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Golden support Olympic champion Cathy Freeman stands up for Beijing
Updated: Monday June 25, 2001 4:33 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Cathy Freeman, the face of last year's Sydney Olympics, stepped into this year's race for the 2008 Games on Monday when she gave her backing to Beijing's bid and predicted she might even still be running in seven years. Australia's most prominent Aboriginal sports figure, who lit the Olympic flame before going on to win the women's 400 meters gold in Sydney, said she had decided to back China's bid because her great, great, grandfather had come from the country. Beijing is the favorite to win next month's International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote against Paris, Toronto, Istanbul and Osaka. But the bid to bring the Games to China for the first time has faced opposition from human rights campaigners. In an interview with Reuters, Freeman said she believed the Olympics provided a country with an opportunity to break stereotypes. "Of course human rights is an issue. It's a global issue," she said. "I can only draw parallels between China and Australia. You look at our human rights. Our record in the treatment of my ancestors, the Aboriginal people, is horrendous. "But that was yesterday. While we acknowledge our history, we still have to move towards the future." Freeman's victory was the most enduring moment of the Sydney Games. She coped with the pressure of being thrust into the country's 200-year struggle for reconciliation between blacks and whites and with the huge expectation from the home public. She has given her support to Beijing primarily because of her links with China. Her great, great grandfather moved to northern Queensland and worked on cane farms. "My first reason [for backing the bid] was for sentimental reasons because I have ancestry there," she said. But the 28-year-old athlete is well aware of the special power of the Olympics. "When the Olympics is held in a country, you learn about the culture and the beauty of the place. Your whole thinking of the place, the stereotype is broken," she said. "The country has the opportunity to be the best they can be. I certainly experienced that first hand in Sydney. "I am very proud of my indigenous roots and I care very much about the relationship between indigenous people and all Australians. I actually feel that if it wasn't for the Olympics there is no way the relationship would be as good...If it wasn't for the Olympics it wouldn't have gone ahead so fast." She added: "I'll never forget the unity that was felt during an Olympics. The strength of being so proud of who you are, representing your country. It's such an amazing feeling. "You forget about the differences and you just work together for the future, especially for your children." Freeman said she had been asked to boycott the Sydney Games because of the problems of the past. "I had people asking me to boycott Sydney because of all the injustices that took place years ago," she said. "I said there is no point in boycotting because I want to be there. We have got to think about our young people and we have got to move forward together for the future. "I believe the indigenous culture is an outstanding beauty of Australia just like the people of China are part of China's beauty." It is usual for cities bidding for the Games to get athletes on their side. On Friday Paris published a long list of competitors backing its bid, which included Australia's Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe. But the support of the high-profile Freeman is a major coup for Beijing. Freeman, enjoying a break away from running this season, said she had been invited by IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch to Moscow where the decision on which country will host the Games is to be taken on July 13. The Australian will be 35 by 2008 but she said she might still be competing after stepping up to 800 meters later in her career. "I would like to have children at some stage. But I don't rule it out," she said. "I'm really such a raw personality. If it's in my heart, I'll be there. I do love my running."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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