The
Olympic torch passed through NZ for the first time
yesterday as part of its journey to Sydney.
Over 2000 people saw the flame
arrive to Coronet Peak and get carried down the M1
run on the mountain by NZ Olympic medallist Annalise
Coberger
The manager of Coronet Peak, Andy Chapman, went all
gushy with the excitement of it all: 'The fresh snow,
the huge crowd of people, the weather, the atmosphere
-- everything conspired to produce a wonderful welcome.'
Then again, anyone who's spent
time in the mountains and ever felt vaguely patriotic
can relate to the 'special moment' when 'the clouds
parted, we could see the Southern Alps covered in
fresh snow, and then a helicopter circled over us
with a huge Silver Fern flag flying behind.'
