Packing them in
The Utah State University gymnastics team is preparing for a big crowd at Wednesday’s meet against BYU following the Olympic torch ceremony, which will be held in the Spectrum just before the meet.
“I’m excited for all of the fans who will be there,” Jessinia Abrego, team member, said. “We usually get the biggest crowd against [the University of] Utah, but I think this is going to be even bigger because of the ceremony.”
Head Coach Ray Corn said, “It’s going to be huge. We’re going to be a part of history.”
The doors to the Spectrum will open at 3:30 p.m. with the activities starting at 4:20 p.m., and seating will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis, said Russ Akina, director of the City of Logan Parks and Recreation Center. Admission is free.
The torch is scheduled to arrive at 5:32 p.m.
Through much of the ceremony, the gymnasts will be warming up in the HPER Building, but just before the torch arrives the athletes will be shuttled to the Spectrum to watch the end of the ceremony.
“We have a special shuttle bus for the athletes,” said Debbie Harvey, program information representative for Parks and Recreation. “We’re working together and we’re hoping to support each other.”
Much of the equipment for the 6 p.m. meet will already be on the floor during the ceremony, and after the torch leaves at 5:47 p.m., a team of people will finish the last-minute preparations for the meet.
“We have a whole crew of volunteers there to move the equipment around,” Harvey said. “They should be able to get it ready fairly quickly.”
The torch will enter Logan at 4:35 p.m. from Garland, and 38 people will run with the torch before it leaves for Brigham City including two former Olympians: Jean Saubert and Kathaleen Cuton.
Steve Reeder, an assistant coach for the USU track team, will run the torch out of the Spectrum, and said he is thrilled to have the chance to be a torch bearer.
“Since I was a little kid, I’ve been a student of the Olympics,” he said. “It’s something that’s always been intriguing to me. I never would have dreamed I’d have this opportunity.”
Corn said he is glad the gymnastics team has the opportunity to take part in the Olympic torch relay.
“We don’t know if we are ever going to have the Olympics here again,” Corn said. “Having the opportunity for this meet to be held as an Olympic ceremony meet is going to be incredible. It’s going to be an exciting event.”
“I’m so excited to watch the torch ceremony,” Abrego said. “And I’m excited for the meet. I think there will be a lot of fans there.”