Oly: Torch relay organisers confident no Aboriginal torch probs

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2000
Oly: Torch relay organisers confident no Aboriginal torch probs

SYDNEY, April 4 AAP - Olympic torch relay organisers today said they were confident
the flame's symbolism would shelter it from any Aboriginal protest during the Games.

The Australian leg of the relay begins at Uluru, with assistance from the traditional
Uluru-Kata Tjuta people, on June 8, with Aboriginal hockey gold medallist Nova Peris-Kneebone
the first torchbearer.

But SOCOG board member and torch relay chairwoman Anna Booth said she was confident
the relay would not be targeted by protesters.

"We're not worried about protests. Australia is a democratic country, people have the
right to peacefully protest," Booth said.

"Our concern would be that the spirit and the operational practicality of the relay
is not compromised and I think everybody involved shares that.

"It's (the flame) of enormous symbolic value and that's why I think its integrity will
be respected by all parties."

Aboriginal activist Charles Perkins created a storm yesterday when he told Britain's
BBC radio the Olympics would erupt in violent protest.

Mr Perkins comments followed the federal government's refusal to acknowledge the term
stolen generation in a submission to a Senate inquiry committee.

Torch relay general manager Di Henry said no security plans for the relay, which will
go within one hours drive of 85 per cent of Australians, had been boosted or re-evaluated
because of the threat.

Booth said there was no reason to think the spirit or operational integrity of the
torch would be compromised.

She said SOCOG's relationship with indigenous people was good.

"All of the indigenous participation, from our advisory committee, participants in
the relay and the festival of the dreaming, there is a desire for the Olympic Games to
be an opportunity for unity to be displayed in Australia so I expect that ambition will
override any desire to be disruptive," she said.

Henry said the torch relay would involve some interesting people, including royalty
in Tonga, fuzzy wuzzy angels in Papua New Guinea and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen
Clark.

She said Prime Minister John Howard had been invited to run with the torch, but they
had not heard back from him.

AAP knr/tsm/arb/bwl

KEYWORD: OLY TORCH

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