Cape Town's bid for 2004 Games hailed

JAKARTA (JP): South Africa's bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games in Cape Town received a positive response from Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia.

A press release, issued by the South African embassy here, said "Gebrselassie said African sportsperson wanted the Olympic Games to be staged on their continent now."

Gebrselassie, the world 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters record holder, said he was an admirer of South Africa's president Nelson Mandela.

"I share his view that Africa, given the opportunity, has shown the world that its sportsperson are capable of. I share his view that, given the opportunity, Africa is also capable of staging a memorable Olympic Games," said Gebrselassie, who recently won the 10,000 meters at the ongoing World Championships in Athletics in Athens.

"I took part in the IAAF (International Amateur Athletics Federation) World Cross Country Championships in Cape Town in 1996. It was a tremendous success, an example of Africa's capabilities. I and other African athletes, as well as officials, were filled with pride."

"Africa and its sportsperson have competed all over the world. We want the Olympic games on our continent, and we want it now. That is why Cape Town's bid to stage the Olympic Games in 2004 is an African bid."

"As an Ethiopian, as an African, I wish to publicly announce my support for Cape Town's bid to stage the 2004 Olympic Games on behalf of South Africa, and especially on behalf of Africa."

Cape Town 2004 Olympic Bid Media Director, Ameen Akhalwaya said: "We are honored by Gebrselassie's passionate endorsement. It's of huge significance, for it reemphasizes Africa's tremendous support for Cape Town's bid on behalf of South Africa and the continent."

Namibia's Olympic double gold medalists sprinter Frankie Fredericks also recently endorsed Cape Town's bid.

Akhalwaya said several other African athletic stars and former Olympians, from Africa and elsewhere, had indicated they would also publicly endorse Cape Town's bid.

Cape Town, Athens, Rome, Stockholm and Buenos Aires are competing to become the 2004 Olympic's host city.

The International Olympic Committee will announce the 2004 host city in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Sept. 5. (yan)