OLY: Waugh calls marching a career highlight

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2008
OLY: Waugh calls marching a career highlight

SYDNEY, Aug 9 AAP - Marching in the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony is a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity, former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh said tonight.

Joining the Australian team as an athlete liaison officer alongside former Australian
rugby captain John Eales and gold medallist rower Kate Allen, Waugh says being allowed
to participate in the athletes' parade is an honour.

"I consider it a real privilege and honour that I'm allowed to march," he told Macquarie Radio.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance and I'm going to soak it up and enjoy what the experience
is all about.

"I love the Olympics, they're the ultimate in sport, there's no doubt about that, it
brings the world together and at the moment everything's really positive, I'm having a
fantastic time."

And while rugby might have been canned from the Olympics over 80 years ago, John Eales
was also pleased to finally get his opportunity to revel in the spirit of the Games.

"It's a great honour to be involved from my point of view, rugby is not an Olympic
sport anymore, not since 1924, so it's nice to be here, I feel very privileged and honoured,"

he said.

"Rugby World Cups are a great sporting spectacle (but) this is almost like having 26,
27 Rugby World Cups all at once."

AAP bsb/jds

KEYWORD: OLY08 CEREMONY WAUGH

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