`Festival of Snow and Ice ` Commences

`3, 2, 1…`

As soon as the fireworks began, snow flakes fell from the sky at Salt Lake City, as if they were blessing the `festival of peace`. Little snow flakes soon turned into large blossoms, covering the Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium, and 52,000 spectators could not bear the excitement and stamped their feet to express their great expectations for the `world of snow and ice` that will soon unfold itself.

The Olympic fire for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics was finally lit. The scene was at the opening ceremony on 9th, which was held at the Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium in the presence of 2,300 athletes from 77 nations. The games’ theme, `Light The Fire Within`, marked the 2 hour 40 minute-long opening ceremony, which turned out to be a superb `ice show` that beautifully harmonized snow and ice.

At the stadium, in which a large bowl-shaped artificial ice link was placed, 800 skaters appeared to create just the right mood. Also, the snow, which was not in the script, made a timely appearance. A 13 year-old skater, symbolically known as the Child of Light, delivered the message to overcome the adversities of life and walk forward toward hope. After the performance by the Mormon choir, (70 percent of Salt Lake City residents belong to the Mormon Church), and popular singer Sting, the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron became the highlight of the ceremony.

As the 1980 U.S. ice hockey team stood to light the cauldron en masse for the first time in the history of the Winter Olympics, the ceremony hit the climax.

The Korean team, aiming for the 4th consecutive position within the top ten, made the 42nd entrance after Kenya with 5-time winter Olympic participant Hur Seung-Wook (A&A, Alpine Ski) at the front. The team marched in, wearing red hats and white jackets with color stripes.

The day’s opening ceremony was broadcasted live in 160 countries and in 50 different languages.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com