First the ticket problems. Sydney Olympic organizers say they are $60 million short on ticket sales, but Olympic minister Michael Knight says a surge in recent ticket sales had convinced him the target would be met. But there is concern that so few tickets have been bought for the event that organizers could face financial disaster. Organizers have blamed Australia’s distance from Europe and America for the poor ticket sales. And the locals are less enthusiastic than expected. Organizers are counting on the “last minute psychology” of the Australian public.
Then the transportation problems. The international media had to line up 45 minutes for a bus, a group of Olympic kayakers missed a training session when a driver couldn’t find the Olympic slalom course at Perth, and a group of shooters had to wait for transport after training because a driver got lost near the venue. Also shuttles from the media village to the Main Press Centre at Homebush Bay and from the MPC to the Athletes’ Village failed to arrive Tuesday, the day IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch toured the Athletes’ Village for the first time.
More Transportation problems. Sydney’s train system will be overwhelmed if workers abandon their traveling habits too radically and put too much pressure on trains that have been hampered by recent problems. And commuters abandoning their cars could add to the total. Although on-street parking will not be allowed in downtown Sydney, commercial garages will be open and cars will not be banned from the central business district. Officials are recommending that commuters travel before 7 a.m. or after 9:30 a.m. during the Olympic period and that sightseers begin their trips after 9:30 a.m.
Aboriginal protesters plan to form a human chain for Olympic visitors at Sydney’s airport. The protestors said they have been given authority to stage the roadside protests along all routes leading out of Sydney Airport from September 10-14. Also Trevor Close, an Aboriginal protest organizer, said he plans to set up a camp in a park next to the Olympic site in Homebush on September 13 with about 50 aboriginals, even if refused permission to do so by the police.
The Olympic opening ceremony will feature a young girl with a zinc-creamed nose and traditional Aboriginal dancer Djakapurra, undertaking a mythical voyage through Australia’s history. The journey will feature fire breathers, a giant Aboriginal dreamtime creation known as Wandjina, and a sea of Australian wildflowers, trees and animals. And 120 stockriders will storm the stadium forming the Olympic rings. The riders will throw their stock hats into the crowd and shout “G-day”. Paul Hogan of Crocodile Dundee fame will be among the riders. About 60 children will sing a welcome song called G’Day. A replica of Sydney’s Anzac Bridge will rise before 2000 performers to end the 60-minute creative segment.
The records of Craig Peterson, the former No. 3 officer of Salt Lake’s bid for the 2002 Winter Games, were among computer records from the chief financial officer of Salt Lake City’s bid subpoenaed by federal prosecutors preparing to go to trial. Copies of the subpoenas obtained by The Associated Press show prosecutors examined details of every dollar and cent spent by the bid, from hotels for Olympic officials to dealings with the City Hall.
And finally, Defence lawyers for Tom Welch and Dave Johnson asked to postpone the October 16 trial date and requested six more weeks to file motions to dismiss some charges. They said charges against the two leaders of Salt Lake’s 2002 Winter Games bid are so novel and sweeping they need more time to prepare. New deadlines by the federal magistrate are expected to be set at a September 20 scheduling conference
