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Torch lands in Nauru
Posted: Thursday May 25, 2000 10:11 AM
NAURU (AP) -- The Olympic flame crossed into the southern hemisphere today for the first time since 1956, landing in Nauru, the world's smallest republic. After arriving from Micronesia, the torch was received by the nation's sporting idol, multiple Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning weightlifter Marcus Stephen, who started a torch relay involving 100 runners. "This is one of the highlights of the year in this country," said Stephen, who won a silver medal at last year's world championship. "The flame coming here means so much, we have been looking forward to it for months." President Rene Harris declared a holiday in the tiny Pacific Island nation of 7,000 people and celebrated by running the last leg of the relay. The flame will travel Friday to Honiara in the Solomon Islands for the next stop on the Oceania leg of its journey to Australia for the Sydney Games that start Sept. 15. The Olympic flame last ventured below the equator before the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.
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