|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Protesters return to Bondi Beach
Posted: Tuesday May 09, 2000 12:03 PM
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Protesters who failed to halt construction of the Olympic beach volleyball venue at Bondi Beach have vowed to continue their campaign and disrupt the Sept. 15-Oct. 1 Sydney Games. More than 50 demonstrators opposed to the building of the 10,000-seat venue returned to the site early Tuesday, although police reported only minor scuffles with the protesters. On Monday, protesters staged an eight-hour standoff that ended when 20 people, including six who had buried themselves in the sand in front of construction machinery, were dragged off the beach by police. Earth-moving work was progressing inside a steel wire fence around the perimeter of the development site. Bondi Olympic Watch spokesman Kevin St. Alder, one of the leaders of Monday's protest, said his group would continue its fight. "The people are angry down here. You have ripped out the heart and soul of the community. That is why the community resolve has been quite clear," he said. "I can assure you that there is enough anger in the community that will cause the whole campaign to carry on right throughout not only the building of this crazy, stupid stadium on Bondi Beach but the staging of the event as well," he said. Protesters oppose what they say is the environmental degradation of the beach, a lack of access to the shoreline, the promenade and a nearby pavilion, and public safety concerns during construction. Olympics organizers said the temporary stadium would be built, used and dismantled within six months.
| ||||||||||||||||||
