flame: Coming to a city near you, The

Southern Living, Apr 1996 by Roberts, Carolanne Griffith

The Olympic flame is coming your way. In fact between the time the Olympic Torch Relay leaves Los Angeles (April 27) and arrives in Atlanta (July 19 for the Opening Ceremonies), it will touch 285 Southern towns and cities.

"The torch will come within two hours of 90% of the population," explains Rennie Truitt, who's planning the route through the South. "When we begin to move through Georgia on July 10, well travel within 30 minutes of every Georgian." At various moments the torch will progress by plane, sailboat, 19-car train, canoe, bicycle, and horse, and along the way, United Way agencies will rally the communities in celebration.

"We'll be up at 5 every morning and end late at night," continues Rennie.; "The flame--and the staff accompanying it--will stay at 103 Holiday Inns across the country."

Bedtime will come late, for instance, in Vicksburg Mississippi. Scheduled arrival is midnight, but the party starts early. "We'll have concerts along the route, a parade, and a food festival at the Old Courthouse," says United Way's Toni Lanford, "and a reenactment of the assault on Vicksburg in the National Military Park."

The torch's midnight run through Vicksburg culminates with a ceremony on the bridge between Mississippi and Louisiana. Beginning with cannons firing from both banks, the flame-bearing train will cross the Mississippi River and the sky will explode with elaborate fireworks.

Consider the fun in store in New Orleans, which plans to honor the flame with a "100 Years of Jazz" concert near the Hard Rock Cafe and entertainment at Jackson Square and the French Market. A traditional "second line" parade--complete with marching clubs, Mardi Gras Indians, and jazz bands--escorts runners on the final kilometer into the French Quarter. After the flame leaves, music will ring till midnight.

At every stop local flavor figures in. Runners--a combination of community heroes, Olympians, and bearers chosen by Olympic Relay sponsor Coca-Cola--carry the flame for 1 kilometer, then ignite the torch of the next runner.

Sarasota, Florida, residents will line the streets as the flame makes its way to the bay to board a seaplane for Miami; The Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix Festival Boat Parade follows the torch through town.

In Richmond, an evening of bluegrass and gospel music gives way to patriotic songs as the flame enters the historic Tredegar Iron Works (which supplied 90% of Confederate shot and cannonballs). Plans also call for a Virginia Food Festival including apples, ham, peanuts, and wine. Winston-Salem's Moravian heritage will greet the torch in Old Salem following a stop at the Champion Products' headquarters. And in Columbia, South Carolina, where Russian, Dutch, and American athletes train before the Games, a parade of flags is scheduled and a celebration will honor the children of the world at Finlay Park.

Houston proposes similar festivities with a series of Roman candles and area bands at City Hall. Oklahoma City aims to stage various events at the Amateur Softball Association/ USA Softball headquarters (women's fastpitch softball makes its debut in the 1996 summer Games). "We also want to incorporate the site of the Murrah Federal Building

bombed in 1995

into the relay," says United Way's Laura Weathers.

Music swells in Memphis as the city gathers in Tom Lee Park for Sunset Symphony, the final event of its annual Memphis in May festival. The Olympic theme 11 play as the flame comes into the park. The next morning, it passes Graceland, home of Elvis Presley, and the National Civil Rights Museum before leaving by train to St. Louis.

The flame won't linger in every town on the schedule. "There will be many spontaneous celebrations along the route," says Rennie. "Many places will have activities in full swing as the torch passes by." A good example is the series of fanfare celebrations in 14 municipalities leading to and from Birmingham. "We hope that people from those municipalities come into the city for planned activities," says United Way coordinator Susanne Montgomery-Clark.

Rennie encourages Southerners to be involved. "You can call your United Way agency if you would like to volunteer to help on events," he suggests. "They also know what events are planned for your area. We come from all different cultures and communities--let's celebrate that and the Olympic movement."

The flame you'll see was ignited in Olympia, Greece, then flown to Los Angeles in a special lantern. Each torchbearer carries a separate torch. Lit in true relay fashion from runner to runner, the flame burns approximately 30 minutes, enough time to reach the next torch-bearer. On arrival in Atlanta, it lights the Olympic cauldron, which burns throughout the Games.