Thorpie To Run With The Torch

Local News, By Christian Taylor, 10th April, 2008

The Olympic Torch caused more chaos in San Francisco, with the flame being re-routed to avoid protesters and taken to its final destination by boat. A lot of Australians are watching on and asking themselves, I wonder what will happen when it reaches Canberra on April 24?

Because of the violence in London and Paris, many have called for the Australian leg of the relay to be cancelled – even former Olympic champion swimmer Susie O’Neill was all for stopping the torch relay from coming here. However, it’s all still going ahead as planned and the Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that Ian Thorpe will be one of the torchbearers when the flame hits our shores.

Thorpe’s manager, David Flaskas, told the Herald, “Ian fully intends to participate but obviously everyone is looking at what is happening overseas… Security is obviously a concern for everyone participating but… we hope nothing silly eventuates in Australia.”

Dawn Fraser also spoke to the media, telling them that she didn’t think China should have been given the Games in the first place because of their human rights record, but it happened and we shouldn’t let it dampen the Olympic spirit.

“As a spectator, I am making my own statement by not going. I support the Tibetans (but) I don’t support the violence that the protesters are creating. It’s a shame it’s taken place during the torch relay but I don’t think it will dampen the Olympic spirit at all.

“When you hear the Tibetans tell their terrible stories about what the Chinese government has done to them, and what their forces have done to them, it is just awful.”

Proud Buddhist KD Lang spoke about Tibet this morning on Sunrise, praising Kevin Rudd for his strong leadership. After the show she released a statement which was published on Channel Seven’s Sunrise website -

“What we are seeing now is just the tip of the iceberg, I don’t think my generation really even knows the extent of what has happened to the Tibetan people. It’s like a bandaid that has been ripped off to reveal that the wound is still raw.

“It’s unfortunate that the Olympic Games are being impacted by this situation but it presents a rare opportunity to bring focus to the heartbreaking situation of the Tibetan and Chinese people who have suffered serious human rights abuses. The oppression should be stopped.

“I’m not an expert on Tibetan and Chinese relations, but I feel that the genuine popular aspirations of the Tibetan people – freedom to practice their religion and preserve their culture – should be protected and fulfilled. An open dialogue with his Holiness the Dalai Lama should be established without pre conditions.

“International agencies and journalists should have access to Tibet. Agencies like the red cross and Doctors Without Borders should be allowed entry so they can provide proper medical assistance to those who have suffered serious injury.

“Authorities have taken Tibetans from their monasteries and homes and have held them in locations without the knowledge of their families. These authorities should he held accountable.

“Tibet was one of the few places on the planet which has maintained the sacredness of their culture, intact. Bringing the torch through Tibet under these conditions would be a desecration.”