The damaged American flag from the World Trade Center will not be raised at the 2002 Winter Olympics because officials decided it is too fragile to fly.
High winds are forecast for Friday night’s Opening Ceremony at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Rescue workers retrieved the flag from the site where terrorists leveled the Twin Towers in New York on Sept. 11.
The flag became the centerpiece of debate when the International Olympic Committee objected to its use in the ceremony, saying it would call too much attention to the American team.
A special honor guard of eight U.S. athletes was selected Thursday to carry the flag into the stadium as part of the official ceremony as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings the national anthem.
At one point it was expected that the flag would be hoisted, but instead a second U.S. flag will be raised next to the Olympic flame as the original Ground Zero flag is unfurled and displayed to President Bush.
U.S. Olympic Committee President Sandy Baldwin said Thursday she burst into tears when she first saw the flag this week. Salt Lake Olympic Committee President Mitt Romney said the act of carrying the flag into the stadium probably will move the spectators to tears. He said he nearly cried during a dress rehearsal Wednesday night.
“I was still choked with emotion, and I was fortunate I didn’t have to say anything,” Romney said.
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