StudentsBeaohedOut l/l/hi/eStaying Home

By Rebecca Walker

With the Olympics held in Atlanta, many ofLiberty's studentswere abletogetataste of this international competition.

The familiar Olympic flag, emblazoned with the intertwined five rings, hasnotflown onAmerican soil since the Summer Games of 1984 in Los Angeles, California.

More than 10,700athletes, twomillionspectatorsandaglobal audience numbering inthe billions gathered fortwo weeks in Julyto celebratethe eventthat hasrecognized athletic achievement

since776 B.C

Thewholeworld watchedas patriotism,competition, talent, defeatand victory combined to puton amemorabledisplay.

Two students,Ira Steel and Ryan Cole,worked behind the scenesto keepthe Olympicsrunningsmoothly. Bothworkedfor 62NotAshamed theArmark Company,an international food cateringservice, from May to August.

Steeland Cole had the titles of "Floor Supervisor," which meanttheywerein chargeof the otheremployees,tookinventory, prepared the stands and dealt withthe customers.

Steelsaid, "Themostdifficult partofthejobwas keepingeveryone happy and satisfied." Both said thiswas a challenge becausetherewas sucha diversityofpeople. This meant they were confronted with language barriersand differentsets of customsconstantly.

Many hours were put into preparationfor the dailyevents. "Thebusiest day?Definitely the opening ceremonies,"Steel and Cole said. "There were 85,000 peoplein the stadium that day."

When asked what was the most memorable thing they were able to do while working atthe Olympics,Steel said, "It was a greatexperience. I got to godown onthe field It feltlikeI was one of the athletes."

Colerepliedthoughtfully, "It issomething that you cantell your kids about one day. I was there with the best-knownathletes in the world."

Another student, Cara Rosson, worked with theCulturalOlympiad. For nine days Rossonsold stamps,coins and other memororabilia from pastOlympics. Rosson said the highlight of the Olympicswas seeingtheUS. flag raised and hearing thenational anthem played Rosson said that you could watch the games on television, but therewas nothing like being thereand catching the "Olympic spirit."