SOUTH AFRICA'S BID TO HOST THE SUMMER OLYMPICS IN 2004 IS WINNING SUPPORT IN THE U-S CONGRESS. THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPICS COMMITTEE VOTES ON SEPTEMBER FIFTH. AND AMERICAN LAWMAKERS WHO ONCE WORKED FOR AN END TO APARTHEID ARE NOW PUSHING THE OLYMPICS AS A CELEBRATION OF PEACEFUL CHANGE.CONGRESSWOMAN ELIZABETH FURSE IS LEADING THE CAMPAIGN IN CONGRESS TO CONVINCE THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO HOLD THE SUMMER GAMES IN CAPE TOWN. SHE HAS INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION URGING THE I-O-C TO ACCEPT SOUTH AFRICA'S BID -- A RESOLUTION THAT ALREADY HAS THE SUPPORT OF MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
IT IS A PERSONAL ISSUE FOR THE DEMOCRAT FROM THE STATE OF OREGON. SHE WAS RAISED IN SOUTH AFRICA AND AS A CHILD, SHE MARCHED WITH HER MOTHER AGAINST APARTHEID.
INCREDIBLY, THE OLYMPIC GAMES HAVE NEVER BEEN HELD ON THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA, SOUTH AFRICA'S BID MEANS THAT WE ARE SAYING THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD HONORS MR. MANDELA AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT.
SOUTH AFRICA'S AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON SAYS CAPE TOWN IS READY TO RECEIVE THE OLYMPICS. FRANKLIN SONN SAYS THE GAMES COULD MARK THE BEGINNING OF AN AFRICAN RENAISSANCE.
THE SYMBOL OF THE OLYMPICS HAS FIVE RINGS (ONE FOR EACH CONTINENT IN THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT). FOUR OF THE RINGS HAVE ALREADY ACCOMMODATED THE OLYMPICS. AND IT IS AFRICA'S TURN NOW. AND I THINK FOR THAT REASON WE HAVE VERY GOOD MORAL GROUNDS TO ENSURE THAT THE OLYMPICS COME TO SOUTH AFRICA.
AMBASSADOR SONN ACKNOWLEDGES THE MAIN REASON WHY AFRICA HAS NOT HOSTED THE GAMES IS THE SHEER EXPENSE INVOLVED IN BUILDING THE NEEDED ATHLETIC FACILITIES -- NOT TO MENTION ROADS, COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS AND HOUSING FOR PARTICIPANTS. BUT HE SAYS THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS MOVING IN TO HELP THE CAPE TOWN ORGANIZERS. HE SAYS THEY REALIZE IT IS A SOUND INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF THE NATION AND THE REGION.
THE PROBLEM FOR SOUTH AFRICA IS THAT SEVERAL OF THE OTHER FINALISTS FOR THE 2004 OLYMPICS ALREADY HAVE THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE AND HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN HOSTING BIG INTERNATIONAL SPORTS EVENTS. THEY INCLUDE ROME, STOCKHOLM, BUENOS AIRES AND ATHENS -- WHICH NARROWLY LOST A BID TO HOLD THE 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES.
19-Jun-97
Source: Voice of America