As South Australians lined the streets, often three to four people deep, with picnic tables enjoying their breakfast — 14-year-old Kate Mandalovic ran with the torch through Kilkenny. She wrote this poem titled Olympic Vision:

Let there be victory
Let there be loss
Let there be triumph
Let there be Pain
Let all who gather share in the spirit of the Flame
Let the unity combine throughout the Olympic Games

The Olympic flame continued through Adelaide’s commuter belt on the O-Bahn, a combination bus/train which runs on road and rail, which is the longest high-speed guideway in the world, ending up in Paradise where Adelaide’s first settlers chose to lay down roots.

A little later, the torch took a trip on West Lakes, embarked on a single scull and rowed by Torchbearer, Christopher Tillett.

Affer West Lakes From Henley Beach the Torch headed for Glenelg where it travelled by tram and stopping for the lunchtime celebration for before heading into Adelaide for an evening celebration.

One of the highlights of today’s run was the Torch being carried by Australian television host Bruce McAvaney. McAvaney will be involved with the televising of the Olympic Games in Australia through the Channel 7 network.

Australian-born local hero, Astronaut Dr Andy Thomas will carry the Olympic flame as a Torchbearer when the Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay reaches Adelaide on Saturday 15 July.

Dr Thomas will run through Rundle Mall finishing at King William Street where he will pass the flame to the final Torchbearer of the day who will then proceed to the celebration stage and light the AMP Community Cauldron.

Dr Thomas, who organised for a replica torch and Australian flag to travel in space aboard the United States Space Shuttle Atlantis in May this year, will be the first Australian to walk in space when he travels to the International Space Station while on a shuttle mission scheduled for February 2001.

Dr Thomas said he was thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in the Olympic Torch Relay.

‘When I reflect on how I came to be involved in the relay and taking the torch into space, I’m quite amazed at how it’s all happened and it’s just wonderful to be involved,’ said Dr Thomas.

‘The relay has captured people’s attention in a way I don’t think was expected, from the outback and remote areas to the cities and the kids are so animated by it. People are queuing for hours on the streets just to see the flame and the atmosphere is fantastic. It’s really very exciting.’

Source: SOCOG Olympics.com