`GO, USA' U.S. HEALING EFFORT TO TAKE WORLD'S STAGE.

Byline: Paul Oberjuerge Staff Writer

SALT LAKE CITY - Gold, silver and bronze? Not the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympics. Color these Games red, white and blue.

A nation reeling from the terror attacks of Sept. 11, and fighting an increasingly lonely war against what its president calls an ``axis of evil,'' might be able to find respite from global anxieties the next two weeks while cheering on its skating and skiing athletes, on their home turf.

``This is a chance for the USA to put its best foot forward,'' U.S. Olympic Committee president Sandy Baldwin said Thursday. ``We're psyched and ready to 'Go, USA!' ''

The Salt Lake Games begin with opening ceremonies tonight amid unprecedented security and with President Bush expected to be in attendance. Over a span of 17 days, these Games also will receive unprecedented network television coverage - 375 1/2 hours on NBC, CNBC and MSNBC through Feb. 24.

Americans have a global reputation for outbursts of patriotism at the Olympics, which many other nations see as an international event that should be above nationalism.

Salt Lake 2002 might break new ground when it comes to American flag-waving, however, beginning with opening ceremonies, when the tattered Stars and Stripes that flew above the doomed World Trade Center is carried into Rice-Eccles Stadium by a delegation of eight American athletes.

``It's going to be a patriotic evening and will give Americans something pure and fresh,'' skier Picabo Street said. ``Maybe we'll make our military abroad smile.''

The World Trade Center flag sparked a mini-controversy in the final days before the Olympics; the USOC wanted to have its flag-bearer carry it before the American athletes as they enter the stadium. When the International Olympic Committee objected to a ripped flag leading a delegation, the WTC flag was designated the host-nation flag; it now will be brought into the stadium early in the ceremony and raised next to the Olympic flag.

``It's important for that flag to come in, because it's part of each and every American now,'' said speedskater Amy Peterson, who will lead the main body of U.S. athletes, bearing an unscathed flag.

Americans within the Olympic movement are becoming sensitive to complaints that a 79-nation event involving some 2,300 athletes is being hijacked in the name of American patriotic zeal of the sort that drenched the Super Bowl last Sunday. The World Trade Center flag seems to be at ground zero of the tetchiness.

``That flag isn't just the USA,'' said luge slider Mark Grimmette, who will help carry the World Trade Center flag. ``It's for all the victims who were there that day.''

People from 80 nations died in the twin towers on Sept. 11.

When the competition begins in earnest, on Saturday, look for Salt Lake 2002 fans to lead cheers for American athletes.

``We expect to see flags flying and chants of U-S-A,'' said Lloyd Ward, USOC chief executive officer. ``The expression of patriotism is the prerogative of every host nation. But in the Olympics, that pride has to be expressed as part of the world community.''

American fans might have plenty to cheer about. U.S. Olympic officials have predicted a harvest of 20 medals, seven more than Americans have won at any of the 18 previous Winter Games.

On the three previous occasions the Winter Games were held on U.S. soil - at Lake Placid in 1932 and 1980, and at Squaw Valley in 1960 - American athletes enjoyed a medals bump of up to six medals.

The U.S. won 13 medals at Nagano in 1998.

U.S. prospects are particularly strong in women's figure skating. Michelle Kwan is the favorite to win gold, and compatriots Sasha Cohen, from Laguna Niguel, and Sarah Hughes also could find themselves on the medals podium come Feb. 19.

Other leading American medal contenders include Timothy Goebel and Todd Eldredge in skating; Apolo Anton Ohno, Casey FitzRandolph and Jennifer Rodriguez in speedskating; Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves in skiing; Eric Bergoust, Jeremy Bloom and Hannah Hardaway in freestyle skiing; Ross Powers and Chris Klug in snowboarding; Chris Soule and Lee Ann Parsley in the resurrected sport of skeleton, and the men's and women's bobsled and hockey teams.

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(color) Flags and fireworks welcoming the Olympic Torch to Park City, Utah, should represent a familiar patriotic theme throughout the Games.

Dean Rutz/Seattle Times