Photos by Tony Overman/The Olympian
These 18 Thurston County residents are among the people who will carry the Olympic torch this week as it passes through the county.

TORCHBEARERS (left to right) Top row Megan Lolley John and Vickie Creighton Rob Cline Larry Bennett Brandy Ranger Center row Todd Baker Jill Wilmovsky Bryan Hoddle Angie Skov and Edith Russell Armand Osterberg Bottom row Diane Rae Lisbeth and Dave Naber Madeline Donaldson Sean Pugh Tim Gonzales Not pictured Steve Boone Holly Gadbaw Jeff Thummel

Faces of the torch

Thurston County people take part in Olympic tradition

MICHAEL BURNHAM, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Sunday, January 20, 2002

OLYMPIA -- Fifty-two people will whisk through the streets of South Sound on Wednesday with an Olympic torch in their hands.

They will be continuing a journey that has involved more than 11,500 torchbearers carrying the flame for 65 days. The trek began in Greece and will end in Salt Lake City, the site of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

The torch will enter the Tumwater area about 10:30 a.m., stop for a short lunchtime ceremony at the Farmers Market and then head through Lacey and onto northbound Interstate 5 by 1:10 p.m.

It will be the second time the torch has made its way through Olympia. It stopped here overnight in 1996, when Atlanta hosted the summer Olympics.

"It's going to be a good community event -- not just for the city of Olympia, but for the entire county," said city of Olympia administrative assistant Todd Babcock. "It gives us an opportunity to feel part of something bigger."

About half of the people who will carry the torch through Thurston County -- 21 so far -- are from here. They were nominated by family and friends, and selected by one of three separate torch sponsors. Most are honored and nervous about their role, even though many have conquered stage fright in the past.

"I try very hard not to think about it, because if I do, I can't sleep," said torchbearer Edith Russell, who danced in the opening ceremonies of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

"I get really nervous just thinking about it," Russell said. "Every time the sun shines, I hope that's how the weather is going to be, and every time it rains, I worry it will be like that."

An Olympic torchbearer lighted the flame of the 2002 Winter Olympics on Nov. 19 in Olympia, Greece. On Dec. 4, the flame arrived in Atlanta, where it began a 13,500-mile journey through 46 states.

The flame will arrive for the opening of the Salt Lake City games Feb. 8.

"The torch symbolizes the peace, hope and unity that the Olympic games bring and what each Olympian and torchbearer embodies," said Salt Lake Organizing Committee spokesman Lindsay Rowles. "Now, more than ever, it's needed because of what happened Sept. 11."

Preparing the way

Olympic officials are coordinating with local law enforcement officials to provide security along the torch route.

Torchbearers will run amid a 12-vehicle caravan that includes at least four police escorts, Babcock said.

Like a rolling blockade, police will block off cross streets temporarily as the caravan snakes through South Sound.

The public will have many opportunities to see the torch during its one-day journey through South Sound.

But unlike the last time the torch visited, they won't know ahead of time which torchbearers will be running in which spots. That's one of the new security provisions put into place.

A vehicle carrying the flame will travel along I- 5, entering Tumwater's southern border at about 10:30 a.m.

The vehicle will then wind east on Airdustrial Way, north on Linderson Way and east on Israel Road.

The first local torchbearer will then grab the icicle-shaped staff and flame and jog north on Capitol Boulevard.

The torch will enter Olympia city limits along Capitol Boulevard at 11:10 a.m. Runners will make a short detour to the steps of the Capitol before continuing north along Capitol Way.

At about 11:40 a.m., runners will enter the Olympia Farmers Market. There, torchbearer Bryan Hoddle, a volunteer coach for Paralympic amputee sprinters, will light an Olympic cauldron.

A 30-minute celebration will follow, but spectators can enjoy more than the brief visit. Festivities at the market will begin at 10 a.m.

Centennial Elementary School students will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," followed by musical and dance performances from other local youths.

After the market celebration, runners will carry the flame east toward Lacey, which they will reach about 12:50 p.m.

At about 1 p.m., torchbearers will stop at Lacey City Hall. A final torchbearer will light a cauldron, and the flame will travel via vehicle toward Tacoma.

Seattle residents will mark the torch's arrival with an evening celebration.

Babcock said the best places to catch a glimpse of the torch will be Tumwater High School, the Capitol Campus, Sylvester Park, the Farmers Market and Lacey City Hall.

"We are encouraging people to go out and line the streets and celebrate our community," said Tumwater Mayor Ralph Osgood. "It's important because the nature of the Olympics brings people and athletes together."

Michael Burnham covers Olympia for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-704-6869.

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