February 9, 2002

George Vecsey Sports of The Times column discusses opening ceremony of 2002 Winter Games; comments on controversy about use of tattered flag that was found at World Trade Center site and notes references by Pres Bush and IOC president Jacques Rogge to Sept 11 terrorist attacks; says overall tone of ceremony is warm and hopes congeniality and sportsmanship will remain throughout Games; photo (M)

Pres Bush addresses members of United States Olympic team before opening ceremony of 2002 Winter Games; says it is opportunity for world to see that, in time of war, we can come together in friendly competition; photo (M)

Lay to Appear Next Week Kenneth L. Lay, Enron's ex-chairman, is set to appear before a Senate panel on Tuesday, but he may not answer questions. PAGE C1 Clues to Crash of Flight 587 An inquiry into the jet crash in Queens found that sudden shifts of a plane's rudder can be catastrophic, investigators said. PAGE B1

Proposal to cap percentage of worker's 401(k) holdings that can be invested in worker's own company has stirred debate; Sen Jon S Corzine, cap advocate, holds tax breaks of $70 billion a year for such plans give government right to require participants responsibly diversify holdings; notes employees of many companies have seen much of their savings erased by drops in company stock; corporate executives and Labor Sec Elaine L Chao oppose caps; economists note caps could force stock sales should company's stock price rise sharply (M)

Reaching back more than a decade to find common ground for their countries' future relationship, the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed at a meeting that ''misunderstandings and misperceptions'' of the past should be left behind. Article, Page A8.