Sydney Olympics torch

Year 2000

Sydney Olympics torch to highlight remote South Pacific flavour

By Patrick Decloitre

As a build-up to Sydney’s Olympics in 2000, the torch relay will high light 12 Pacific coun tries and bring them much-needed publicity in a once-in-a-century opportunity.

Australian organisers of the torch relay started a South Pacific tour last May to explain what they expect from countries hosting the torch, typically for about 24 hours. The Pacific countries involved are American Samoa, Cook islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

In Vanuatu, Sydney 2000 torch relay general manager Di Henry explained the National Olympic Committee it will have to designate 100 torch bearers for a six hour run. The torch will come from Greece, spend 20 days in Oceania before touring Australia for the last 100 days’ build-up to the Olympics in Sydney.

Because of the global media coverage this will include, this will also be a unique opportunity for Vanuatu and other South Pacific islands to make an unprecedented

impact.

“We’re working with each of the national Olympic committees in Oceania and we’re relying on them to make it hap pen. We explain the gig, so that the world media will watch what a beautiful region it is”, Henry said. She is confident the torch relay will bring up this region’s contrasts.

“It’s incredible, within this time, the world will see a torch relay with the same consistent torch and uniforms, but going from the tropics to the Australian desert and New Zealand snow, this is an amazing part of the world and we want to showcase it”, Henry says.

The Pacific torch relay is part of Australia’s effort that, in its budget for this year, earmarked some AUDS3.6 million (US$2.3 million) for the exercise.

“We bring the organisational infrastruc ture, we also deliver the uniforms, the torches, the plane and all the advanced

people to triple check everything”. The host country provides vehi cles for the torch relay.

“It’s a voluntary situa tion and then it’s up to them how much fun they want to have.

We’re here to facili tate.” As usual, the relay organisers have to tack le a difficult problem: making sure the torch doesn’t go out.

“We’re working on it: every torch relay has

had problems with the flame going out. It’s a real problem, especially under these dif ferent conditions”, Henry admits.

“But what we have now will be better.

We have minor lamps with oxygen avail able along the convoy to backup the origi nal flame from Greece.”

“I’m overwhelmed. Being entrusted with the task of running with the Olympic flame is always big. I feel very proud to be part of that organisation”, Vanuatu National Olympic Committee (NOC) President Joe Carlo, now a parliamentari an, said.

“Of course, it’s going to put Vanuatu on the world map, you’re talking about major media coverage. So we’re getting everyone here involved, the national tourism office, the traditional chiefs, to display our tradi tions”.

To draw the world’s attention to their 80-island archipelago, Vanuatu officials are now working on some gimmicks to ensure the uniformed torch bearer’s picture will also include Vanuatu’s most colourful and attractive features. ■