The Associated Press reports that the route for the Athens 2004 torch relay, to be announced Tuesday, could hit some bumpy patches. It seems that some cities have complained about demands concerning sponsors and the selection of torchbearers. And some think Athens should help offset the costs of the relay.
The trip is to last more than two months and involve more than 10,000 torchbearers running through 25 countries.
Following the 100 recommendations to contain Olympic costs, which included limiting the relay to the host country, made by the International Olympic Committee last June, Athens organizers said they will pay about $23.2 million, with additional costs covered by sponsors.
The route of the torch relay will include all former summer Olympic cities from Berlin, to Sydney. Beijing, site of the 2008 Games, is also on the route that ends in Athens on Aug. 13.
The torch will pass the pyramids in Egypt and will be flown from South Africa to Brazil for its first South American visit.
Finland is complaining about demands by Athens organizers to advertise its sponsors and have a say on who would participate. Joukos Purontakanen, secretary-general of the Finnish Olympic Committee said, “we may well arrange it but we aren’t going to foot the whole bill. And we want to be in on the planning and organizing of it”.
Also, Amsterdam’s planners are complaining that Athens organizers have said relay sponsors will provide nearly half the torchbearers. “We would like to have good athletes”, said Sjef Boon, project manager for the Olympic flame’s visit to Amsterdam.
And Japan is seeking financial help for its relay to Tokyo. Koji Hosokura, a spokesman for the Japanese Olympic Committee, said the cost could reach $862,000.
He added, “a request for financial assistance seemed appropriate considering it is an Olympic event”.
Meanwhile, regarding the event itself, the French Embassy in Athens said that France’s anti-terrorist police unit is to train two teams of elite Greek police and coast guard teams for the Games.
About 15 officers from the Greek police’s counter-terrorism until will undergo an intensive training course in the French city of Lyon from October 20 to 24.
And about 10 coast guard divers are to train with French counterparts of the naval base of Saint Mandrier form October 13 to 25.
France is part of a seven-country Olympic consultative group advising Athens on security.
