Monday, April 29, 1996
10,000 runners will shepherd torch to AtlantaBy Jennifer Louie
Daily Bruin Contributor
There were no prizes or luring gimmicks, but the spirit of the Olympics brought hundreds of spectators together Saturday evening to witness the passing of the Olympic torch through Westwood.
Family, friends and Olympics fans anxiously lined Le Conte Avenue to catch a glimpse of the flame during its journey toward Atlanta, Ga. where it will kick off the 1996 Olympic Games.
"The Olympics bring the entire country together, no matter where you're from or what you believe. The whole world can embrace and cherish it. The torch is a great part of this tradition," said Sameer Bakhda, a fourth-year biology student.
The prospect of participating in the making of history served as an inspiration for much of the crowd, spectators said.
"I'm looking forward to taking part in the buildup of a good year for America," said Jason Williams, a first-year psychology student, as he awaited the arrival of the torch.
One of the torch bearers, Lisa Hilborn, director of wheelchair sports at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center, said she was overcome with "an incredible degree of emotion" after she completed her one kilometer of the relay.
"It's a great opportunity to share goodwill with others," Hilborn said.But the weight of the responsibility was more than Hilborn expected. Despite her pride, Hilborn admitted that it was difficult to run with her torch which she paid $250 to keep held high.
Some members of the crowd said the pride Hilborn and cheering fans demonstrated was exactly why they chose to be a part of the excitement.
"Too many people are losing track of where they're going today. We need to bring back our pride in America," explained Eric Wersching, a first-year political science student.
Many UCLA students took advantage of having the national event right in their backyard by showing up to display their support.
"I'm proud to have the relay by the school. It's like a little Bruin send-off for the Olympics," Williams said.
With the help of more than 10,000 runners who will travel a sum of 15,280 miles, organizers of the event expect the flame to arrive at the Centennial Olympic Stadium by July 19.