Games officials refuse to alter torch relay route
( 2001-12-08 13:26 ) (7 )

Winter Games organisers have refused to alter the Olympic torch relay route to pass through Minnesota despite bitter protests from outspoken Governor Jesse Ventura.

Minnesota, along with Hawaii and North and South Dakota are the only states that will not be visited by the Olympic flame during its 13,000 mile, 65 day journey. The snub has offended Ventura, whose state is home to many past and present Winter Olympians.

"There's places in the country that wouldn't know a snowflake if it landed on their head," sniped Ventura, a former professional wrestler who grappled under the name Jesse 'the Body.' "We're going to do what we can to change the route."

But Salt Lake Organising Committee officials said they have had discussion with the Minnesota Governor's office and despite the fact the torch will pass within a few hours of the state as it winds its way through Wisconsin there will be no detour to appease Governor Ventura.

"We are not, will not, be changing the route," Lindsay Rowles, spokesperson for the Olympic torch relay said on Friday.

"We have 11,500 torchbearers and we are going to 46 states. To change the route now would affect the people already selected to carry the torch.

"We tried, we really tried. We wanted to go through all 50 states but time and budget restrictions just wouldn't allow it."

Rowles also pointed out that the relay route has been in place for two years and that the 46 states it will pass through is four more than the path taken during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Every state will be represented on the relay with 53 torchbearers coming from Minnesota.

"We're four days into the relay and we've tried to accommodate everyone but it's just not possible," said Rowles. "Minnesota will be well represented."

The flame began its journey in Atlanta on Tuesday after arriving on a specially chartered jet from Athens.

Muhammad Ali, who lit the flame to open the 1996 Summer Games, was the first to hold the torch aloft, igniting an emotional and inspirational outpouring that is expected to follow the relay around the country after the Sept 11 attacks.