COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (June 23, 2003) - - Resident athletes at the U.S. Olympic Complex joined the Colorado Springs-based staff of the United States Olympic Committee and the National Governing Bodies on Monday, June 23 to commemorate the 109-year history of the modern Olympic Movement. The "Olympic Day Celebration" was part of the worldwide commemoration of Baron Pierre de Coubertin's June 23, 1894 convening of the first meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the Sorbonne in Paris, and the founding of the Modern Olympic Games.     The festivities began with a torch relay around the Olympic Complex and the lighting of the cauldron atop the Olympic Visitor Center. USOC Chief of Sport Performance Jim Scherr welcomed Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera during the program, which also featured weightlifting Olympians and U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athletes Cara Heads (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and Shane Hamman (Mustang, Okla.).     "This is a wonderful opportunity for the entire Olympic Family in Colorado Springs to come together and feel good about what we do and the special movement we serve," says Scherr. "The athletes have been extremely busy training for the upcoming Pan American Games and the many international championships and competitions scheduled prior to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, while the NGB and USOC staffs have been hard at work to support their efforts in every way possible."    The celebration concluded with a midday meal that benefited a local food pantry. Beginning June 16, drop boxes were placed at five locations throughout the complex for donations of non-perishable items. Additional contributions were collected as participants in the Olympic Day activities received a free lunch when they gave to the community food bank.    Athlete torchbearers included Jeni Armbruster - Goalball Paralympian, Elaine Cheris - Olympian & Modern Pentathlon fencing coach, Cara Heads - Weightlifting Olympian, Simona Hradil - Taekwondo Olympic hopeful, Hunter Kemper - Triathlon Olympian, Ann Patrice McDonough - Figure Skating Olympic hopeful, Amanda Stevens - Triathlon Olympic hopeful, Carolyn Treacy - Biathlon Olympic hopeful and Klaus Franze - Shooting Olympic hopeful.    USOC staff torchbearers included Linda Addington - Executive Administrative Assistant, Coaching & Sport Sciences; Heather George - Administrative Assistant, Development; Mike Helton - Mail Distribution Clerk, Central Shipping & Receiving; Leon Kendrick - Sous Chef , Food Services; Bill Kennedy - Manager, Facility Management; and Sharon McCreery - Systems Business Analyst, Information Technology.    Prior to an athlete autograph session, a group photo was taken for electronic transmission to the IOC and all National Olympic Committees to send Olympic Day greetings to the USOC's friends around the world.