OLYMPICS NEWS
February 25, 2002
A Grand Goodbye to the Winter Games
As closing ceremonies light up Salt Lake City, U.S. celebrates its most successful Winter Olympics ever
 A girl holds a lantern during her closing ceremony performance. |
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After 17 days of competition, controversy, unforgettable moments and heavy security, the Winter Olympics came to a close with a show of unity and lots of pizzazz.
A Rockin' Good Time
On Sunday night 'N Sync kicked off the closing ceremonies in Salt Lake City by singing America's national anthem. Other performers included Christina Aguilera, Gloria Estefan, Harry Connick Jr. and members of the rock group KISS. Bon Jovi's song "It's My Life" ignited the biggest fireworks display in U.S. history. Nearly 800 kids wearing Eskimo parkas also lent their voices, singing "Happy Trails to You" as they skated during the three-hour stadium party.
|  'N Sync takes center stage singing America's national anthem during the Olympic closing ceremonies. |
Big Thanks
"People of America, Utah and Salt Lake City, you have given the world superb games,'' International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge told the crowd of 55,000. "You have reassured us that people from all countries can live peacefully together. Thank you." Rogge also thanked a massive security force that included soldiers on the ground and fighter jets in the skies. Made up of about 15,000 members, it kept the Games safe at a cost of about $310 million.
At the end of the ceremony, athletes left their places in the stands and partied on the color-splashed stadium floor. It was the final gathering of 77 nations that came to Salt Lake City. A 4 1/2 -minute fireworks display then lit up the Wasatch Mountains around the city.
United in Celebration
The party was a bright, bold finish to an Olympics with dramatic moments both in and out of the athletic arena. It gave spectators a chance to forget the judging controversy in figure skating and other sports. Earlier, Russians and South Koreans had threatened to boycott the ceremony to protest what they believed was unfair judging. Also, on Sunday Olympic officials disqualified three cross-country skiers, Johann Muehlegg of Spain and Larisa Lazutina and Olga Danilova of Russia, for using an illegal performance-boosting drug. Muehlegg and Lazutina were stripped of their gold medals.
|  Performers with buckets and squeeze-bottles of ultraviolet paint create a glowing work-of-art on the Olympic stadium floor. |
But the protesting countries still showed up at the celebration and watched the passing of the Olympic flag between the mayors of Salt Lake City and Turin. Turin is the Italian city that will host the next Winter Olympics in 2006. Finally, the Olympic Flame that had signaled the start of the Games at the February 8 opening ceremonies was extinguished.
Record-Breaking Medal Count
The Americans ultimately won 34 medals, shattering their previous record of 13. That total includes 10 golds, four more than the previous U.S. high. The U.S. was just one medal behind overall medals leader Germany, whose total was a Winter Olympics record that topped its previous number by six. Norway came in third with 24 medals. (Check out our medal count for the final breakdown.)
IOC president Jacques Rogge hopes that both medal-winners and spectators will return home with unforgettable memories and a mission for the future. "Keep this flame alight," he told the closing ceremony audience. "Promote the Olympic dream in your countries. You are the true ambassadors of the Olympic values."
