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Travels with the Leavenworth Olympian
- "Extinguishing the Flame - Final Night of the 2006 Torino
Winter Olympic Games" - Torin Koos Photo Story April
2006
Extinguishing the
Flame
Final Night of the 2006 Torino
Winter Olympic Games
Since the
Athens Games, when the competition days conclude, athletes from
around the globe come together to extinguish the Olympic flame.
During Opening Ceremonies countries walk in as teams – American
hockey players alongside curlers and skiers and ice dancers. At the
Closing Ceremonies athletes walk in as one – Hungarians, Iranians,
Americans and others together. I guess a kind of metaphor to the One
World Olympic ideal, people getting past their differences, putting
down their arms and challenging others in the search to better
ourselves. Ciltius, Altius, Fortius. What follows are snapshots from
the night in Torino.
Before coming into the Olympic Stadium I could hear the roar of
60,000 spectators in the stands. Turning the final corner, this was
my view. A crazy beautiful sight.
All right, back up a couple minutes. Before heading out into the
night the athletes were sequestered together and conversation
ensues. Here I am with Cassie, the American curling skip from
Bemidji, Minnesota. Might want to forget your perceptions of
curlers. That Cassie, she’s one cute girl.
Cross-Country teammate Andrew Johnson gives his best salute to the
longhorn state. Carl Swenson of Concord, New Hampshire approves. The
Sasha Cohen porcelain doll, however, seems less than impressed and
quickly scampered away from the celebratory Nordic crew.
The Olympics are the pinnacle of more than just sport. The best
pyrotechnicians, composers, singers and performers make the Opening
and Closing Ceremonies the spectacle they are.
Snow in the streets of Torino? Maybe the paper kind…
Lowering of the Olympic flag. Just over two more years until the
five rings fly high over Beijing. Gotta be honest with you on this
one. Felt chills run down my spine. I wish the Vancouver Games were
here today. Four years away, though. Four years to wait. Four years
to get better, too.
I’m not going to say Ricky Martin rocked… but, well, somehow he did.
Following on the heels of Andrea Bocelli, the band inspired three
thousand performers and two thousand athletes to rush from their
stadium seats to the covered Juventus soccer pitch. The words escape
me to describe the scene. Madhouse. An absolutely beautiful
madhouse.
See you in Vancouver, if not before. -Torin
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Torin Koos
is a member of the National A Team for the United States and a World
Cup, World Championship and Olympic competitor.
Equipment: Rossignol Skis, Boots and Bindings, Toko gloves and wax,
Marwe, Exel poles, Rudy Project Eyewear, Powerbar
Home Ski Club: Leavenworth Winter Sports Club (
www.skileavenworth.com )
Headgear Sponsor: USA Pears (
www.usapears.com )
Best Western Icicle Inn (
www.icicleinn.com
)
BioSports NorthWest Physical Therapy (
www.biosports.net
)
Contact Information
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If you are interested in
supporting Torrin Koos we will be happy to pass your information
along to him. Your partnership will help support the lifestyle
needed to keep the dream alive. As an athlete, Torin hopes his
Olympic journey inspires the community to participate in the free
air lifestyle, the same customers that come to visit the Leavenworth
area.
email: kevin@icicleinn.com
phone: 888-353-0595
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