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Olympic Experience Ends
It was another beautiful ending to successful games. A Closing Ceremony at the Medals Plaza marked the end of the Paralympic Games.
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(Mar. 17, 2002)------ There are signs all over town that Utah's Olympic experience is finally over.
Crews worked all through the day Sunday, beginning the tear down process for the Olympic Medals Plaza.
Even the view of the city has changed.
Saturday night at midnight the lights on the banners adorning 13 downtown buildings were turned out for the last time.
The banners themselves will be coming down soon.
Saturday, a packed Medals Plaza witnessed the Paralympic Closing Ceremony, which featured singer Patty LaBelle and the simultaneous outing of two separate cauldrons.
The evening wrapped up with a fireworks display with thousands of sky rockets shot from downtown rooftops.
A fitting salute to the more than 400 athletes who competed over ten days, and the thousands of spectators who came to cheer them on.
Shelley Osterloh was at Closing Ceremonies and has this report.
It was a lot of fun. Great entertainment and a wonderful recap of some of the compelling moments of this week's competion.
Some 450 athlete came from about 35 countries, and each takes home some special memories of Salt Lake City.
The Closing ceremony is a time to celebrate, relax, and say goodbye.
Each team selects one special athlete to proudly carry their flag.
The 57 members of Team USA chose Joe Howard -- captain of the gold medal U.S. Paralympic ice sledge hockey team.
Park City's Chris Waddell, winner of 22 Paralymic and World Championship medals thanked the volunteers.
Chris Waddell: "And although we may light the flame, it is you, the volunteers, who have kept it buring."
And other athltes say Salt Lake City will always be remembered as a place where dreams come true.
Colette Bourgonse/Nordic/Canada: "The people around here are fantastic. The volunteers that came out were amazing. So, it has gone fantastic. Thank you very much for putting on great games."
Viatcheslav Goldinov/Russia: "I like the winter Paralympic games. Very, very nice. Very, very good organization."
Roger Jahan Johansen/Silver/Sledge Hockey/Norway: "It's been super games. It's my first games, and I just love it. Been a great experience."
Muffy Davis/3 silver medals/USA: "Higher than I'd hoped, definitely. All my friends and family came in. I had three medals. You can't be upset about that. It was wonderful."
Manny Guerra: "It's been incredible. The fans have been awesome, and you know the culmination of twelve years winning gold medal, it doesn't get any better."
And though the flame was extinguished, the power of the inpsiration and the celebration of ability continues to burn in those who particiapted in the 2002 Paralympic Games.
