IF CAPE TOWN WINS ITS BID TO HOST THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES,
ORGANIZERS PLAN TO HAVE THE OLYMPIC FLAME CARRIED BY RUNNERS THE 
LENGTH OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. V-O-A HAS MORE DETAILS ON THE 
AMBITIOUS SCHEME.

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF CAPE TOWN'S OLYMPIC BID 
COMMITTEE, CHRIS BALL, SAYS THE TORCH RUN ACROSS AFRICA IS A 
CRUCIAL PART OF CAPE TOWN'S BID, BECAUSE IT IS A WAY TO PUT THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT ON ALL OF THE CONTINENT IN CONNECTION 
WITH THE 2004 SUMMER GAMES.

         IT WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS TO EIGHT MONTHS, 
         DEPENDING ON THE ROUTE, TO RUN THAT TORCH TO CAPE TOWN 
         THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE 30 COUNTRIES IN AFRICA, WITH 
         EXTRAORDINARY IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CONTINENT, PRIMARILY 
         IN SPORTS DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS WHAT THE OLYMPICS ARE 
         ABOUT, BUT ALSO IN OTHER AREAS.  AND OUR MINISTRY OF 
         TRADE AND INDUSTRY IS ALREADY EXCITED AT THE POSSIBILITY
         OF TARGETING HOW TO USE THAT ROUTE AND THAT EVENT AS AN 
         ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY IN THOSE PARTICULAR 
         AREAS ITSELF. IF THERE ARE PARTS OF THE CONTINENT THAT 
         NEED OPENING UP, WHY  NOT  USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO 
         ACCELERATE THE PROCESS? 

MR. BALL TELLS JOURNALISTS THE TORCH RUN COULD ALSO IMPROVE 
AFRICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND TEACH PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD
ABOUT THE CONTINENT.

         IF THERE'S TELECOMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS 
         STRENGTHENING, THIS IS THE REASON FOR DOING IT AND 
         ACCELERATING IT. AND SOUTH AFRICA AND OTHER COUNTRIES 
         CAN HELP IN THAT PROCESS. SO YOU WOULD HAVE THE WORLD 
         SEEING AFRICA EVERYDAY ON GLOBAL TELEVISION. EVERY TEN 
         DAYS OR SO ANOTHER COUNTRY WITH A FRESH SET OF EYES 
         ABOUT THE BEST IN THAT COUNTRY, THEIR FINE ATHLETES AND 
         AFRICA IS OVERFLOWING WITH EXTRAORDINARY ATHLETES, 
         PARTICULARLY MIDDLE DISTANCE ATHLETES....

CAPE TOWN IS JUST ONE OF FIVE CONTENDERS FOR THE 2004 GAMES. ITS
RIVALS ARE ATHENS, BUENOS AIRES, ROME AND STOCKHOLM. MR. BALL 
SAYS NONE OF THE OTHERS CAN MATCH THE TRANS-AFRICA TORCH RUN, 
WHICH HE ALSO SAYS  UNDERSCORES THAT CAPE TOWN'S BID IS  NOT  
JUST FOR ONE CITY BUT FOR THE WHOLE CONTINENT.

         IT'S A VERY INTERESTING FEATURE OF OUR BID AND AN 
         IMPORTANT ONE BECAUSE THIS IS AN AFRICAN BID. IT IS 
         SOUTH AFRICA'S GAMES, HOSTED IN CAPE TOWN, ON BEHALF OF 
         THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA AND IT HAS BEEN STRUCTURED LIKE 
         THAT FROM DAY ONE.

THE DECISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE ON WHICH 
BIDDER WILL GET THE 2004 GAMES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER.  

20-Jun-97
Source: Voice of America

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