Remember when: controversy surrounded the lighting of the Olympic torch for Sydney in 2000

THE Olympic torch lighting ceremony was overshadowed by controversy over the decision to make an Australian IOC member’s daughter the first torchbearer.

Flashback: Olympic torch scandal

Gold Coast Bulletin, Thursday May 11, 2000

THE Olympic torch lighting ceremony was overshadowed by diplomatic scandals and controversy over the decision to make Australian IOC member Kevan Gosper’s daughter Sophie the first local torchbearer.

In a separate incident, Governor-general Sir William Deane and Lady Helen left immediately after the ceremony for Athens, choosing not to attend the formal lunch at the close of the event after what insiders called “a major breach of protocol”.

The honour of being the first Australian to carry the torch was to have gone to then-15-year-old schoolgirl Yianna Souleles, a Greek-Australian who had travelled with her classmates from Sydney to take part in the torch-lighting ceremony.

Instead, Sophie Gosper, then-11, was handed the torch by Greek high jump champion Lambros Papacostas after it was lit by the rays of the sun in the Temple of Hera.

The late decision drew heavy criticism in Australia from politicians and Australia’s Greek community.

Mr Gosper said he had nothing to do with the decision made by the Hellenic Olympic Committee to invite his daughter to be the first Australian to carry the Olympic flame.

“Everybody will concoct their own conspiracy,” he said.

“I’m simply saying to you this was a simple and generous gesture.”

Sophie Gosper is too young by one year to run with the torch in Australia, but was invited by the Greeks to participate in their 10-day relay.

She was named as the second torchbearer after yesterday’s flame-lighting rehearsal, bumping Yianna down the order.