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Previewing the opening ceremony
SYDNEY -- The torch has arrived. A full 50,000 people greeted the flame at Jamison Park in the Penrith section of the city, which was as easy to navigate as a New York City traffic jam. There were some nice touches to the proceedings. Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, the sprinter who won gold at 100 and 200 meters at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and who now suffers from osteoporosis, carried the torch around the track where she first trained for the Games. As she moved gingerly, a choir of more than 1,000 singers belted out a rendition of Our Marjorie to salute her. Just watch the face of a torchbearer and it's as if you're looking at an Olympic champion, even if the giddy jaunt is a mere kilometer that never seems to last long enough. The honor of carrying the torch has often come with a price. In 1984 prospective torchbearers around the United States could kick in $3,000 for the honor. Though the money raised went back into youth sports programs, many civic leaders were as up-in-arms as the torchbearers because the glorious moment was for sale. Sydney organizers have done well here. They asked for nominations of ordinary people who in an extraordinary way have benefited their communities. Exceptionally diligent volunteers, social workers and school teachers whose work would not have been recognized publicly are enjoying their kilometer in the sun. SOCOG paid tribute to Ched Towns, the blind Paralympian who died trying to climb Mount Everest earlier this year, by granting a torch run to his son Kane. Dueling sound systems tried to outshout each other with renditions of Advance Australia Fair, the country's wonderful anthem, and Chariots of Fire, which always sounds better in an Olympic setting than if, say, you played it on a subway. There's still no definitive word as to who will light the torch at the opening ceremony on Sept. 15, though names from Dawn Fraser to Betty Cuthbert to Herb Elliot to Murray Rose to a very out of place Greg Norman have emerged as candidates. Details of the event have been a well-guarded secret, with the two major papers Down Under, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian, trying to get the scoop on who will speak, sing and dance, what they'll wear, what animals they'll ride in on, and so on. (We'll give the lead to The Australian based on early split times.) If you're wondering whether to brave the four-hour televised spectacle, here's a look at what you'll see, based on the clandestine leaks uncovered by Woodward, Bernstein and Koala: First an Aboriginal girl will take spectators on a trip through the land's history. Expect to see wild animals and fire eaters traipsing about a forest. The appearance of Aborigines is essential to this ceremony, as even now many Aboriginal protest groups plan to disrupt aspects of Games planning with banners and marches because they feel they are not properly represented in Australian government and society. Count on Aboriginal Australian Cathy Freeman, a favorite for gold in the women's 400 meters, to fulfill one of two honors during the ceremony: She will either carry the Australian flag or take the athletes' oath, assuming, of course, that she doesn't have a more prominent role in the torch-lighting ceremony. Stockmen on horseback, including actor Paul Hogan of Crocodile Dundee fame, will ride into the stadium as children sing a song appropriately titled G'Day. A large mural and a makeshift bridge will stretch across the stadium grounds. The Australian anthem and flag will then be presented, with SOCOG organizers still under pressure to wave the Aboriginal flag at some point. The athletes will then march into the stadium, nation-by-nation, for the next hour and 20 minutes. Even though this seems to take forever and TV viewers will lose their enthusiasm somewhere in between Slovakia and Slovenia, I have never met or heard of a single athlete who has taken part who can't tell in great detail what they thought and felt their first time walking into an Olympic stadium. Greece, as the Games' original host, always marches out first. Since the banners will be displayed in English, the U.S. team (letter U) won't appear until an hour into the procession. If I had to guess who will carry the flag, I'd bet on Marla Runyan, the 1,500-meter runner who is legally blind. Other good candidates would be Teresa Edwards, who made her fifth Olympic basketball team; John Roethlisberger, the first 30-year-old U.S. gymnast in 40 years; Dara Torres, 16 years removed from her first Olympic swim team; or Missy Ryan, the rower who donated a kidney to her brother after the last Olympics. Remember, the flag bearer isn't necessarily the best athlete, otherwise you could just give it to Marion Jones, Mia Hamm, Michael Johnson or Lance Armstrong. It's usually the athlete who personifies dedication, either through longevity or overcoming great odds to make the team. The Australians, as hosts, will march in last to the tune of Dare to Dream, sung by Olivia Newton-John (speaking of longevity). Dignitaries will then say a few too many words, and one can only wonder what sort of reception SOCOG chief Michael Knight and embattled IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch will receive. Sir William, Governor-General of Australia, will declare the Games open. Pop singer Vanessa Amorosi will sing the Games' theme, Heroes Live Forever. The Olympic flag will be raised, the Olympic hymn sung, the Olympic oath taken by a representative of the athletes and judges. Then the flame will be lit. Ready yet? SI writer-reporter Brian Cazeneuve, the magazine's Olympics expert, is already in Australia gearing up for the Games. Check back daily to follow his behind-the-scenes reports.
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