by: Kristen Mitchell, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Ontop of the beautiful mountains of Utah, the United states hosted the 19th Olympic Winter Games in the month of February.
Salt Lake City hosed these games which proved to be the most successful Winter games for the United States, winning the second highest number of medals topped only by Germany who won 36. The United States won 34 medals, a ecord performance for the Winter Games.
The opening ceremonies began with the traditional parade of athletes, the Mormon Tabernacle choir singing the theme of the Olympics "The Fire Within" with a card display fo a flame from theaudience and the lighting of the Olympic torch that had travelled through 46 states. The opeining was festive but security in the post 9-11 era reamined a concern.
Controversies involving unfair judging, disqualifications in speed skating and the question of whether theOlympics should be in Salt Lake were some of the negative aspects of the Olympics. Despite all of the controversy these Olympics were very successful and will serve as a legacy in years to come.
Records were broken and surprises popped up at these Olympic games. Sarah Hughes winning the gold medal over the favorite Michelle Kwan, who won the bronze medal, the first USA #2 women's bobsledding team winning the gold also with the first African American woman on this team winning a gold at the winter Olympics, and the United States sweeping all three medals in snow boarding were a few of the milestones.
The closing ceremonies were just as spectaculer as the opening. With the children of light singing a song for the audience, big baloons rising in the air. Arial artists demonstrated different events. A wide variety of musical artists performed to great response from the crowd. It was truly an amazing feat to plansuch a large "party" that everyone could enjoy.
At one point during the ceremonies they had people paint the ice rink wiht neon paint, then a group with anti-gravity shoes came out onto the rink, and giant snow balls stared drifting down the stands to make it look like snow.
The joy these Olympians felt when winning their gold medals, proudly standing on the podium to listen to their national anthems and the spirit of competition felt throughout the seventeen days seemed to bring together all nations who attended the Olympics.
Although the world was sad to see these 2002 Winter Olympics end, there was a special feeling at these Olympics as Olympians fulfilled their dreams and left a hope for future generations that at least for a time athletic could replace world fears.