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Olympic Torch
Thursday, January 24, 2002
Salt Lake 2002
Olympic spirit glows across South Sound Torch visits Capitol on global journey to Winter Games site Michael Burnham, elliott smithand patrick condon, The Olympian The Olympian Originally published Thursday, January 24, 2002
THURSTON COUNTY -- They came. They saw. They waved U.S. flags and Coca-Cola banners.
Wednesday's journey of the 2002 Olympic torch through Thurston County was part patriotism, part inspiration, and part corporation.
In less than three hours, 51 people jogged through the soggy streets carrying torches with a flame that had
been lit Dec. 19 in Olympia, Greece. Forget about the fact these torchbearers were the couple next door or the PE teacher down the hall -- they received rock star treatment Wednesday.
The torch last passed through Olympia on its way to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, but many who came out to see the spectacle Wednesday felt it hit home a little more this time.
"It's especially inspirational after Sept. 11 because I think these international events are really important in sponsoring unity," said spectator Marilyn Ahearn, who was among the thousands who gathered at the Olympia Farmers Market for speeches, performances and celebration.
The Tumwater High School marching band and spectators bundled in gloves and jackets cheered on the first torchbearer in Thurston County just after 10:30 a.m. It was former Olympic skier Bill Johnson, who is recovering from a coma after an injury suffered in March 2000.
Each torchbearer carried the flame about two-tenths of a mile, or the equivalent of about a lap around a field track, passing the Capitol and the Olympia Farmers Market, and ending at Lacey City Hall. At that point, the flame was loaded onto a truck for its journey to Seattle, where it spent the night.
Spectator Jimmy Jensen, 9, was carrying a torch his sister made. "It was cool to get to see the torch in real life," he said. "It might not happen again."
"It was a lot better than I thought it was going to be," 10-year-old Byron Conover said. "But I thought all these people here would have to be at work."
Even people who couldn't take the time out from their jobs wanted to be a part of the special events.
"It makes you feel more united," Tracy Christoffer said while working at the Shell service station on Capitol Boulevard moments after the procession went past. "Before, we all acted as individuals. Now we're like a team."
A huge crowd of state workers, lawmakers, students and South Sound residents cheered as torchbearer Sean Pugh of Lacey circled the Winged Victory monument on the Capitol Campus and approached the front steps of the domed Legislative Building shortly before 11:30 a.m.
The torch flickered in the wind as Pugh climbed the rain-slick steps toward a waiting Gov. Gary Locke.
"Congratulations," Locke said, grasping Pugh's free hand. "What an honor."
An Olympic flag flew beside the traditional U.S. and Washington flags in front of the Capitol.
From Olympia to Olympia
Olympia resident Mary Mead said she chose to view the torch relay at the Capitol because it seemed like the right setting to bask in the symbolism of the event.
"You've got the dome above us here, and it's so identified with Olympia and what it stands for," Mead said.
The crowd leaned in as Locke began his brief remarks.
"By tradition, the torch is lit by the sun in Olympia, Greece," Locke said. "Today we welcome the torch to our Olympia."
"It's a good thing they light it in Greece," said one woman in the crowd, enduring the wind and rain. "The sun hasn't touched us in months."
Locke said the Olympic Games come at a time when the nation and world need a reminder of the excellence that humankind is able to achieve.
"Every four years, the nations of the world set aside differences of politics, traditions and cultures," Locke went on. The torch and those carrying it are "serving as links in the chain of hope that the world can come together in troubled times. It is in that spirit that I welcome the torch to our state Capitol in Olympia, Washington."
With that, Pugh lit the torch of Kimi Puntillo of Kirkland, for the next leg of the relay.
"Run with pride!" came a shout from the crowd.
Farmers Market ceremony
Olympia police estimate that more than 2,000 people welcomed Chinook Middle School teacher and Paralympic coach Bryan Hoddle to the Olympia Farmers Market stage encircled by booming speakers and corporate cola logos.
"It's just so wonderful to see so many people out here supporting the torch and what it stands for," said Hoddle, who applied to coach the U.S. team at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece. "God bless America."
The two-hour market ceremony included patriotic performances from youth dance troupes and bell and vocal choirs. Each group of crooning kids adhered to a rigid schedule, parading on and off stage all morning. Parents shivered, clapped and caught the act on a nearby jumbo screen.
About 80 Faith Lutheran Church singers performed "God Bless America" through song and American Sign Language.
"The only other time they've performed is in the church," said choir director Debbie Klumb. "It took a lot of courage from them.
"In light of the events of Sept. 11, an event such as this becomes important," Klumb added.
Before being mobbed by autograph hounds, torchbearer Hoddle urged the crowd to carry the Olympic message forward.
"The theme for the flame is to light the fire from within," Hoddle said. "I'd like to challenge you to go out and light a fire in your community and to go out and inspire people to do good things."
Hoddle's eighth-grade students had heard the inspirational message before, but they were still impressed by their teacher Wednesday.
"He's really inspirational because he gives you a lot of life lessons," said 14-year-old Imad Ahmad. "He teaches you to be a better person and get involved in the community. He teaches you respect."
From the market, torchbearers headed west on Fourth Avenue then Pacific Avenue toward Lacey City Hall. There, a large crowd celebrated the final leg of the torch's trek before the traveling cauldron was lit for its journey up Interstate 5 toward Tacoma and Seattle.
Sponsorship's effects
While some say Olympia's name was a factor in the torch passing this way, local corporate sponsorship of the event helped, too.
More than 4,300 Chevrolet dealers across the nation were given the opportunity to sponsor the event, at a reported cost of about $15,000. Titus-Will of Olympia was one of three dealers in Washington state to sponsor the event.
The Olympia auto dealer selected former local auto dealer Steve Boone to run with the torch Wednesday.
Seattle residents celebrated the torch's arrival Wednesday evening. From Seattle, a copper cauldron that bears the flame will travel to Alaska.
Torchbearers will deliver the flame to Salt Lake City for the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics on Feb. 8.
But the Olympic spirit was already alive in South Sound on Wednesday.
"If you look at the history of the Olympics, you look at people internationally," Lacey resident Gordon Kallenberg said. "It gives the message that it's a world thing, not just a local one."
On the Web:
Salt Lake 2002: Official Site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games
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