Sacramento-to-L.A. Torch Run Will Precede Olympic Festival

Attempting to rekindle memories of the 1984 Summer Olympics, U.S. Olympic Festival officials announced plans Thursday at the Coliseum for a torch run from the steps of the state’s capitol in Sacramento to Dodger Stadium.

After the flame arrives in Sacramento by air from Pikes Peak in Colorado, the 1,700-mile torch run will begin June 16 and travel through 187 California communities before arriving in Los Angeles for the opening ceremony July 12.

The festival is a 10-day, multisport competition involving more than 3,000 U.S. athletes in 37 Olympic and Pan American Games sports. This summer’s festival in Los Angeles will be the 11th since the U.S. Olympic Committee initiated it in 1978 but the first held west of the Rocky Mountains.

Harry Usher, chairman of the festival committee, said about 4,000 runners will be needed to complete the torch run. The first to volunteer was Mayor Tom Bradley, who submitted his check for $40, the required fee, at Thursday’s news conference.

Others interested in running a one-fifth mile segment will be able to find applications beginning Monday at all California post offices. The U.S. Postal Service will sponsor the torch run.

One of its letter carriers, former Olympic swimmer Shirley Babashoff of Huntington Beach, joined former Olympic decathlete Rafer Johnson of Los Angeles in carrying a flameless torch up the stairs at the peristyle end of the Coliseum at the outset of the news conference.