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Breaking News

IOC Reverses Decision About American Flag

Aired February 06, 2002 - 11:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, we want to bring you a story we are getting through the Associated Press out in Salt Lake City, Utah, Apparently, the IOC, the International Olympic Committee, which had ruled that that tattered American flag would not be carried in by athletes on the opening games on Friday evening in Salt Lake. Apparently, they have reversed that decision.

According to the Associated Press, and also according to NBC, earlier today on Wednesday, that flag will fly right next to the Olympic flame in Salt Lake City, and it will be carried into the arena there by -- quote -- athletes and other heroes, in -- quote -- a dramatic precession to the flagpole. The host country typically has its own flag flying under, at any Olympic Games, winter or summer, anywhere in the world, right next to the Olympic flag, and the Olympic flame often burning between the two.

But we are now understanding through this report that this flag will be part of the opening session this Friday night in Salt Lake City. One can imagine what an amazing site that will be to have the flag flying for the better part of two weeks at the winter games in Salt Lake City.

Again, we will continue to track that word from the Associated Press earlier today.

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