European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 8, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Let the games begin64 nations launch new olympic Era Crystal Clear goals athletes from 64 nations Wilt be vying for Albertville s olympic medals As the Gaines by Mike Rabun United press International Albertville France the 16th Winter olympics open today with the traditional pomp that not Only signals the Start of the largest ice and Snow carnival in the world but will symbolize the Start of a new Era in sport. With a warm Sun beaming Down on the Alps less than 24 hours before the lighting of the olympic flame the Savoy Region of France stood ready to reap the benefits of years of preparation. Mild and sunny weather was forecast for saturday s opening ceremonies the pageantry for which is prescribed by the traditions handed Down from olympiad to olympiad. Athletes and officials from 64 nations will March into the specially built stadium in Albertville the olympic Flag will be unfurled French president Francois Mitterando will declare the games open and the flame will be ignited. It will bum until feb. 24, by which time 57 Gold medals will be awarded at the 10 venues which will make up the most widespread Winter games in history. None of those medals however will go to East Germany or the soviet Union a countries which dominated these games for almost a generation but which have ceased to exist since the nations of the world last gathered four years ago in Calgary and Seoul. A exactly one Century ago in 1892, in the austere setting of the sorbonne in Paris Baron Pierre de Cou Bertin aged 29, proposed the revival of the olympics games said International olympic committee president Juan Antonio Sam ranch when he opened the Ioc Congress this week. A i have read and reread the memoirs of Pierre de Cou Bertin. I have thought about his doubts his Hopes his enthusiasm and his need to be heard. A a Century has elapsed. A history the stars and stripes february 8,1992 0 Page 28 _ _ _ _ try. Begin their 16-Day run today. The medals made by the storied French Arm Lalique marked by alternate tragedy and Hope Are Crystal set into Gold Silver and Bronze. Lalique made 330 sets of the coveted trin but the olympic movement has gone on sets which will begin being distributed tomorrow. Developing growing stronger offering the world its Ideal of peace and human brotherhood. And All of us heirs to the philosophy of Baron de Cou Bertin can Tell him that we have continued his work even if we have to Start afresh each morning. A olym piss demands a daily reassessment in the Light of changes in society and the Vicissitudes of the opening ceremonies were scheduled to Start at 5 . Central european time three hours and 45 minutes after the games first Competition a an 4ce hockey match Between France and Canada. Three hockey games were on the schedule saturday a Czechoslovakia meeting Norway and the unified team representing the Commonwealth of Independent states which for this year s games will consist of Russia and four other former soviet republics facing Switzerland. Competition begins in seven other sports sunday when the first four Gold medals of the games will be handed out. The biggest news away from the slopes however came when Sam ranch said South Africa would Field a track and Field team at the Barcelona games. A i can assure you South Africa will be v present in Barcelona a Sam ranch and skates la get lots of use but first we hear from or. Seuss Oft the inside. Bus becomes bobsled in a Sav a Page 22 International television schedule Page 22 downhill course draws grudging Praise Page 25 americans Koch launches comeback Page 25 by Larry Mcshane Albertville France a if you done to like Green eggs and Ham today a opening ceremonies for the Winter games will be Tough to Swallow. Taking a Page a several actually a from the collected works of or. Seuss the organizers will Greet each of the 64 competing nations saturday with a four line rhyme a la cat in the hat. A a tropical Island the feared Barracuda will they ski like they swim meet the team from Bermuda a is typical of the poetry that will Echo through Albertville As some of the worlds finest athletes enter the main stadium at olympic Park. The introductions were unveiled thursday evening at a Public rehearsal of the opening ceremonies and Shelley and Keats have nothing to worry about. How about this a the fact that they re Here sounds a Brand new symphonia so we re proud that they re Here the team from Estonia a or maybe this a a they re ready to Fly their step is so Perky please Welcome the team competing from or this a competitors nimble and Quick As the wind lets hear the applause for the great the great Swaziland has come with a one Man team a a Lone skier. And he Only got in this week after the portugese dropped out so this rhyme was obviously composed under great pressure. It also denied the world a Chance to discover what rhymes with Portugal. Two of the More compelling quatrains were composed for two new entries Croatia Ana Lithuania. If they knew what was coming neither might have been so eager for Independence. A with honors that mount to the highest of stations for the very first time competing croatians a will great those athletes. The lithuanians will arrive to this a ooh what a Roar to some its a mania cheering the team from far its enough to get the late Theodor Geisel a who was or. Seuss Long before the olympics started drug testing a rolling Over in his grave. The Grinch that stole Christmas should have made off with these and left Thoville alone. Obviously some countries Are Tough to rhyme. A a cheers went with a Vajger a a a share Quot and a bulgar Ian were paired a a fan of slurred to sound like a a Fannay was matched with the . Rhyme turned Albertville to Hullsville a Bronze Silver and Gold of what glittering fates for the team from the United each verse was read in French and then in English a a they re off like a dash sprinting like astronauts lets give a greeting to the athletes cypriot a went one twisted verse which crossed the language Barrier while breaking the laugh meter. Two frenchmen who looked puzzled after the English Reading went apoplectic after hearing this one in their native Tongue. The poems kick off the two hour plus opening ceremonies a spectacle featuring Jet fighters jugglers fireworks acrobats dancers gymnasts and 13 musicians Hung from cranes playing the cymbals and the Drums. That a panache
