Tour to Salt Lake gives us the opportunity to celebrate the 2000 Olympic Games and join the world in countine down to the 2002 Games." WUULUfe Ge t fa War mw inch 11 JE. f r ,-r -rm i f 1 r a m All Terrain Value Days for tr4 nm ia. fer fc-T ont of f m ATVt fOu can (t Wr WK (t SOC Hut) f l 'V (He food on tf aurtnw o trj lmth Gti Hob Aucorw Hodo AxromKu:. Sw O0 4t or & 400 WEll.ER RECREATION Overstocked items: wh v E$T 'Wolverine "Big bear 400 'Grizzly 6-00 'U it REDUCED PRICE 783-4718 H ft wmmwrnm e"e I UM kwk iii io"e f e Wee gn-ef f r an wim ti nnt e M mim Me m-m m ' -fat- M? nr (a Hto m wi'Mi w 0- y 1"' 0 0 )) (Iff 7 J i ' r- J J J warn Mm 3am ok (i) d; fi h, is n |