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For more information, contact: TORCHBEARER NOMINATION FORMS NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2004 OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY IN ST. LOUISST. LOUIS – Jan. 20, 2004 – The St. Louis community task force involved in locally staging the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay presented by Coca-Cola and Samsung is seeking individuals to carry the Olympic flame in the Gateway City. St. Louisans and residents from around the Midwest are invited to nominate people that deserve the honor of serving as torchbearers. Individuals can obtain the torchbearer nomination form by visiting the St. Louis Sports Commission’s web site at www.stlouissports.org and clicking on the Olympic Torch Relay logo. For more information, call 314-206-7385. Entries must be received by the United States Olympic Committee by Feb. 23. On June 17, the Olympic flame will be carried approximately 30 miles through the St. Louis region while on its worldwide path to Athens and the 2004 Summer Games. St. Louis is one of only four American cities and one of 34 cities around the world that will be part of the first-ever global Olympic Torch Relay. The relay’s theme is “Pass the Flame, Unite the World.” Torchbearers will be selected based on how well they meet a set of criteria established by the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee. In particular, relay organizers are looking for inspirational people who reflect the best in humanity and the values of the Olympic Games. These are individuals that unite their communities through sports, education or culture; or inspire others through participation, celebration, human scale and heritage. Nominations must include a 50- to 100-word essay that explains how the potential torchbearer meets the criteria, which is outlined on the nomination form. Approximately 120 people will carry the torch in St. Louis, site of the 1904 Olympics – the first to occur in the United States. The relay day will culminate on Art Hill in Forest Park, where a grand evening celebration will take place to mark the centennial of the ’04 Games. Both activities are part of Celebrate 2004 - the region's yearlong civic celebration commemorating the bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark expedition, and the centennial of the World's Fair and Olympics in St. Louis. In addition to the Torch Relay and Centennial Celebration, St. Louis will mark the 100th anniversary of the ’04 Games by hosting the U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials April 3 and the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials June 9-13. The Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay is presented by Coca-Cola and Samsung. Planning for the Olympic Torch Relay in St. Louis is being conducted by a local task force that includes representatives from the City of St. Louis, Central States Coca-Cola Bottling Company of St. Louis, the Downtown St. Louis Partnership, St. Louis 2004, St. Louis County, the St. Louis Greek-American Community, the St. Louis Sports Commission, and Washington University. |
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