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CNN Live At Daybreak

U.S., Canadian Troops in Afghanistan Watch Gold Medal Game

Aired February 25, 2002 - 06:40   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: You know, millions of hockey fans watched the U.S. and Canada battle for the gold. That was your favorite part, I know, Chad. Among the fans, several hundred U.S. and Canadian troops.

They got up in the middle of the Afghan night to watch the game from their base near Kandahar, and our Martin Savidge was with them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): U.S. and Canadian troops may stand together in the war on terror, but when it comes to the gold medal hockey game in the winter Olympics, well, that's where they draw the borderline. In the middle of the night, in the middle of a war, several hundred soldiers from both countries packed into a tent to watch the battle on ice unfold.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's pretty cool. It's -- I was hoping it would happen, I was hoping between Canada and the States, and it ended up that way.

SAVIDGE: One thing immediately obvious, the Canadians came with a lot more in their duffel bags than just uniforms.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, it got off to a great start with us getting the lead, but now we're going to have to fight to get back.

SAVIDGE: At stake for these troops is a prize bigger than gold on any military base -- bragging rights. Despite falling behind, U.S. soldiers continued to cling to the high ground of optimism.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Plenty of time. USA all the way, getting stronger every day. Not a problem.

SAVIDGE: The Canadians would launch into a barrage of cheering with each new goal. Moments later, the Americans unleashed a celebration counter-offensive. The battle raged back and forth across the tent into the early morning hours. In the end, the gold and bragging rights fell to America's neighbor to the north. In the darkness, U.S. forces silently retreated, not the Canadians.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a good game, because we've been getting along great with the Americans since we've been here. So it was great to see. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It brought a big morale boost to everybody, Americans and Canadians alike. Especially Canadians, since we kicked butt.

SAVIDGE: The celebrating was short. For the soldiers, it's back to the front, and a job they work together that's anything but a game.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well I'm going right back to shift right now. So I'll be manning my post as soon as I get back.

SAVIDGE: Martin Savidge, CNN, Kandahar.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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