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Lighting up the SpringsCrowds, concert to greet TorchAcross the nation, it has uplifted the spirits of millions. It has drawn together people for a common purpose, and it has ignited the special kind of patriotism that rekindles only rarely.As in every four years.From New York to Detroit to Dallas to Alamosa, and hundreds of points in between, the Olympic Torch has been carried across America. Its purpose has been to bring together a huge wave of excitement leading into the 1984 Summer Games beginning July 28 in Los Angeles.Today, this afternoon, the Olympic Torch comes to Colorado Springs.After entering the state south of Alamosa early Thursday morning, the Torch continued north until stopping for the night at Johnson Village near Buena Vista, about 90 miles west of Colorado Springs.By 4 40 p.m., the Torch caravan will arrive in Woodland Park. From there it will be down Ute Pass on U.S. 24 toSee TORCH Page C7Torch trail(The approximate timetable for the Olympic Torch visit.)■ 4:40 p.m. — Torch runnerarrives in Woodland Park■ 6:15 p.m. — Torch runnerarrives in Manitou Springs.■ 7 p.m. — Torch runner passes through downtown Colorado Springs as* Olympic salute concert begins at Berry Stadium, Glen Summer Street and Constitution Avenue.■ 7:25 p.m. — Torch runnerarrives on grounds of Olympic Training Center.■8 p.m. — Torch runner arrives at Berry Stadium.■9:05 p.m. — Torch runnerarrives at South entrance to Air Force Academy and stops for the night.Coloradans give Olympic torch a Rocky Mountain ‘Hi’SALIDA — With large celebrations and silent, personal tributes, Coloradans lined up for a glimpse of history as the Olympic torch entered the state and began its long trek along the scenic Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.The torch — on a 5,000-mile, 82-day odyssey across the nation — came to Colorado early Thursday and got a welcome whistle from a steam locomotive in Antonito, about five miles north of the Colorado-New Mexico state line.At Alamosa, hundreds of peoplejammed Main Street to wave American flags and cheer as the torch made its way north.After leaving Alamosa, a torchbearer crossed the Rio Grande River and was greeted by a crowd of 2,000 at Poncha Springs, where 500 carnations were thrown at the runner. Then the torch went on to Johnson Village, near Salida, where the group spent the night.“It’s nice to see the patriotism in all the people,” said Kerry Adams, of Monte Vista, who drove 17 miles to Alamosa see the cross-countrycaravan that has ignited a renewal of patriotic spirit and celebration all along the way.Frank Jones, a veteran marathon runner from Jacksonville, Fla., crossed the Colorado-New Mexico border carrying the torch shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday.Ben Gutierrez, of Antonito, smiled and wiped tears from his eyes as the Olympic torch passed through his hometown. “I don’t know what to say,” he said, choking back his emotion.Farther north in Alamosa, 8-year-old Shannon Joyce exulted, “I was a lot excited” as she stood along Main Street, where buildings were bedecked with American flags.Dick Boehner, a Keensburg native who now lives in Chester, N.J., said the 7,000-foot altitude was causing minor problems for him and other runners.Boehner had another problem — a propane leak in the torch he was to carry. When his predecessor, John Toole of Atlanta, set Boehner’s torch aflame about two miles south of Poncha Pass, the leak caused theflame to shoot down around the handle of the torch, forcing Boehner to set it on the ground. Officials said he sustained no serious injury, and was given a fresh torch for his leg of the run, which was fired up from the one he’d had to set down.The torch, which has been carried in part by a 16-person cadre of runners sponsored by ATT and flown to different cities, is scheduled to spend six days in Colorado.See OLYMPIC Page C7usocUINTAH ST.PLATTE AVE.FOUNTAIN BLVD.GARRY BERRY STADIUM
Newspaper Details
Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
Fri, Jun 22, 1984
Page 25
Full Page
Clipped by
Benjamin S.
WI, USA 27 Mar 2024
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