Olympic torch arrives in LA
(16 Jun 2004) 1. Wide of Olympic flame being carried in lantern to podium, torch being handed to Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Hahn, Mayor of Los Angeles: "As mayor of Los Angeles, home to the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, I welcome the Olympic torch to the City of the Angels." 3. Mid shot of torch being lit and mayor raising it to crowd 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sylvester Stallone, actor: "I never expected this and it proves anything can happen and I just hope I can live up to what this flame represents, which is honour, dignity, and that never-say-die spirit. Thank you very much." 5. Mid shot from above of Stallone running through crowd with torch as Olympic fanfare music plays 6. Mid shot from ground of Stallone running with torch STORYLINE: The Olympic flame began its journey through the United States Wednesday, with people from all walks of life carrying the torch on its relay to the summer Olympic Games in Athens. The flame arrived in Los Angeles in the morning from Mexico, and at a ceremony on California's famed Venice Beach, Mayor James Hahn lit the torch that would carry the fire through the city. Actor Sylvester Stallone was the first to run with the torch and called it the proudest moment of his life. Stallone handed the flame off to Frank McCourt, the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, beginning a relay through Los Angeles that was to culminate with the torch being used to ignite a flame at Dodger Stadium before Wednesday night's game. Others scheduled to carry the torch included actor Tom Cruise, heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, quadruple Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Janet Evans, and Olympic decathlon champion Rafer Johnson. Los Angeles hosted the summer Olympic Games in 1932 and 1984. The flame is to visit other former Olympic cities in North America including St. Louis on Thursday, Atlanta on Friday, New York on Saturday, and Montreal on Sunday. The flame's 46,800-mile journey began June 4 and is due to end in Athens at the Opening Ceremony on August 13. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
