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 TM
DOWN UNDER'S LUXURY TRAIN
OLYMPIC TORCH RALLY
NEW YORK, Jan. 17 -- On June 23, Australia's own Orient-Express, the Great
South Pacific Express, will carry the Olympic flame from Mackay to Proserpine in
Queensland as part of its 27,000 kilometer journey from Athens to Sydney for the
opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games.
In all, the Olympic Torch Relay will feature over 40
methods of transport during its 100-day journey around Australia. The Great
South Pacific Express is part of the Olympic Torch Relay which will involve
10,000 torchbearers from the countries it passes through. During the final
stages of the journey through every state and territory in Australia, the
Olympic Torch will travel, in addition to luxury rail, on horseback, by bullock
team, on a camel, surf life saving boat, ferry, plane and foot as well as being
carried underwater on the Great Barrier Reef.
These alternative methods of transport will help
ensure that all Australians have an opportunity to experience the Olympic
Spirit. The Olympic Torch Relay will pass within one hour's drive of 85 percent
of the population of Australia.
The fourth member of the Orient-Express train
family, the Great South Pacific Express was launched in April 1999 with an epic
six-day journey along the 3000 km eastern seaboard from Cairns to Sydney. The
train's regular schedule offers weekly trips between Cairns and Brisbane and
bi-monthly overnight journeys between Brisbane and Sydney. En route, excursions
include a helicopter flight out to a private pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef
and a Skyrail trip over the World Heritage rainforest in tropical North
Queensland.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express currently operates
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (Europe), Eastern & Oriental Express
(Bangkok-Singapore), Great South Pacific Express, British Pullman (UK) and a
river cruiser in Myanmar (Burma) called Road to Mandalay which plies the
Ayeyarwady River between Pagan and Mandalay. The group also owns and manages 23
hotels around the world.
Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises is on the
Internet on http://www.orient-expresstrains.com/ giving details of
accommodations, routes, dining and leisure facilities, current special offers
and booking information. The international train and cruise adventures are also
highlighted in a Journeys of Distinction catalog. To receive a copy and/or
information, please call (800) 524-2420 in the U.S. and Canada.
Edited by Dave Shultz
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