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CNN Live At Daybreak

WTC Flag to be Included in Olympic Opening Ceremony

Aired February 07, 2002 - 05:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And we should find out today which American athletes will carry that flag from ground zero into the opening ceremony at the Winter Games. The controversy over the tattered flag was finally resolved yesterday. Olympic organizers now say American athletes will be allowed to carry the flag, along with New York City firefighters and Port Authority Police.

CNN's John Giannone reports on how that decision was finally reached.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN GIANNONE, CNN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED CORRESPONDENT: It was the culmination of several days of divergent opinions and fractured discussions, a decision finally reached among the ruling parties of this Winter Olympics that come Friday will produce a solemn, significant, deeply emotional tribute to the ground zero flag to the victims and heroes of September 11.

MITT ROMNEY, SALT LAKE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: The best way to honor this flag and these individuals is by displaying it prominently during the playing of "The National Anthem." And that's a solution which I think is the most dignified and most solemn and most appropriate way to recognize this flag.

FRANCOIS CARRARD, IOC DIRECTOR-GENERAL: I think we are all convinced that this is the absolute most dignified and best way for the Olympic movement at large, worldwide, to honor the victims and the heroes.

BOB CTVRTLIK, IOC MEMBER: I just know what a prestigious honor it is whenever you can be the one carrying the flag for your country. And I can only imagine that this would be about a hundred times more.

LLOYD WARD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, U.S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Quite frankly, the Trade Center attack was not just an attack on America, it was an attack on the civilized world, and that's a quote from President Bush. And I think that the solidarity support here will support that notion as well.

ROMNEY: This is a very different flag raising because the entire world is unified behind our country and against the terrible acts which led to this tragedy. GIANNONE: Now Romney added that to preserve the emotion of the moment, he wants to keep many of the details of the ceremony a secret, including the identity of the small group of Olympians who will march in the procession. And he also said the New York Port Authority Police Department will have to determine whether the tattered flag can withstand the elements of a Rocky Mountain winter.

At the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, I'm John Giannone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And we are kicking off our coverage of the Winter Games tonight when CNN is "LIVE FROM THE OLYMPICS." Be sure to join our own Carol Lin tonight at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific time.

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