Team Kazakhstan

I was a hockey goal judge in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and saw Kazakhstan battle China for last place. If I remember correctly, China won – barely. Someone sent me this email after the Olympics and it opened my eyes to the players and team that got last place in the tournament, but first place in the hearts of many.

TEAM KAZAKHSTAN:

Last week the Kazakhstan women's hockey team came to our venue. They are one of the only unsponsored teams here at the Olympics, a fact reflected in their mismatched uniforms and coats. A co-worker, Shannon, talked to their bus driver about their situation. The country is a very poor country fighting to hold onto its newly democratic government. There is immense poverty as well as intense hope and strong national pride. He told us that the team had wanted to go shopping for souvenirs. He took them to the mall–they came back in a few minutes saying it was too expensive. He took them to Walmart–they came back in a few minutes saying it was too expensive. So he took them to “All-A-Dollar” where they bought little cheap things. Shannon, was really affected by this story and she decided to try to do something about it. She went to the mall to check out things and there ran into a neighbor. She told him the story. With no hesitation he pulled out a $100 bill and gave it to her to buy something for the team. That night he made a few phone calls and Shannon was overwhelmed by people donating money. She went to BYU bookstore to buy something for them. When the bookstore heard the story donated 25 hooded sweatshirts and some T-shirts for free. Provo city donated some Utah books and trading pins. Another person donated 25 polo shirts. Shannon then made up individual cards for the players and included the donated money for each one. She then had a short letter translated into Russian by a neighbor which, paraphrased, said that she had been moved by their courage and sacrifice to come to Utah for the Olympics and that other people had also been moved as well and had come together to give them something in appreciation for coming.

The first girl on the bus saw the gifts and read the letter and immediately burst into tears. The letter, and perhaps their recent huge loss to Sweden (7-0), was too much. As the rest of the team trickled out we thanked them and high-fived them. The whole bus was a blubbering mess–22 players and 3 coaches were really touched by the gifts. They all stepped off the bus and took pictures as a team with us, of course bearing proudly the Kazakstan flag. This is what the Olympics is all about.

There are many other stories I could tell but I don't have the time. I am just proud to be a part of them and feel really blessed, if blessed is the appropriate word, to have been a part of this impoverished team's Olympic experience. This Shannon is a miracle-worker.