Fifty Canterbury celebrities will carry the Olympic Torch through Christchurch streets on June 5.
The Christchurch City Council's Leisure Manager, Alistair Graham, says the relay will go from Christchurch Airport at
3pm and then around city streets to the Canterbury University grounds, to Mona Vale, Hagley Park, along Worcester
Boulevard, to finish in Cathedral Square. There, a short ceremony will be held about 6.30pm when the Mayor, Garry Moore,
will receive the torch. The torch will arrive in Christchurch from Queenstown and be in New Zealand for three days for
five relay runs before going to Australia. From Christchurch it will travel to Wellington and then Rotorua and Auckland.
Mr Graham said the relay in Christchurch would be shown on television overseas. He said the cost to the city would be
about $3000 and he praised the efforts of the police in supporting the event. The day before the police would be
involved in the Christchurch marathon. Crusaders rugby team captain Todd Blackadder would hand over the torch to the
Mayor, Mr Graham said.
Further information: Alistair Graham: 025 330 937 or 371 1881.