OLYMPIC TORCH TO PASS THROUGH CAPE GIRARDEAU

The Olympic torch, on its way to the United States Olympic Festival in St. Louis, will pass through Cape Girardeau on June 1.

Runners are being recruited to carry the torch on a 12-mile course through the city, said John Mehner, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

The U.S. Olympic festival games will be held in St. Louis the first week of July.

"Several cities throughout Missouri will be allowed to carry the Olympic torch through their city," Mehner explained.

He said 60 runners will carry the torch, each running one-fifth of a mile. The number of runners and length of the course were determined by population.

The exact course is still being plotted, but Mehner said it will start and end at Common Pleas Courthouse.

Runners who are interested in carrying the torch should contact the chamber office at 335-3312. Mehner said it costs $24.94 for each runner. Signups had been limited to chamber members until Friday. Now, he said, the slots are open to other community members. "We are more than half booked," he said. "We expect the other half to fill up fast."

"This is probably or could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Mehner said. "They will actually be carrying the Olympic torch."

The only requirement is that runners be at least 8 years old. Runners receive an Olympic Festival T-shirt.

The communities along the torch route will be featured during 30-second commercials to be aired nationally during the St. Louis games.

In addition to Cape Girardeau, the torch will be run through Sikeston and Poplar Bluff.