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SLC Olympic Torch Relay


Milwaukee Olympic Torch Relay - January 5, 2002
On January 5, 2002 the Olympic Torch Relay arrived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The torch began it's Milwaukee route at 5:06 p.m. and ended up at the Pettit National Ice Center (long-time US Olympic Speed Skating training facility) around 8:15 p.m. The grounds of the Pettit Center were full of thousands of people by late afternoon. Live entertainment on stage as well as a video program on huge screens overhead kept the frigid attendees entertained. Also outside, the semi-trailer selling official Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Games (tm) clothing did brisk business all night. Inside, folks gathered on bleachers or skated around the track until just prior to the event start. After the torch finished the running stage of the day's relay, five-time Olympic medalist Bonnie Blair brought the torch into the Pettit and skated around the track twice with it held high.

At this point I thought I had all my photos, since I figured it would be pretty tough to get back outside through 8,000 - 12,000 people to capture the cauldron lighting. However, by chance I had positioned myself near an exit door to the grounds. I discovered this right after the final lap and then directly ran out to the cauldron area and got close enough to the stage to get a few partially obscured-photos.

After the cauldron was lit, Bonnie spoke, then the head of the Pettit, then the Mayor, then the official coordinating the Torch Relay. The mayor declared the day "Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Torch Relay Day" or something useless like that. Finally, the program moved on and the announcer asked for "those people involved with the transfer of the flame to come up to the stage." At that point, one guy walked up with a dinky lantern and stuck a little wick into the flaming cauldron. He then took the wick and transferred the flame to the small lantern and held it above his head as if it was a major accomplishment.

This was a rather anti-climatic end to the evening but I suppose they were spending a lot to keep the cauldron going through those extended speeches and needed to turn off the darned thing. If the torch is coming through your town, you might turn out to see if, but make sure you're willing to wait and willing look for parking. So folks, remember to watch the Olympics on your favorite local NBC station (Disclosure: NBC is owned by General Electric), and if you're a Nielsen family, watch it twice.


Here, the world-renowned West Allis marching band plays for the crowd


Everybody's watching the torch on the other side of the track


It's Bonnie Blair...


with the torch...


waving to you...


and skating...


around the rink twice...


People be amazed! Smaller fire make larger fire!


Look, it's shake and bake and I helped


Bonnie thanks us for thanking her for including her in this wonderful event


The manager of the Pettit Center


The cauldron was only lit during the speeches...pretty short if you ask me


After the event I snuck up for a close-up of the cauldron

Created and maintained by Jay Langhurst - e-mail

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