Ocean Shores resident, Leslie Hoffman, recounts his treasured memory of running the Olympic torch on the day it arrived in Australia for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
‘Watching the lighting of the Olympic flame at the Paris Olympics brought back memories of carrying that same flame on the first day it arrived into Australia on June 8, 2000’.
‘My daughter Kim came with me to share that exciting privilege as I carried the torch into Alice Springs.
‘I was at the opening and closing ceremonies in Sydney, and was on the finishing line to see Cathy Freeman win her much-anticipated gold medal for the 400 metres sprint.
‘I worked for News Ltd in various roles through Australia as sub-editor, sports editor and eventually editor of the Daily Telegraph in Sydney. I headed up the team for the Olympics bureau four years prior to the event for all News Ltd mastheads. Hence my invitation to carry the torch on their behalf.
‘I still proudly have the Olympic torch I carried and other Olympic memorabilia including the T-shirt I am wearing.’
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