![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() Monday, January 19, 1998 Published at 17:51 GMT ![]() ![]() ![]() World: Asia-Pacific ![]() Olympic torch burnout ![]() "I just kept praying: 'Please don't go out, please don't go out, at least not for me'"
Pre-Olympic burnout is affecting the torch being relayed across Japan to light the flame at the Nagano winter games.
The design of the torch is now held responsible for the flame fiasco and organisers of the Nagano Olympics have been making profuse apologies.
"We're doing everything we can to solve the problem and we hope the flame won't go out again."
The flame is being carried in three relays across Japan that will reunite at the opening ceremony on February 7.
Huge crowds have been lining the route, cheering the runners along their way, but this has just added to the pressure.
Marathon runner Hiromi Suzuki said: "I just kept praying 'Please don't go out, please don't go out, at least not for me'."
The design of the torch has now been altered, but the rogue flame is a matter of damaged national pride in Japan.
The whole country is obsessed with the success of their Olympics and with just two weeks to go, Japan is set to win the first gold medal for anxiety.
|
![]() |
![]() |
|