Fraser, Cuthbert among favourites to light Olympic flame

Based on comments from prospective punters, Centrebet made Fraser and Cuthbert the joint favourites for the honour of lighting the flame at the opening ceremony with long distance running record-breaker Ron Clarke their closest rival at 10-1.

The bookmakers have modern day swim sensations Kieren Perkins and Susie O’Neill at 25-1 along with former Olympic gold medallists Shane Gould and Marjorie Jackson.

Cricket legend and nonagenarian Don Bradman, an inspirational figure who would be a popular choice amongst Australians, and other non-Olympic sporting heroes Greg Norman, golf’s former World No one, and ex-cricket captain Mark Taylor are quoted at 100-1 on the list.

The 1996 Atlanta Games started spectacularly when a faltering Muhammad Ali, the sportsman of the 20th century, lit the Olympic flame to the surprise of millions worldwide.

Sydney Olympic organisers have a huge task in coming up with an Australian athletic icon who will prompt similar awe around the globe.

Olympics minister Michael Knight said on Tuesday that the final decision on who would light the torch would be made on Thursday but the canny bookmakers are not taking any chances.

“It is a pre-determined result so we decided not to take any bets despite their being huge interest in Australia and beyond,” said Centrebet betting manager Gerard Daffy.

“We have had thousands of phone calls on this aspect of the Olympics alone and on the basis of who people wanted to wager money on we came up with hypothetical odds.”

Fraser won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100 metres freestyle and held the world record for that event for an amazing 16 years.

Cuthbert completed the 100-200 metre sprint double on home soil at the 1956 Melbourne Games and is now confined to a wheelchair after being crippled by multiple sclerosis.

“I would think Betty Cuthbert will have some sort of involvement in lighting the Olympic flame,” said Daffy, whose Alice Springs based agency will take bets by phone and via the Internet on all 28 Olympic Sports.

“She is in a wheelchair these days and if I was to have a bet, I would put my money on her.”

Daffy said Centrebet had already taken bets totalling 100,000 dollars and he expected the final total to be around 10 million dollars.

“We have a staff of 80 manning the phones around the clock and bets are being placed by people from around the world,’ he said. “We will be betting on individual football, basketball and netball matches which will attract a lot of wagers.”

American Maurice Greene, who has attracted the biggest bet so far of 6,000 dollars at 9-4 on to win the 100 metres, is popular with punters placing multiple bets.

“A lot of punters are taking Greene as their backer because the odds are pretty good,” said Daffy. “They are combining him with red hot favourites like Australia’s Ian Thorpe in the pool (quoted at 20-1 on to win the 400 metres freestyle) and throwing in some outsiders.

One guy has wagered $2,500 in a roll up over a variety of sports and if it comes up he stands to win $85,000. He is going to have an exciting few weeks in front of the television.”