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American Morning

2002 Winter Games Ended Last Night in Spectacular Fashion

Aired February 25, 2002 - 07:16   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to turn our attention now to the Olympics. The 2002 Winter Games ended last night in spectacular fashion. In case you didn't miss it, we're going to show you some pictures of it now. Capping 17 thrilling days and nights with equal parts excitement and controversy, tattered flags and flags thrown in protest, medals stripped, medals added. But through it all, athletes from every country captured the competitive spirit of the Games with record breaking performances.

And the Americans, playing host, had their best showing ever, winning 34 medals and ending up second only behind Germany's 35.

CNN's Carol Lin is still standing by in Salt Lake City despite her horrendous hours. She joins us now -- good morning, Carol.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi. Good morning, Paula.

We don't mind at all because it's actually been a great story. Thirty-four medals, which is exactly what the U.S. Olympic Committee had been predicting for the last weeks as the American showing has been so spectacular. At last night's closing ceremonies, a long one but a spectacular one, as well, with a great display of fireworks. Ten thousand shells shot off from 11 different locations. A handoff between the mayor of Salt Lake City, handing off the Olympic flag to the mayor of Turin, Italy, which is where hopefully all of us are going to be in 2006 for the next Winter Games.

Great performances by a variety of artists, from Christina Aguilera to Willie Nelson to Kiss. If you can believe these guys are still performing out there in their platform shoes.

But, of course, this was a day of a bang and another bust, Paula. Another bust. The Games ended in a drug bust. Two Olympic athletes were stripped of their medals, Spain's Johann Muehlegg, who won three gold but failed a drug test. He's a cross country skier. Failed a drug test right before the third and final victory, as well as Russia's Larissa Lazutina. She loses her gold medal, but keeps two silver medals. Another Russian cross country skier was also disqualified because of Thursday's drug testing results, which showed a high level of hemoglobin in their blood, which indicated some form of doping to increase their endurance in competition.

So, Paula, once again these Salt Lake Games, which started with a bribery scandal, are ending with a doping scandal. But all in all really a great success for most of the countries. Everybody showed up at the closing ceremonies, which was nice, despite the threat of boycotts by South Korea and Russia.

ZAHN: It was quite a spectacular finale last night.

LIN: Oh, yes.

ZAHN: I personally enjoyed Earth, Wind & Fire.

LIN: Oh, yes. It brings back memories.

ZAHN: There were a lot of middle aged performers out there.

All right, thanks, Carol.

LIN: Yes.

ZAHN: And Apollo Ono, the famous Olympic medallist, will be joining us in the next hour.

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