GoldRUSH

SALT LAKE CITY -- With a big sigh of relief and a star-studded celebration, Utah and America bid farewell to the Olympics Sunday during a rollicking night of song and dance, a celebration of past athletic glory, and a quick glimpse into the future.\nThe closing ceremony was a wild ride, an eclectic mix of entertainment where rock band KISS shared the stage with figure skater Katarina Witt, Bon Jovi rocked the house and the Olympic flame that burned brightly for 17 days went dark.\nMost of the 2,500 athletes at the games paraded into Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium and watched from the stands. Bobsledding bronze medalist Brian Shimer, a five-time Olympian, carried the American flag.\nCross-country skiers Johann Muehlegg of Spain and Larissa Lazutina of Russia were stripped Sunday of their most recent gold medals at the Salt Lake City Olympics after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.\nA third cross-country skier, Olga Danilova of Russia, also tested positive for the drug darbepoetin, which is used to treat anemia. All three athletes were tossed out of the Olympics.\nAt the end of the games, the athletes came down to the ice sheet on the stadium floor to mingle and party together in the final gathering of 77 nations that came to Salt Lake City -- not all of whom got along so well.\nThe mass of skiers, skaters, snowboarders and sledders watched a ceremonial rite of passage -- the passing of the Olympic flag between the mayors of the host city and the next city to welcome the games. The 2006 Winter Olympics will be in Turin, Italy.\nEarth, Wind and Fire sang. So did Harry Connick Jr. and Gloria Estefan. Dorothy Hamill and Kristi Yamaguichi skated. Dancers danced. The lights went out and a passel of glowing "stick men" skittered across the stadium, while ultraviolet paints shined through the darkness. Vice President Dick Cheney was in the audience.\nA crowd of 55,000 in the stadium and millions more watching television around the world witnessed this festival of Americana unfold -- kitschy, fun and funky.\nSalt Lake City organizers and the International Olympic Committee were happy and relieved. Other than a disturbance that resulted in 20 arrests early Sunday morning downtown, these games weren't tainted by violence. Massive traffic problems many people predicted never materialized.\nIOC president Jacques Rogge thanked the city and country "for offering us these two unforgettable weeks" and applauded the athletes for "great performances."\n"We were thrilled by your spirit of fair play and brotherhood," he said. "Keep this flame alight. Promote the Olympic dream in your countries. You are the true ambassadors of the Olympic values"