An Evergreen Olympic flame
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The Olympic flame is coming to Seattle today on this, the 49th day of its cross-country journey.
From the kudzu-fringed highways of the Deep South and the coalfields of Appalachia, the torch has passed through Rust Belt cities, over 7-foot snowdrifts in Buffalo and across Southwestern deserts en route to its final destination: the 2002 Winter Olympics, which start Feb. 8 in Salt Lake City.
The flame — actually, one of many offshoots of the original that arrived in Atlanta on Dec. 4 — has been passed from the hands of thousands of torchbearers: cancer survivors, former Olympic medalists, decorated veterans, all manner of high achievers and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
So far, the torches have traveled more than 9,000 miles by car, airplane, canoe and hot-air balloon. One will travel by dogsled in the next scheduled leg in Juneau.
The torches have been gawked at by big and enthusiastic crowds, awash in patriotism after the events of Sept. 11. And after their flames have been transferred, they have been purchased by their bearers for $335 a pop, and some sold on eBay at giant markups.
Now the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay will reach Seattle. The torches will be carried for a fifth of a mile each by 61 torchbearers, nominated and selected for the inspiration their lives have provided for others.
It is the first time the Olympic Winter Games torch has come through Seattle.
"The Games are for the athletes," said Ahmad Corbitt, spokesman for the relay. "The Olympic Torch Relay is for the people. It takes the flame into the communities and neighborhoods of the people, and on Day 49, it will burn brightly here in Seattle."
Before arriving in Seattle, the flame will travel by interstate convoy from Cowlitz County to Tumwater, Thurston County, around 9:30 this morning.
At 10:35, it is to be taken from Tumwater to Olympia by runners, with a lunch celebration at the Farmers Market to begin at 11:45. The Olympic flame then moves by runners to nearby Lacey, and then by interstate convoy from Lacey to Tacoma around 1:15 p.m.
It is to depart Tacoma by tugboat at 3:20 p.m., arriving in Des Moines at 4:20. Runners will take it through Des Moines before handing it off to a convoy for trucking through Burien and on to Seattle by 5:05.
Police will escort the torchbearers along a winding route from Safeco Field to Seattle Center, and streets will be closed briefly along the way in what organizer Eric Radovich called "rolling closures." (The procession moves about 3 mph.)
The runners will go north on Fourth Avenue, east on Pike Street, north again on Broadway, along University Way Northeast, west on North 45th Street, then south across the Aurora Bridge, over Queen Anne Hill by way of Queen Anne Avenue North, then east on Mercer Street to Seattle Center.
Because the relay will take place during rush hours, commuters who use streets on or near the route may be delayed and should consider taking alternate routes.
Around 7:30 p.m., Olympic gold-medalist swimmer Megan Quann of Puyallup will carry the torch into the Center's parking lot D at Republican Street and Fifth Avenue, where a two-hour celebration is planned.
The celebration will include music by the University of Washington Husky Band and other performers, video segments on the torchbearers and the lighting of the ceremonial cauldron.
Caitlin Cleary can be reached at 206-464-8214 or ccleary@seattletimes.com.
INFORMATION
Relay schedule
After stops in Tumwater, Olympia, Lacey, Tacoma, Des Moines and Burien, the Olympic Torch Relay will begin at Safeco Field at 5:05 p.m. today. It will go through downtown Seattle, passing by Pike Place Market at 5:30 and winding through Capitol Hill, the University District, Wallingford and Queen Anne. It will end at Seattle Center for a 7:30 p.m. celebration.