Torch in for fiery trip to Olympics

By PATRICK GOWER and CHRIS DANIELS

The procession of the Olympic flame around the world began in controversy and problems look likely to dog it all the way to Sydney for the September event.

New Zealand organisers of the torch relay confirmed yesterday that former America's Cup skipper Russell Coutts, who is defecting from this country to sail for a Swiss syndicate, will still carry the Olympic flame in Auckland.

The Auckland City Council and the local Olympic committee said Coutts would carry the torch along Quay St on Wednesday, June 7.

But the problem of an unpopular sportsman is minor compared with the woes of Fijian relay organisers, who may miss out altogether if the Suva hostage crisis continues.

The torch is scheduled to spend June 5 in Suva before being flown to Queenstown.

Relay media director Brian Dale, speaking from Australia, said it had not yet been decided whether the torch would go through Suva.

"There has been no change at the moment, but obviously we are keeping an eye on the situation and taking advice from the Olympic Security Command Centre. They are talking to the Department of Foreign Affairs."

Mr Dale said the relay organisers had "probably until next weekend" before deciding on the safety of a Fiji leg.

The torch was due to arrive at Suva airport from Tonga, and it would be taken past Government House and the Australian High Commission.

Mr Dale said he thought Government House was close to the Parliament buildings.

"We would not put the torch relay or any torch-bearer or those support crew at any risk whatsoever."

Fijian Olympians and community representatives had been arranged to carry the torch through Suva, said Mr Dale. He did not think any of the people caught up in the hostage crisis were due to carry the torch.

Coutts is one of many sporting and community leaders who will bear the torch across Auckland.

He will be joined by 100 other runners, including Sir Murray Halberg and Sean Fitzpatrick, in the 50km relay through Auckland City, Manukau and the North Shore.

Auckland is the final stop for the torch during its three days in New Zealand. After Queenstown, it stops at Wellington and Rotorua before being flown to Auckland two days later.

"We agreed at an early stage to keep the torch 'running' rather than have it transported by vehicles," said Emily Flynn, Auckland City events promoter.

"To have the torch in Auckland is a unique opportunity and the route has been designed to make the most of it."

The relay will pass landmarks such as One Tree Hill and the Harbour Bridge - it even sails across the Waitemata on the Spirit of New Zealand tall ship.

The seven-hour relay will finish at the Domain, where Olympic gold medallist John Walker will present the torch to the keeper of the flame, the oldest living Olympian, Stan Lay.

Walker has criticised the torch route, saying Manukau City - where he is a councillor - would get nothing from a quick visit.

The torch will travel from Auckland Airport, via Mangere Bridge township, across the old Mangere Bridge and make its way via Onehunga, One Tree Hill, the Domain, Queen St, Viaduct Harbour and Ponsonby. It will then cross the Harbour Bridge and go through the North Shore before returning to Auckland on board the Spirit of New Zealand and travelling up the Strand and Parnell Rd to the Domain.

The torch has attracted plenty of controversy down under, with Olympic medallist Dick Quax saying he and other New Zealand medallists had been snubbed when they were initially not named among the bearers. In Australia, International Olympic Committee member Kevan Gosper caused an outrage by arranging for his daughter to become the first Australian to carry the torch from its resting place in Athens instead of Sydney schoolgirl Yianna Souleles.

A prison inmate also slipped through the vetting process and was told he could take part in the relay.

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