The Olympic torch returns to Sydney after an absence of four years on Friday — but only after Greek and Australian officials resolved a gold-medal spat that threatened the visit down under.
Sydney, host of the 2000 Games, will be the first stop in the international leg of the torch relay ahead of the Athens Games in August.
The famous torch will visit 34 cities across the globe as Athens organisers seek to ignite the Olympic spirit before the Games return to their ancient home.
But the goodwill almost evaporated in the lead-up to the Sydney event after Canberra upgraded its travel warnings about Greece following the bombing of an Athens police station and heated exchanges between officials over who should be responsible for protecting the Australian leg of the torch relay.
The stalemate ended with a deal giving Greek officials responsibility for logistic and operational matters, leaving two major Australian states, New South Wales and Victoria, to organise security.
”Yes, we’ve had our differences,” admitted Australian Olympic Committee secretary general Bob Elphinston, ”but it’s all part of the exercise.”
Gold-medal-winning sprinter Cathy Freeman will begin the international relay at the Sydney Opera House, where the torch will be greeted by Aboriginal dancers and Greek high priestesses in a televised ceremony.
The torch relay will make its way to tourist icons such as Bondi Beach and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, carried by Australian sporting legends including cricketer Steve Waugh and Olympic medallists Kieren Perkins and Betty Cuthbert.
The Sydney event culminates in the 2000 Olympic stadium, where Waugh will light a cauldron before the torch moves on to Melbourne.
However, long-distance runner Ron Clarke, who lit the torch for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, has boycotted the event because he said the torch does not travel to enough Australian cities.
”I have to answer to my own conscience,” said Clarke, who is now Mayor of a regional town.
Organisers are billing the torch’s journey as the first truly global relay, taking it to five continents in five weeks, including all the cities that have hosted a summer Olympics.
Athens Games spokesperson Kristin Fabos said she hoped the relay will continue in spite of post-September 11 security concerns.
”We would like to see this worldwide torch relay continue for years to come,” she told reporters.
New South Wales Premier Bob Carr said he is confident the Athens will be a success, adding that few had initially expected the Sydney Games to go as well as they had.
”As the premier of the state whose people delivered the best-ever Games, nothing would please me more than to see Athens host the finest and safest Olympic and Paralympic games,” Carr told Parliament.
Organisers were granted an exemption from civil aviation authorities to transport the open flame in flight.
It will be housed in a special lantern that burns continuously for 15 hours with trained attendants ensuring it does not accidentally extinguish while on board the colourfully painted Boeing 747 dubbed Zeus. — Sapa-AFP