French apathy and cost concerns dampen mayors’ bid to stoke Games fervour
La Baule-Escoublac, France Reuters When a group of mayors paid tens of thousands of euros each to bring the Olympic torch to their towns along France’s Atlantic coast, a row erupted over whether the cost represented value for money at a time when public spending is under pressure. Franck Louvrier, the conservative mayor of La […]
Olympic flame arrives in Marseille amid tight security
Marseille, France Reuters The Olympic flame landed on French soil amid tight security on Wednesday, firing the starting gun on a summer extravaganza of sport that President Emmanuel Macron hopes will showcase the splendours of France and burnish his legacy. The flame arrived in Marseille, a port city in southern France founded by Greek merchants, […]
Paris 2024 torch lit in ancient Olympia, Olympic relay under way
Ancient Olympia, Greece Reuters The torch for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was lit in ancient Olympia in a traditional ceremony on Tuesday, marking the final stretch of the seven-year preparations for the Games’ start on 26th July. Greek actress Mary Mina, playing the role of high priestess, lit the torch using a backup flame […]
Updated: Stocks savaged, Italy on lockdown, Trump seeks to reassure as coronavirus spreads
Updated 12pmRome ItalyReuters All of Italy under lockdown, reeling financial markets and rioting prisoners made clear on Monday how the global coronavirus epidemic was extending its reach into all aspects of social and economic life. Major European stock markets dived more than seven per cent, Japanese indexes fell over five per cent and US markets […]
Olympic torch relay arrives in Australia
Having courted controversy around the world, the Olympic Torch Relay arrived briefly in the Australian capital of Canberra last week on its way to Beijing. RAMON WILLIAMS was on hand to record the day… Pre-dawn fireworks over the nation’s capital Hot air balloons were launched outside Parliament House mark the torch relay. […]