After several days of embarrassing logistical and organizational snafus, the Goodwill Games got off to a smooth start Saturday with Russian President Boris Yeltsin kicking off the show.
On the first full day of competition in the 16-day event, the U.S. basketball team cruised past Argentina 83-71, and two Russian weightlifters combined for five world records.
Crowds were scarce at all events, except for Saturday night’s opening ceremony at Kirov Stadium, where a near-capacity 70,000 people watched an extravaganza rivaling shows put on at the Olympics.
The U.S. basketball team, made up of collegians, was never seriously threatened in the second half, leading 81-60 with about three minutes left. Michael Finley of Wisconsin came off the bench to lead the team with 16 points.
Sergei Syrztsov broke three of his own weightlifting world records in the snatch, clean and jerk and overall total in the 218-pound class. He lifted 421 pounds in the snatch and 501.5 in the clean and jerk and and had a total of 920.4.
Andrei Chemerkin broke two world records and equaled another in the over-238-pound class. He lifted 443.12 in the snatch and 552.2 pounds in the clean and jerk. His total of 992.06 pounds matched his previous record.
