[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 82 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    OLYMPIC FLAME COMES TO MICHIGAN

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, this weekend the Olympic flame 
travels to Michigan. This journey began on March 30 amid the ruins of 
the sanctuary at Ancient Olympia in Greece, the site of the first 
recorded Olympics in 776 B.C. The 84-day American leg of the Olympic 
Torch Relay began on April 27 and will ultimately involve over 10,000 
torchbearers. By the time the flame reaches its final destination, it 
will have traveled over 15,000 miles and visited 42 States. This year's 
relay is the longest and most inclusive torch relay in Olympic history 
and will culminate on July 19 in Atlanta at the opening ceremony of the 
1996 Centennial Olympic Games. The torch relay route weaves together 
the American people in support of the Olympic games.
  Michigan is holding a weekend of festivities in celebration of the 
flame's arrival. The 2-day, 25-mile relay will take the Olympic flame 
through southeastern Michigan and will involve 80 Michiganians as 
torchbearers. The relay route begins Saturday in Dearborn Heights, 
moves on to Dearborn for major festivities and ends Sunday on Hart 
Plaza in downtown Detroit where a large celebration is planned. After 
its stay in Detroit, the flame will board an ore boat which will carry 
it down the Detroit River and across Lake Erie to its next stop in 
Cleveland, OH.
  I am proud that this great symbol is being carried through Michigan. 
The Olympics Games are indeed a spectacular sporting event, but they 
represent something much greater. They are a celebration of the 
goodwill among nations. During the Olympic Games, people from around 
the world compete against each other under the banner of peace, 
friendship, and the pursuit of excellence. The flame symbolizes this 
Olympic spirit and it is an honor to have it travel to 
Michigan.

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