Amid rain, hail and wind, the U celebrated its night at the Olympic Medal Plaza Feb. 20.
The night included a medal ceremony, a performance by Marc Anthony and a short fireworks display.
International Olympic Committee members handed out medals for many events, including women’s bobsled, women’s 1,500 speed skating and women’s and men’s skeleton. Americans took medals in all these events.
U President Bernie Machen welcomed the crowd of nearly 20,000.
“It’s so great to see so much red out in the crowd,” he said. “We at the U are very proud to be part of the Olympics.”
He encouraged the crowd to enjoy what was left of the Games.
“Enjoy the last few days of the Olympics,” he said. “Continue doing what it is that made this the greatest Olympics ever.”
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young hosted the night along with actress Caroline Rhea.
The medals ceremony honored many firsts for the Olympic Winter Games. Men’s skeleton came back to the Games after a 54- year break, women competed in skeleton and bobsled for the first time ever, and Vonetta Flowers became the first African American to win a Winter Olympic medal.
Fred Esplin, U vice president for university relations, was impressed with the amount of American medals and the Games in general.
“The night has been wonderful?seeing five Americans get medals was great,” he said. “The Games have been spectacular. It just makes you proud that the city and state did such a great job.”
After the ceremony, Marc Anthony played mainly Latin dance music for about an hour, singing in Spanish and English.
The night ended in a short but well-received firework display.