Posted on 04/23/2008 9:13:44 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
THE Canberra leg of the Olympic torch relay has been declared a success, despite skirmishes between police and Chinese guards and clashes between protesters.
Olympic swimming legend Ian Thorpe, flanked by dozens of police, took the torch to the finish line in Commonwealth Park and lit the community cauldron, which quickly went out.
The Chinese torch attendants moved in to relight the cauldron with the Olympic flame.
Thorpe looked slightly sheepish after the cauldron went out so soon after he lit with his torch.
"It was very exciting ... it was incredible,'' Thorpe said after completing his first torch relay, having missed the Sydney and Athens Olympic relays because of training for his swim events.
An official ceremony got underway, with AOC president John Coates thanking torch-bearers, spectators, the ACT government, police and Beijing Olympic officials.
"When I welcomed the flame yesterday, I said how proud I was to be welcoming it on behalf of the Australian Olympic Committee to our shores on the fourth occasion,'' Mr Coates said.
"I will simply conclude now by saying how proud I am to be Australian. Thank you.''
The cauldron will be put out before a concert featuring Shannon Noll after the official ceremony.
The flame's journey was made without major incident, with officials dealing quickly with one demonstrater who made a dash for the torch.
The protester ran in front of the torch but was unable to get close to the flame before being jumped on and wrestled away.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
'Seems accurately satanic.
I am surprised that the Red China supporters were so much more prevalent than the Tibetan ones.
Rent a Mob.
And the oaks can’t help their feelings if they like the way they’re made
And they wonder why the maples can’t be happy in their shade.
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