August 1, 2000--
The U.S. bobsled team is in
shock. Their hopes for
medals in 2002 may have
been shattered today because
theives took some critical
equipment. News Specialist Shelley Osterloh has the
story from South Salt Lake.
When a team member arrived at a storage shed today,
he found the 11 runners were missing. The runner is the most critical part of the bobsled -- made of an aerospace super alloy -- it attaches to the bottom of the sled and runs on the ice.
The missing runners are valued at about $700,000.
Now why, you ask, would someone steal runners?
The runners were stored inside some donated
Browning rifle storage cases, and the thieves probably
thought they were firearms.
Also, one of the team members was temporarily
storing about a dozen hunting rifles in the shed. The
thieves took them as well.
This is truly a devastating blow to the team. The
runner is the most critical piece of equipment. Bobsled
is the most expensive Olympic sport.
The team has
been fundraising for the last two years to raise money
for the development of the runners. They say, 2002
was their year -- but without the runners -- their
dreams are dashed.
They say, for the first time, the men's and women's bobsled teams had the runners they needed to win gold.
Travis Bell/USA Bobsled: "WE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS
BUILDING THIS EQUIPMENT. THIS IS
STUFF WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO USE
IN THE GAMES. THIS IS WHAT WAS
GOING TO WIN A MEDAL. UMM.
EVERYONE'S HOPES AND DREAMS ARE
TIED UP IN THIS STUFF."
South Salt Lake police have no leads.
If you have any information, you can call the team at
this number: 801-209-0105.
Team members say they
cannot replace these runners in time for the 2002 Olympics. They hope
someone will return them.
The runners were not insured.
