The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 11 Bad weather, war can't stop lighting of torch Field hockey celebration slated for this afternoon at Cliff Keen ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) - The Olympic flame began its jour- ney to Salt Lake City yesterday, carry- ing hopes that the Winter Games can bring solace to a nation in mourning and at war. The flame was displayed in a tradi- tional ceremony among the ruins of the ancient birthplace of the Olympics. But clouds and rain prevented the rit- ual lighting of the flame using the sun's rays on a concave mirror. A flame ignit- ed in the mirror during an earlier prac- tice session was used instead. The flame had been kept burning in lamps. It was the third consecutive time - dating to the 1998 Nagano Games - that the torch was not lighted during the official ceremony because of bad weather in Ancient Olympia, about 135 miles southwest of Athens. "The forebears of Olympians, of civi- lization, of humanity looked beyond themselves to find the source of great- ness and of light. May we look to the eternal source to guide our world today," said Mitt Romney, head of Salt Lake City organizing committee. Greek actress Thalia Prokopiou, in her role as high priestess during the cer- emony, used the flame to light the Salt Lake City torch at a grove of cypress trees dedicated to Pierre de Coubertin, the French baron who revived the Olympics more than a century ago. The first leg of the torch relay was run by Lefteris Fafalis, a Greek cross- country skier. The torch is scheduled to arrive in Athens today and burn in the all-marble Panathenian stadium, site of the first modern Olympics in 1896. The torch then heads by plane to Atlanta on Dec. 3. The 65-day relay - across the United States ends at the opening ceremony in Salt Lake City on Feb. 8. The route passes through all the U.S. states except Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Hawaii. Police will also accompany the flame in a sign of the heightened worries fol- lowing Sept. 11, Romney said. "The torch is an important symbol which we wish to protect," said Rom- ney, who was accompanied by Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and U.S. Olympic Committee president Sandy Baldwin. Ancient Olympia Mayor Giorgos Aidonis hoped the torch relay will "warm the hearts of people." The president of the Greek Olympic Committee, Lambis Nikolaou, said the To commemorate the first National Championship by a women's team in Michigan history, the Michigan Athletic Department will host a celebration in honor of the field hockey team this after- noon at 2 p.m. in Cliff Keen Arena. The 51 st team national title in Michigan history came Sunday afternoon when No. 7 Michigan upset No. 1 Maryland in Kent, Ohio. The 2-0 victory capped off the Wolverines impressive run through the NCAA Tournament. This was Michigan's second appearance in the national champi- onship game in the past three years. The Wolverines exacted revenge this season on the Terrapins, who beat Michigan 2-1 in the 1999 title* game. Upsets carried Michigan through the tournament this year as it defeated No. 6 Princeton last Friday en route to the title game. The Wolverines also upset No. 4 North Carolina at home in first round action and intrastate rival Michigan State to advance to the Final Four. The athletic department will honor players and coaches as they will speak on their experiences and memories from this season. With each game in the tourna- ment having a different heroine, the athletic department will have plenty of players to praise in the celebra- tion. Becoming the only player to score in both of Michigan's champi- onship game appearances, Jessica Rose scored the final goals of both games. Her first put Michigan on the board in 1999 and her second sealed the victory Sunday. Senior goalkeeper Maureen Tasch played an outstanding tourna- ment capped off by her shutout in the final game where she had 11 saves to give a high-powered Mary- land team a goose egg on the score- board. Tasch - in four games - had 30 saves on 35 shots on target. With two assists in the title game and the assist on the game-winning overtime goal against Michigan State, sophomore defender Kristi Gannon figured into three of the biggest plays of the Michigan sea- son. Helping Michigan get past North Carolina and Princeton was sopho- more April Fronzoni who recorded four goals in those two games, including her fourth career hat-trick against the Tar Heels and the game- winner against Princeton. - Staff reports AP PHOTO War in the Middle East could not deter the tradition of the Olympic torch yesterday. flame's long journey could convey a spirit of unity "at a time when humanity is shaken by tragic events." He also announced that 17 foreign ministers, including those of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, had signed a declaration in support of an Olympic Truce during the Salt Lake City Games. The effort - spearheaded by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou - seeks to revive the ancient tradition of suspending conflicts during the Olympics. "Because of the tragic events of Sept. 11, we see this as the first time that the world has come together to heal, that fate has fallen upon Salt Lake City to be the place and we will be ready," Leavitt said. Romney said New York, Pennsylva- nia and Washington D.C. will be main stops for the torch "in tribute to fallen citizens of the world, many redefining heroism for me and my countrymen." --*9mm-fs t® - - r- li_ i 'i I I 10 web atfI efrycemf..FP EIE SI I t 'I' &GII 21Chian Daily oupn '- -.->->- - -.-. ACYTI I -Unlimited Tanning ring salon 1 as low as 10 per day see store for details Expires 12/31/01 MD HOUR r 2 Free Visits wt MidnighthFree with any new package I Expires 12/31/01 MD 1 T~k~fI - - ------------- - FREE CATERING SPECIAL ,, SUB $5.00 OFF 7 UANY $30.00 MINIMUM ORDER 000000 00000000 0 d.00 OFF 000 00 00000 00 000 00000 0 000000 000IJ9NY $60.00 MINIMUM ORDER Please present this coupon before orderng. One I Please present this coupon before ordering. One coupon per customer per visit. Customer must coupon per customer per visit. Customer must pay pay any sales tax due. Not food in combination II any sales tax due. Not good in combination with any With any other offer. Not valid with Value Menu other offer. Not valid with Value Menu or Combo or Comnbo Meals. No cash value. Offer expires Meals. No cash value. Offer expires 12131101. 12/31/01. a I -U- -- ,.