In reply to the President's question on his spirits, Erki Nool said that for years, he had had a dream of making a round on the Olympics stadium with the Estonian flag, and that now, this day has come. ''It cannot be denied that the victory was hard and nerve-racking to gain,'' Nool added. The President recommended him to hold high the Estonian flag; and said he knew that the Estonian flag was in the right hands. The President said that he wishes to see the Olympics gold medal winner as soon as he will be back home.
President Lennart Meri sent a letter to Erki Nool, and wrote that for him, Erki Nool has united the Estonian Olympics history ever since Kristjan Palusalu, whose hand he had shook in Berlin in 1936. ''Today you ran under the Southern Cross with the blue-black-white Estonain flag,'' the President wrote in the name of all sports fans, ''your accomplishment sets an example to young Estonians and is cherished by older generations.''
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, September 28, 2000
