Torch relay start point shortlist
12 March 1998The starting point for the Olympic torch relay in Australia in 2000 has been narrowed to a few locations.
The relay will visit all states and territories. Originally, the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games was hoping the Olympic torch relay would pass within an hour's drive of 85 per cent of the population.
Phil Coles, who chairs the board group looking at the relay, says that estimate is now closer to 89 per cent.
"I would hope that we might be looking at a month or so before we might be able to decide," he said. "So, let's hope that we're within that timeframe." He says it has been difficult trying to settle on where in Australia the relay will start on the June 8, 2000. "If you took all the advice, we could be looking at 20 or 30 options but we're down to about four or five options at the moment," he said.
Mr Coles says the decision on where it starts will be in line with another important announcement.
"We're looking next month, April, at the expressions of interest for the design of the torch," he said. "With that in mind, I would think probably the same timeframe roughly."
The relay will pass though some South Pacific countries en route from Greece.
