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1980 Ice Hockey Champions Light Olympic Torch VOA News 9 Feb 2002 14:02 UTC 
For the first time in the history of the World Games, a team instead of an individual has lit the Olympic cauldron.
The honor at the late Friday opening ceremonies, in Salt Lake City, went to the 1980 United States ice hockey team, which stunned the sports world by winning the Olympic gold medal.
Team captain Michael Eruzione was joined by his 18 teammates beneath the giant Olympic cauldron, which rises more than 35 meters in the air. To chants of "USA! USA!", the hockey players lit the flame that will burn continuously until the games end on February 24.
Eruzione accepted the Olympic torch from two Americans who won gold medals in the 1998 winter games, skier Picabo Street and ice hockey player Cammi Granato.
It was a joyful reunion for the Olympians. Twenty-two years ago, Eruzione led a young and inexperienced U.S. team to Olympic gold by defeating the Soviet Union in the semifinals, and Finland.
Eruzione scored the game-winning goal against the once-invincible Soviet team in what is considered one of the sport's greatest upsets.
Earlier, the torch bearing the Olympic flame arrived in Salt Lake City after a 21,600-kilometer journey from Mount Olympus, in Greece, where it was first lit by the sun's rays.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and DPA.
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