Athletes welcomed at Olympic Village with flag-raising ceremony (02/17/02)

Athletes welcomed at Olympic Village with flag-raising ceremony

by Andrew Nynka

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Members of the Olympic Village community and organizers of the 19th Winter Olympic Games welcomed the Ukrainian delegation with a flag-raising ceremony on February 7.

The ceremony took place on the University of Utah campus in the Olympic Village's international zone - an area intended for the interaction of athletes, media, family and friends, but yet separate from the athlete's personal quarters.

Also taking part in the same ceremony were delegations representing Hong Kong-China, Monaco and Spain.

The mayor of the Olympic Village, Spencer Eckles, as well as Norma Matheson, former first lady of the state of Utah, welcomed the four national contingents to the Olympic Village with gifts presented separately to each delegation from the Navajo Indian nation and the state of Utah.

After the gifts were presented, the national anthems of each individual Olympic delegation were played while the countries' flags were raised in the Olympic Village.

Prince Albert, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and president of the National Olympic Committee of Monaco, later welcomed all present. He said the ceremony highlights the Olympic ideal of peace and harmony between various nations "no matter how distant from each other or how different their cultures may be."

The 21 members of the Ukrainian delegation present were led at the ceremony by their chief of mission, Vasyl Karlenko.

Representatives of the Navajo nation led all those assembled with what they described as "the happy song" - a dance and song intended to welcome and bless the athletes.

Serhii Bubka, former Olympic pole vaulter and multiple world record holder, also was present at the Olympic Village ceremony. Commenting on Ukraine's chances at the Salt Lake City Games, he said, "I can't give you my idea of how many medals Ukraine will win. I just want our teams to compete well."

The complete delegation of nearly 145 - athletes, coaches, trainers and officials - marched together in the opening ceremonies on Friday, February 8, at Rice-Eccles Olympic stadium led by biathlete and 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic Games silver medalist Olena Petrova. Many of them, however, are staying outside of the Olympic village, closer to their respective sports venues due to logistical considerations.

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