Oly: IOC tells Sydneysiders to go away during Games

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2000
Oly: IOC tells Sydneysiders to go away during Games

By Sharon Labi

SYDNEY, April 22 AAP - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) suggested today that
Sydney residents go on holiday during the Olympics or at least stay off trains and buses
to ensure they run smoothly for Games spectators.

IOC vice-president Anita DeFrantz said that while the foundations for Sydney's public
transport system during the Games were in place, it was up to the city's residents to
ensure its efficiency.

"It's going to require people to change their daily habits," Ms DeFrantz told reporters.

"It may mean getting up a little earlier and going to work, it may mean going to work
a little bit later or perhaps going to work at a different time or going on vacation,"

she said.

Ms DeFrantz is in Sydney heading a three-member delegation of the IOC's transport working group.

The delegation took a train from Circular Quay to the Royal Easter Show at Olympic
Park today for meetings with transport officials, a journey that took 40 minutes. Ms DeFrantz
rated the service "10 out of 10".

She suggested Sydneysiders stay off public transport at peak times, for the benefit
of athletes and spectators.

"It would help if you have some place else you could be; you could watch it on television,"

she said.

"If you could not use the transport system or if you could not use the roads during
the times of the Games, it would be a great help. But you don't have to leave, just don't
use the transport system during those two weeks."

However, residents with tickets to events should use public transport to reach venues, she said.

"If you haven't bought tickets and you need to go to the grocery store or to do the
things you need to do at normal times, please don't do it at a time that people need to
use the transport system to go to the venues," she said.

Ms DeFrantz also said all deliveries should be done between midnight and 6am to avoid
congestion on the roads.

The IOC had noted the recent spate of train derailments across Sydney but Ms DeFrantz
said State Rail had given assurances it was working to minimise the possibility of derailments
during the Games.

Sydney's transport arrangements were far more advanced than Atlanta's were just months
before the 1996 Games, and the delegation was also impressed by improvements to Sydney's
international airport, she said.

Olympic Roads and Traffic Authority chief executive Ron Christie said that despite
Sydney's advanced preparations, transport would remain a huge challenge to Games organisers.

More than 3.1 million people have travelled by bus and train to Olympic Park since
Olympic test events began at the site with the 1998 Royal Easter Show, he said.

CityRail said it had increased its capacity to Homebush throughout the long weekend
and services had been running to schedule.

AAP sal/ps/br

KEYWORD: OLY TRANSPORT (CARRIED EARLIER)

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