St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay spoke at a press conference outlining activities for St. Louis' Olympic centennial of the 1904 Games set for June 17 on Art Hill featuring Olympians, fireworks, symphony music and the culmination to the Olympic Torch Relay.
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Jackie Joyner-Kersee to Light Olympic Torch Cauldron
by Bob Moore, SLFP.com
ST. LOUIS, MO. (SLFP.com), June 3, 2004 - After more than 125 inspirational individuals carry the Olympic torch 34 miles through St. Louis, on June 17, there will be one more torch bearer having the honor, three-time Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
St. Louis is one of only four American cities and one of only 34 cities worldwide that are part of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay - the first-ever global relay. The Olympic flame - originally lit in Olympia, Greece on March 25 - will arrive in St. Louis by plane from Los Angeles at approximately 10:30 a.m.
At a press conference announcing the free event, St. Louis Sports Commission President Frank Viverito said, "I think it is important for every St. Louisan to know that St. Louis is the birth place of the Olympics in America. In St. Louis today there are precious few traces that the Olympics ever existed. For a long time, it has been a priority of the St. Louis Sports Commission to produce events that highlight our legacy."
"We're thrilled to have the chance to carry out this vision and delighted that the Celebration can coincide with the Olympic Torch Relay," stated Viverito.
Following a brief ceremony on the Overlook Stage at Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard, the relay will begin at 1 p.m. at the base of the steps of the Gateway Arch. From there, the flame will travel 34 miles around the St. Louis metropolitan area, passing through many of the community's distinctive neighborhoods and past several notable landmarks.
Areas on the route include downtown St. Louis, Soulard, Saint Louis University, Fairground Park, the Central West End, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, The Hill, Maplewood, Webster Groves, Rock Hill, Brentwood, Richmond Heights, Clayton and University City.
The flame will also be carried into Francis Field at Washington University, site of the 1904 Olympics. The relay will end at Art Hill in Forest Park. An end-of-relay celebration commemorating the centennial of St. Louis' Olympic Games will take place on Art Hill at 7:30 p.m.
At approximately 8:45 p.m., Jackie will carry the flame down Art Hill and be surrounded on stage by all the Olympians present as she lights the Relay Torch Cauldron.
Three-time Olympic gold medalist and East St. Louis native Jackie Joyner-Kersee spoke with reporters following a press conference announcing details of the Centennial Celebration.
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Following the press conference, Jackie told Saint Louis Front Page that being able to light the torch in St. Louis was the ultimate homecoming.
"It's one thing to be able to compete all over the world," stated Jackie. "To be able to light the cauldron is a tremendous honor. I've carried the torch in other cities either for non-profit or for different groups and the exhilaration when people are around you cheering you on is unbelievable."
"It will almost be like the Olympics that night, but at a different level," she laughed. "I think it's the ultimate compliment for me, the ultimate show of love to do it in my community."
Jackie added that the celebration will be great for the whole community region. "I hope to be able to bring kids over from the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center and people from the east side to embrace this and celebrate this great moment."
When asked what message would she like to convey to the youth of today, Jackie stated, "My advice to young people or anyone is to always be committed and always know that once you believe you have attained a goal you have to work even harder. You should never get relaxed or satisfied. Always know that there is a little bit of improvement in you everyday."
"People say to me, you've already gone to the Olympics," stated Jackie. "Why do you want to go again. You already won a gold medal. It wasn't about that. It was always that I had a thirst for more and that's what kept me level headed. It kept me in a position of being a student and always being willing to learn from my coaches and everyone that was around me."
"It was that drive for achievement. To be the best and never say the best is here. At that moment you're the best. But always know that when you were trying to become a world record holder, or national champion or state champion or age group champion, someone else was trying too. So, if you broke their record, imagine, someone wants your record too. So keep driving, keep pushing and bring the best out of you," concluded Jackie.
In addition to Joyner-Kersee, Marc Schreiber, director of marketing & communication, St. Louis Sports Commission announced that athletes scheduled to appear included Shannon Miller, a seven-time Olympic medalist in gymnastics; Bonnie Blair, a five-time Olympic gold medalist in speed skating; Sammie Henson, a graduate of Francis Howell High School who won the silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2000 Olympics; Wendy Williams, a native of Bridgeton who won the bronze medal in diving at the 1988 Olympics; Craig Virgin, a three-time Olympian in track and field from Lebanon, Ill.; and Connie Teaberry, a 1996 Olympian from Florissant, Mo.
Local media covered a press conference on Art Hill for the announcement of the Olympic Torch Relay through St. Louis.
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St. Louis' Olympic Centennial Celebration will take place on the anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's return to St. Louis following his historic transatlantic flight. On June 17, 1927, thousands of St. Louisans gathered on Art Hill to give Lindbergh a hero's welcome. Seventy-seven years later - to the date - St. Louisans will gather on Art Hill for yet another memorable event.
Spectators attending the Celebration are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair as there will be open seating on Art Hill. Spectators will be permitted to bring their own food into the venue. A small number of vendors will be selling food and water. Coca-Cola products will also be available. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the park.
Parking will be available at the St. Louis Zoo north and south lots (free after 7 p.m.), the lower and upper Muny lots, Washington University, and on the streets throughout Forest Park (as permitted by law). The east and west circle lots atop Art Hill and the Art Museum parking lot will be reserved for handicapped parking and parking pass holders. In addition, there will be no parking allowed on Lagoon Drive between Fine Arts Drive and the Dwight Davis Tennis Center. Attendees with a vehicle disability placard or license plate may park in the east and west circle lots atop Art Hill or in the Art Museum parking lot. Street parking will also be reserved south of The Boat House.
The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay is presented by Coca-Cola and Samsung. Planning for the Olympic Torch Relay in St. Louis is being conducted by a local task force that includes representatives from the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Brentwood, Clayton, Maplewood, Richmond Heights, Rock Hill, University City, Webster Groves, Central States Coca-Cola Bottling Company of St. Louis, the Downtown St. Louis Partnership, Saint Louis University, Samsung, St. Louis 2004, the St. Louis Greek-American Community, the St. Louis Sports Commission, and Washington University.
For more information on St. Louis' Olympic Centennial Celebration and the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay, log on to www.stlsports.org and click on the Olympic Torch Relay logo.
Telemarketing Business to Pay $75,000 No-Call Fine
ST. LOUIS, MO. (SLFP.com), May 30, 2004 - A Florida-based telemarketer that made fund-raising calls to Missourians who asked not to be called will pay $75,000 under a consent order obtained Thursday (May 27) by Attorney General Jay Nixon.
The Attorney General sued Xentel Inc., a Delaware corporation based in Ft. Lauderdale and Alberta, Canada, in August 2003 for violating Missouri consumer protection laws by using manipulative, high-pressure techniques to solicit donations, and by denying or interfering with consumer requests to be placed on Xentel's own do-not-call list. Nixon says the business also violated state law by making repeat solicitation calls to Missourians who asked not to be called.
In a statement, Nixon said, "We will aggressively go after telemarketers who make repeat calls after being told to stop. "Court orders requiring them to pay $75,000 send a strong message that says we mean business when it comes to protecting the privacy of Missourians."
In addition to the $75,000 Xentel will pay, the court order approved by Circuit Judge David Dowd requires the business to implement and maintain procedures, including employee training, to ensure future compliance with Missouri consumer protection and telemarketing laws. Xentel also must provide the Attorney General's Office with a list of all Missouri consumers who have asked not to be called.
Nixon says his office earlier this month obtained court-approved agreements with two Missouri businesses after they violated the state No Call law. Both Thomas Construction Inc., of Earth City, and First Union Corp., of Kansas City, paid $10,000 to the state and agreed to obtain copies of the No Call database and implement procedures to ensure future compliance.
Since the Missouri No Call law took effect in July 2001, $1,183,000 has been paid or ordered to be paid. More than 1.6 million residential telephone numbers are on the Missouri No Call list. Residents whose phone numbers are not yet on the No Call list can register online or by calling toll-free 1-866-NOCALL1 (1-866-662-2551).
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