Chile's athletes, coaches to skip closing ceremony
Jorge Mandru of Chile competes during the Alpine Skiing Men's Giant Slalom. (Feb. 23, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Chile’s athletes and coaches are planning to skip the Olympic closing ceremonies following a magnitude-8.8 earthquake that has devastated their country.
Team spokesman Luis Alberto Santa Cruz said Saturday morning that the athletes and coaches are trying to get home from Vancouver as soon as possible because of the quake.
Chile has three Alpine skiers representing the country at the Vancouver Games. Noelle Barahona, Maui Gayme and Jorge Mandru are all finished competing, so they won’t miss any remaining events.
Santa Cruz says that some of the coaches and athletes have been able to reach family and so far, they have found out that their loved ones are fine. Some are still trying to make contact.
