Beijing Olympic Torch Relay

Ian Thorpe, Libby Trickett and Lee Kernaghan will be running, hot air balloons will be flying and Shannon Noll will rock Stage 88 at a huge, free finale concert on the day the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay comes to Canberra on Thursday 24 April.

You're invited to join the celebrations!

Check out the Torch Relay full-day program and relay route.
Last updated on Wednesday 23 April

Celebrations

Welcome the flame at a free community breakfast

Spectators can view a pre-dawn fireworks show, a mass ascension of hot air balloons, and share in a free community breakfast at the official lighting ceremony at Reconciliation Place on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.

Download more information here.

Free concert starring Shannon Noll, Brian Cadd and Russell Morris

Witness the end of the only Australian leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay at Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park. Shannon Noll, Brian Cadd and Russell Morris will headline the program of entertainment that will farewell the Olympic Flame as it leaves for its ultimate destination in Beijing.

Download more information here.

Route

Set yourself up at one of the many great vantage points along the torch's relay route. Starting from Reconciliation Place (near Questacon), the torch will pass by many of Canberra's iconic institutions, including Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial, before it reaches Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park with the final torchbearer, Olympian Ian Thorpe.

Check out the official relay route and the best vantage points along the route

Details on the Torch Relay celebrations and relay route are also available in your Beijing Olympic Torch Relay lift-out in The Canberra Times on Monday 21 April.

Fireworks

A spectacular first ever fireworks display will welcome the Olympic flame to Canberra on Wednesday 23 April.

In a never before seen event in the nation's capital, the Canberra night sky will be a blaze of colour as fireworks are ignited from three of the city's highest peaks. Red Hill, Black Mountain and Mount Ainslie will act as launching pads for this dazzling display of sound and colour from 6.00pm on Wednesday evening. The shores of Lake Burley Griffin will provide an ideal location to witness this unique display.

And in another first for Canberra, there will be a pre-dawn fireworks show for the early risers attending the Torch Relay Breakfast and Lighting Ceremony at Reconciliation Place on Thursday morning. The fireworks show will take place soon after 6.00am.

Traffic Disruptions

Major traffic disruptions will occur along the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay route on Thursday morning 24 April 2008.

Rolling road closures will commence from 8.30am, with delays of approximately 60 to 90 minutes expected as the Relay passes. 

The Canberra Times will publish information on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week that details the approximate times when the traffic disruptions will occur. 

Residents and businesses along the route are advised that additional temporary fencing will also be put in place that will restrict vehicle access to their premises as the Relay passes.

People working in Civic and the Parliamentary Triangle are encouraged to arrive at work before 8.15am to avoid delays.  Those travelling to the airport are also advised to plan their travel carefully.

ACTION bus services will continue to operate, however normal services will also be severely affected.  Contact ACTION on 131710 or visit the ACTION website for more information.

Local broadcast media will provide regular updates in relation to changed traffic arrangements.

The ACT Government and the ACT Torch Relay Taskforce apologises for any inconvenience and urges motorists to be patient. 

Download a map with times here.

Security Arrangements

The ACT Government has made declarations under the Major Events Security Act 2000 to enable the ACT Policing to maintain peace and good order for the Olympic Torch Relay.

The declaration will provide ACT Policing with additional powers for the duration of the event to ensure that items that may be used to threaten the safety of the event are not permitted into the event.

The declarations specify the National Convention Centre on Wednesday 23 April 2008 and the Torch Relay route on Thursday 24 April 2008, and adjacent areas, as major event venues.

The ACT Government has taken these measures to ensure that all participants and spectators can enjoy the event without threats to safety or the peaceful conduct of the event.

Further information about the declarations under the Major Events Security Act 2000 can be downloaded below.

Torchbearers

Australia's torchbearers nominated to carry the torch along its journey throughout the national capital include Olympians such as Ian Thorpe, Petria Thomas and Nova Peris; Paralympians Amanda Fraser and Michael Milton; Australian of the Year recipients, including country music legend Lee Kernaghan; and other exemplary community members throughout Australia.

The range of torchbearers are representative of many parts of Australian life, ensuring this is an event the whole nation can take pride in.

Check out our 80 torchbearers here.

Volunteers

Applications to volunteer for the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay have now closed. The ACT Government thanks the hundreds of Australians who have expressed an interest in assisting to make the Torch Relay a success in Canberra.

Applications were received from people ranging from 18 to 70 years of age and from a range of different backgrounds. 120 volunteers with a diverse range of skills, enthusiasm and commitment were selected to fill a range of positions including marshals, information volunteers and convoy assistants. The majority of volunteers will work behind the scenes as drivers, shuttle bus coordinators, media assistants and torchbearer hosts.

The volunteers will make a vital contribution to the successful delivery of the relay in Canberra and we thank them for their support.

Beijing Sister City Relationship

As the nation's capital and sister city of Beijing, Canberra is delighted to host the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay.

The Canberra-Beijing Sister City relationship was formalised with the signing of the Sister City Agreement on 14 September 2000 with the then Mayor of Beijing, Mr Liu Qi and ACT Chief Minister Kate Carnell. The relationship was established to further develop cultural and business opportunities for both cities. The main focus of the relationship presently is economic, through business, trade and promotion of the ACT. To date, delegations between Canberra and Beijing have covered environmental management (especially water), agriculture, public administration, tourism, education and hospitality training. The selection of Canberra as the only Australian city to host a leg of the torch relay is an exciting expansion of the cultural scope of this relationship.

The Torch

The torch that will be used to carry the Olympic Flame on its 137,000 kilometre journey of harmony is a spectacular creation, capturing elements of the Olympic spirit, the culture of the host nation, and designed to the highest technical standards to ensure the flame can burn in extreme weather conditions.

The inwardly curving design of the torch is inspired by the traditional Chinese paper scroll, a key invention of the Chinese. Swirling clouds are etched into the body of the torch, acknowledging centuries of Chinese art, architecture and philosophy. The bright silver and red theme of the torch also acknowledges this rich history.

Standing 72 centimetres high, the torch weighs in at 985 grams. The aluminium creation ensures that the torch can be highly visible yet lightweight, and will not pose a challenge for torchbearers to carry. The handle of the torch is coated with rubber-based paint, emulating the feeling of one hand holding another to connect all torchbearers on the global route.

Both amateur and professional photographers lining the route will be able to capture stunning images of the flame, as the torch will burn the propane fuel to create a highly visible 30 centimetre flame.

joint pic of torch

The Global Journey

The Journey of Harmony is one of the most ambitious global routes ever planned for an Olympic Torch Relay. Certainly the route is the longest, measuring an impressive 137,000 kilometres, enough to cross the globe three and a half times! Along this route Canberra will join in an esteemed roster of hosts, including San Francisco, Paris, London and Buenos Aires.

The global route was inspired by the ancient Chinese trade route - The Silk Road --which opened up cultural and trade transactions between China and the West. This route, which commenced operation as early as 114 BC, has had a major influence on Chinese and Western history. While of course Canberra was never a feature of The Silk Road, our inclusion on the torch relay route is recognition of our sister city relationship with Beijing, and our status as the national capital.

Not content to simply make the route the longest torch relay in history, an extra challenge has been thrown into the mix. The torch had been especially created to burn at high altitude and will ascend Mount Qomolangma, (Mount Everest).

Download the Global Journey of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay here

Useful Links

Media Releases

Recent media releases:

National Autumn Balloon Spectacular

Hot air balloons have long been synonymous with Canberra and this year will be no different. The 2008 National Autumn Balloon Spectacular will carry on the tradition of hot air balloons floating over the city and is focused on creating a spectacular and festive atmosphere for the Canberra community and visitors to the ACT.

The 2008 National Autumn Balloon Spectacular will be held over 9 days from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 April. The Balloons will launch from the lawns in front of Old Parliament House and will provide an exhilarating backdrop to Australia's iconic attractions. The event is complete with on site entertainment, activities and food and drink for the whole family.

Click here for the full event program. For more information, contact 13 22 81.

Click here for the Up and Up and Away with Questacon program, running especially for kids on 21 and 22 April.

Event Program

Click here for the 2008 National Autumn Balloon Spectacular event program.

Click here for the Up UP and Away with Questacon program, running especially for kids on 21 and 22 April.

Planning Your Day

Parking/Transport

Food and Drink

Entertainment

What to bring

Tips for Spectators

Safety Tips

Balloon Flights

There is no better way to experience the beauty of our national capital, then to take a ride in a beautiful hot air balloon. Enjoy the exhilarating views of our national icons from above.

For more information on hot air balloon rides, please contact:

Balloon Aloft www.canberraballoons.com.au or Dawn Drifters www.dawndrifters.com.au/

Sponsors

The ACT Government thank our event sponsors for the 2008 National Autumn Balloon Spectacular.

KAZ

Hotel Heritage

Southern Cross 10

ABC

The Canberra Times

Canberra CBD