Royce Joins Students’ Cause in Olympics Band Dispute

Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) is throwing his clout behind the campaign to get a group of 500 Orange County band students reinvited to play in the opening ceremonies of the Sydney Olympic Games.

Royce plans to meet with Australia’s ambassador Tuesday and present a proposal to create a larger Olympic band including Aussies and the 1,300 Americans who had been invited from Georgia and Orange and San Diego counties.

Without even a letter of notification, the Americans were booted from opening ceremonies after a year of planning, practicing and fund-raising for the once-in-a-lifetime event.

The eviction came after Australians protested that the “international” Olympic band featured 1,500 American and Japanese citizens and only 500 youth from their country.

Bryan Wilkes, a Royce spokesman, said the congressman was touched by the students’ plight. He has contacted his colleagues in Washington and officials in Canberra seeking solutions.

“How can we explain to these kids that after they signed a contract and prepared and saved and looked forward to this trip, that the usual goodwill and spirit of the Olympics doesn’t apply to them?” Wilkes asked.

“Congressman Royce is going to push the Australian ambassador to accommodate both sides and allow both the Australian and American students to play.”

If simple persuasion doesn’t cut it, Royce may attempt to craft a legislative remedy or assist trip planners if they decide to file suit against the Sydney Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, Wilkes added.

Royce’s involvement comes as an Olympic organizer, John Moore, has offered the students a consolation prize: a proposal to play in seven other venues, attend Olympic sporting events, be featured in an NBC profile and take master classes with a famed Australian musician.

At a meeting Wednesday night, parents and students from Irvine High, El Dorado High in Placentia and Kennedy High in La Palma said they were leaning toward rejecting the alternative offer. They are expected to make a formal announcement of their intentions today.