My Mom was a torch bearer for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City
Coca-Cola was running a special program where you could nominate people who have influenced you. I nominated my Mom and she was picked to carry the torch on New Years Day 2002 in Cleveland. It was an all day event. We got to Cleveland pretty early in the day. Then Mom was put on a shuttle and got to ride along the torch route until it came to be her time to carry the flame. There was a huge procession of cars, motorcycles and other offical vehicles. When she got off the shuttle, she was holding her torch which she lit from the flame of the person before her's torch. She looked so good in her white Olympics outfit - everything from official jacket and pants to the hat and gloves. After her leg of the route was over, she passed the flame to the next person, but she got to keep her torch. It was such an exciting event. I was so proud to see my Mom carrying the Olympic flame! She looked so happy!