PROVO ? The women's hockey team from Kazakhstan may have attended the 2002 Winter Games on a shoestring, but they received an outpouring of the Olympic spirit from Utah County residents and the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.
The hospital held a reception on Wednesday at its west lobby and presented gifts from around the valley to the struggling team that came to the Winter Olympics without a corporate sponsor.
Team captain Olga Kryukova described her country as a developing, growing nation. Kazakhstan, just south of Russia, became independent in 1991 after about 70 years as part of the Soviet Union.
Their hardships in attending the Games were only a part of their training, Kryukova said through a translator. One team member came with just $50 for her 17-day stay, hospital spokesman Anton Garrity said.
Each team member received a bag from Brigham Young University filled with gifts, including clothing, CDs of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing in the opening ceremonies to the Olympics, caps knitted by a Provo ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and even a box of green Jell-O. Residents also donated some $3,000 to be shared equally among team members to purchase souvenirs.
Dozens of residents, hospital staff and even a patient hooked to an IV warmly greeted the team. As media and residents' strobe lights flashed, and some hockey members photographed them back.
Patient Melissa Flygare of Orem, hospitalized with pneumonia, climbed out of bed and with her husband, Mike, made her way to the reception hooked to an IV. They wanted to take the opportunity to see the team, her husband said.
A hastily assembled school choir from Timpanogos and Hillcrest elementary schools performed two songs to welcome the team.
"We heard about it at the end of school, yesterday," Hillcrest student and choir member Gary Houskeeper said. "It was really fun singing and watching the people talk in Russian," he said.
"It was really cool," chimed in Hillcrest student Steve Price.
"It was a good feeling and a nice experience," added student Tanner Williams.
Luckily, the students already knew their songs and had performed them before.
Team members made personal sacrifices to attend the Games, IHC Administrator Mary Ann Young said. Hospital doctors working with the team became aware of its financial strife ? "they came with limited resources to participate in these games," Young said.
As word spread residents pitched in to help the team, she said.
"They may not go home with gold, but they will go home with the hearts of this community," Young said. The hockey team has lost every game it's played, so far.
IHC, a media sponsor of the Games, had each department pick a country to learn about and to use as a theme to decorate around, Young said. Labor and Delivery department had earlier picked Kazakhstan and received a personal visit from the team.
E-mail: rodger@desnews.com