 Olymptic torch lands in Australia April 23, 2008 - 7:51AM The Olympic torch has landed at Canberra's Fairbairn air force base to a traditional welcome by the local Nunawal Aboriginal people. The organisers chose the military base, which shares its runway with Canberra's airport, to avoid any chance of disruptions that have marked the besieged flame's journey around the world. At midday, there will be a major media conference with members of the Australian Olympic Committee and the runners that will carry the torch through the capital. The torch's route has been significantly shortened to better enable security forces, headed by the Australian Federal Police, to prevent trouble. Relay organiser Ted Quinlan this morning said he could see no conflict between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's insistence that the blue-tracksuited Chinese torch attendants would have no role to play in security and last night's comments by the Chinese ambassador. Chinese ambassador Zhang Junsai said the attendants would "use their bodies" to shield the torch if it were necessary. More to come. [ 本帖最后由 villa 于 2008-4-23 10:02 编辑 ] |
