SLOC, COCA-COLA AND CHEVROLET ANNOUNCE TORCHBEARERS TO CARRY OLYMPIC FLAME IN AKRON

The Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC), Coca-Cola and Chevrolet today announced Olympic Torchbearers selected to carry the Olympic Flame in Akron as it travels on a 65-day, 13,500-mile journey from Atlanta to Salt Lake City. Selected torchbearers were chosen from more than 210,000 nominees.

"As the flame travels through Akron, it will ignite the local spirit of inspiration," said Mitt Romney, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 (SLOC). "The Torch Relay celebrates not only the athletes who make enormous sacrifices to become Olympians, but also the people from all walks of life who have inspired others to succeed."

The Olympic Flame will be lit during a ceremony in Olympia, Greece before traveling to Atlanta---where the flame last rested on American soil---and starting its cross-country journey through 46 states on 4 December 2001. Each day, an average of 180 Torchbearers will carry the flame approximately two-tenths of a mile.

"We are thrilled that citizens from Akron will represent our community as participants in the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay," said Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. "Their stories of inspiration and lives of courageousness motivate all of us to be better, giving us the hope we need to accomplish our own goals. We are deeply proud of these torchbearers and the impact they have in our community."
Family members, friends and colleagues did the nominating by writing a 50-100-word essay explaining how the nominee embodied the Olympic Spirit and provided inspiration to others and to their community. The nominations were gathered through SLOC, Coca-Cola and Chevrolet during March and April of this year.

Torchbearers will be given an Olympic Torchbearer uniform consisting of a windbreaker jacket, long sleeve T-shirt, wind pants, fleece hat and gloves. Torchbearers also will be able to purchase the Olympic Torch they carry as a reminder of their involvement in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Including the torchbearers announced today here in Akron, 7,200 Community Torchbearers were announced nationwide. An additional 4,000 Olympic torchbearers were selected through programs involving sponsors, providers and Olympians and other athletes from several U.S. Olympic national governing bodies.

For a complete list of torchbearers from Akron, you may also go to:

https://secure.saltlake2002.com/torch/press.html

Torchbearer Selections
Gerald White
Lisa Dubetz
Robert Donel
Jonathon Long
Ellen Walker
Pattie Urdzik
Michele Stiles
Raynard Packard
Harry "Butch" Reynolds
Daniel Julian
Loretta Kish
Michael Carter
John Paradise
Dana Long
Robert Gandee
Dave Lieberth