Van Buren pupils capture essence of Winter Olympics

VAN BUREN — Fans need not travel halfway around the globe to catch the spirit of the 1994 Olympics. It is alive and well at Gateway Elementary School in Van Buren.

While most of the events taking place in Lillehammer, Norway, are being played on ice rinks and ski slopes, the Van Buren version is being held in the school gymnasium, said physical education teacher Jacqueline Derosier, one of a team of teachers who is coordinating the event.

“It’s the (Olympic) feeling that we want everyone to get. You can’t get it — the euphoria — unless you’re in the center of competition,” she said.

Having the games indoors required some innovation, Derosier said. The seemingly never-ending cold weather has precluded holding gym classes outside.

Pupils vie for cross-country ski medals with cardboard boxes tied to their feet, speed skaters race on carpet remnants, pupils run foot races and use bows and arrows in the biathlon event, bobsledders and luge racers use scooters, and floor hockey replaces ice hockey.

Each grade level from kindergarten through sixth will compete in one of these sports.

There’s one more difference: there are no losers in the Gateway Olympics. While gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to winners, all pupils will receive a certificate of participation.

Opening ceremonies Monday kicked off a week of games to be held during physical education classes.

As at Lillehammer, there was a parade of athletes carrying the flags of 45 countries while the school band played marching music. The pupils made the flags during Jane Henderson’s media classes.

There was a ceremonial lighting of the Olympic torch, which also required some creativity. Propane used in Norway was out of the question at the school so they used flame-colored cellophane instead.

SAD 24 board chairman Thomas Hebert recited the athletes’ pledge and pupil Wesley Hoague read a report on the meaning of Olympic competition.

Awards and demonstrations will be presented during closing ceremonies Friday afternoon.