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Olympians To Watch
By Michelle L. Collie
Expiry Corp. Staff Writer
February 8, 2002
Perhaps
this year's spectators should be called true Olympians for
all the Security Measures they will have to go through
The
world is abuzz with Olympics right now. Will the United States
Women's hockey team beat Canada for gold? Will Sarah Hughes
pull an upset victory over Michelle Kwan? Will Sasha Cohen
be the first woman to land a quadruple jump in competition?
Will any athletes be banned from competition due to positive
(or false-positive) drug test results?
The
real Olympians at this Winter's games, however, will be the
spectators. With the extra-tight security measures that are
being enacted in Salt Lake City, its up to those going to
watch the games to relax, remain calm, and show up hours before
the event. They will have to pass through security measure
after security measure throughout the Olympics and the real
race will be how quickly the spectators can be processed before
an event!
Some
of the heightened security measures include 5,000 national
guardsmen on the streets, a strict no-fly zone for the opening
and closing ceremonies, and Blackhawk helicopters will be
in waiting, just in case. As well, a gyroplane will be patrolling
the air, providing highly advanced observation technology,
including forward-looking infrared, ambient light, high-resolution
TV, and the ability to take still photos and send them to
the command center for observation. The Salt Lake City International
Airport will be checking 100% of all bags coming in, and bag
checks will also be in place throughout Olympic venues.
Olympic
organizers are advising people to plan ahead by leaving 3-4
hours early in case of traffic and security delays. They recommend
traveling lightly; avoid backpacks and excessive baggage because
they will have to go through a checking process.
Perhaps
a new Olympic event should be called "security line-ups"
and those that get through the quickest and with the least
amount of baggage win!
An
article on the Olympics would not be complete without a few
staff predictions….
The following are predictions gathered from the staff at Expiry
Corporation.
We'll
start with my favorite…..
FIGURE
SKATING:
Pairs:
GOLD - Jamie Sale and David Pelletier of Canada
Silver - Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze of Russia
Bronze - Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China
Women:
GOLD - Michelle Kwan of USA
Silver - Irina Slutskaya of Russia
Bronze - Sarah Hughes of USA
Mens:
GOLD - Alexei Yagudin of Russia
Silver - Yevgeny Plushenko of Russia
Bronze - Elvis Stojko of Canada
Ice
Dance: GOLD - Barbara Fusar-Poli and Maurizio Margaglio of
Italy
Silver - Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat of France
Bronze - Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz of Canada
(Though we would all like to see Canada be redeemed in this
event, the judging usually likes to keep the Gold in Europe)
HOCKEY
Mens
- GOLD - Canada
Silver - Sweden
Bronze - Czech Republic
Women
- GOLD - U.S.A.
Silver - Canada
Bronze - Finland
CURLING
Mens
- GOLD - Sweden
Silver - Canada
Bronze - Switzerland
Womens
- GOLD - Sweden
Silver - Canada
Bronze - U.S.A.
OLYMPIANS TO WATCH
USA
Ski Team - Daron Rahlves, Picabo Street, Bode Miller, and
Kristina Koznik
Bobsleigh
- Keep an eye on France and Switzerland
USA
Snowboard Team - Ross Powers, Shannon Dunn, Jeff Greenwood,
and Rosey Fletcher
Men's
Mogals - Finland could take a sweep
Women's
Mogals - Keep an eye on Hannah Hardaway of USA
Men's
Aerials - Eric Bergoust of USA, Joe Pack of USA, and Alexei
Grichin of Belarus
Women's
Aerials - Jacqui Cooper of Australia, Veronika Bauer of Canada,
and Evelyne Leu of Switzerland
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