Us Travel Agent Backs Ban On Bands
The Age
Thursday July 8, 1999
The United States travel agent with exclusive rights to sell tickets and accommodation to the Sydney Olympics has applauded Australia in the row over marching bands at the Games.
The vice-president of the Cartan travel group, Mr Don Williams, said Americans wanted to see Australians, not their compatriots, in the 2000 opening ceremony.
He said some Americans were incensed by the Sydney organising committee's decision to withdraw its offer to US and Japanese marching bands, but most would understand it.
Mr Williams said Sydney was ``an extremely desirable destination" and it would require a greater controversy to deter American travellers.
Based on early bookings and interest, Cartan predicts Sydney will be the most popular Olympic host city outside the US for Americans, even surpassing Barcelona in 1992.
``When you think about it, SOCOG's decision was the right move. The opening ceremony, as distinct from the Olympic Games itself, is not an international event - it's an event to promote the culture of the host country. I don't see anything wrong with the decision," Mr Williams said.
``Americans who will visit Sydney will look for an opening ceremony with Australian content. I think I would feel very cheated if I flew all the way from the US to Sydney see American marching bands at the opening ceremony. Los Angeles' opening ceremony in 1984 had a Hollywood touch with all those grand pianos - and that's what people expect."
Cartan is based in California where many of the invited bands' members live, but despite a torrent of letters in leading Australian journals from angry Americans, the company has not received a complaint or cancellation.
Sydney Olympic organisers and tourism bodies have been concerned about adverse publicity generated in the US after SOCOG decided to overrule Mr Ric Birch's decision to supplement Australian marching band members with those from the US and Japan.
Cartan estimates that 12,000 Americans have bought packaged holidays with accommodation and Olympic tickets included and a further 10,000 will have bought tickets and made other travel arrangements.
Americans have expressed surprise at the cost of the tickets, but this does not appear to have deterred them.
Mr Williams said Cartan could have sold even more packages and tickets if Sydney had more quality, deluxe accommodation.
© 1999 The Age
