Oly: Princess Mary to visit Aussie athletes today

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2008
Oly: Princess Mary to visit Aussie athletes today

By Charisse Ede

BEIJING, Aug 7 AAP - Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik head a list of who's who
visiting Australia's athletes in Beijing today.

The former Tasmanian and her Danish husband will lend their support to the 433-member
Australian team during a visit to the athletes' village.

Joining them will be Australia's greatest Olympic medallist Ian Thorpe while Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd will attend the official flag raising ceremony this afternoon.

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) deputy chef de mission Peter Montgomery said the
Danish royal couple visited the athletes in Athens four years ago and caused quite a commotion.

"They were extremely popular," he told reporters in Beijing.

"It was very interesting to see the athletes milling around Mary.

"One persistent athlete was trying to get her to sign something. And after a little
while Mary said, `We are not allowed to sign documents', which was quite interesting."

The team dinner will be held tonight, at which the opening ceremony flag bearer will
be announced.

Montgomery said AOC president John Coates was guarding the selection "zealously", and
to carry the flag "is really the ultimate".

Montgomery said five-time Olympic kayaker Clint Robinson had effectively ruled himself
out of contention by saying he deferred to six-time Olympic rower and hot pick for the
role, James Tomkins.

"Clint Robinson made an amazingly but typical gentlemanly and fine comment when he
said that he deferred to James Tomkins," he said.

Meanwhile, Thorpe has joined the Sky News Olympic team and will give expert comment
on events in the pool.

AAP ce/jmt

KEYWORD: OLY08 MARY

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