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Show Page 8 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume III, Issue VI January 15, 2000 SLOC Announces Route of 2002 Olympic Torch Relay SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—The Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 (SLOC) announced the route the Olympic Flame will travel on its way to Salt Lake City, Utah, home of the XIX Olympic Winter Games. Longtime Olympic sponsors Coca-Cola and Chevrolet are presenting partners of the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay. The Olympic Flame will travel more than 13,500 miles and pass through 46 U.S. states. More than 11,500 torchbearers will assist with carrying the flame during the 65-day Relay. In addition to torchbearers, the Olympic Flame will be transported by automobile, airplane, train, ship, dog sled, skier, horse-drawn sleigh, snowmobile, ice skaters, prairie schooner and other unique modes. For the first time, the Olympic Flame will pass through Alaska. The flame will also travel through all other previous U.S. Olympic host cities: Atlanta, Georgia; Lake Placid, New York; Los Angeles, California; Squaw Valley, California; and St. Louis, Missouri. The map of the route is available at www.saltlake2002.com. “One year from [December 4] the Olympic Torch Relay begins the journey to ‘Light the Fire Within’ providing inspiration to the nation,” said Mitt Romney, President and CEO of SLOC. “The running of the Olympic Torch through America’s cities and towns has a way of drawing communities together and inspiring greatness in all who see it. We hope this route will allow everyone to feel like they are a part of the Salt Lake Games, and unite each other in the shared experience of celebration and achievement.” The Relay will begin on December 4, 2001 in Atlanta, Georgia, the last place the Olympic Flame rested on U.S. soil. From Atlanta, the flame will complete a cross-country trek of contrasting climates, marked with the sunshine and beaches of Florida, the winter wonderlands of New England, the heartland of the Midwest with a stop in Detroit, the Southwestern deserts, the temperate Northwest and the unique beauty of Alaska. Along its journey, the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay presented by CocaCola and Chevrolet will celebrate and showcase the inspirational fire found within communities across America. “Coca-Cola is pleased to help bring the unique excitement and pageantry of the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay to communities across the United States,” said Sandy Douglas, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Coca-Cola North America. “Working with local Coca-Cola bottling partners in towns across America, we look forward to sharing this enduring symbol of the Olympic Spirit through several exciting programs we are planning.” “Chevrolet takes great pride in putting the Relay on the road by providing our dependable, long-lasting vehicles,” said Mac Whisner, Chevrolet Director of Advertising and Sales Promotion. “With 4,300 Chevrolet dealers, we’ll be there to support and share the Olympic spirit with hometowns across the country.” Thousands of Americans will have the opportunity to become a 2002 Olympic Torchbearer, and information on the selection process will be announced in February 2001. The Olympic Movement’s longeststanding corporate partner is Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola’s association with the Olympic Games began in 1928 and has included every Olympic Games since. In 1996, Coca-Cola and the International Olympic Committee signed an unprecedented sponsorship agreement extending this partnership through 2008 and continuing the Company’s support of athletes and teams in nearly 200 countries around the world. The Coca-Cola Company also works closely with National Olympic Committees around the world to assist athletes in training for the Olympic Games. Chevrolet Motor Division has a long history of supporting the spirit of the Olympic Games through partnerships with many sport national governing bodies, including the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Association, U.S. Figure Skating Association, U.S. Soccer Federation, National Off-Road Bike Association, USA Hockey and USA Triathlon. Chevrolet is the largest division of General Motors, which is the exclusive domestic automotive sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team through 2008. The Olympic Flame will be lit in Greece and carried to the United States on Delta Air Lines “Soaring Spirit” aircraft featuring images of Olympic Athletes. Delta Air Lines is an Official Provider of the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay. 2002 Olympic Torch Relay Facts at a Glance The 2002 Olympic Torch Relay will travel more than 13,500 miles. The Olympic Flame will be transported by 11,500 torchbearers. The 2002 Olympic Torch Relay will travel through the United States for 65 days. The 2002 Olympic Torch Relay will pass through 46 states. The Olympic Flame will travel via torchbearers, automobile, airplane, train, ship, dog sled, skier, horse-drawn sleigh, snowmobile, ice skaters, prairie schooner and other unique methods. The Olympic Flame travels within a support operation comprised of approximately 50 Chevrolet vehicles including public safety, advance operations, torchbearer shuttles, stage production trucks and support equipment. Each torchbearer will carry the flame approximately 0.2 miles or approximately one lap around a track. The Olympic Flame will travel an average of 208 miles per day during a 12hour day. The Olympic Flame will stop for two major celebrations each day. Details of these celebrations will be announced by local communities throughout the next year. The Olympic Flame is ignited by the sun’s rays in Olympia, Greece and is kept in a lantern that travels with the Relay. A torch is lit from the flame every morning to start that day’s Relay. The Olympic Flame is passed from torch to torch. The lantern is closely guarded to ensure that the flame is never extinguished. The Olympic Torch design will be unveiled in the first quarter of 2001. |