Face of the new, multicultural Australia

By CHRIS RATTUE

It was Cathy Freeman the athlete who faced the world press in Sydney, with only passing references to political matters in a 30-minute question-and-answer session.

The press conference was supposed to be for the Australian track and field team, and there were five other athletes present. But it was Freeman, the 400m world champion, who held centrestage, with most of the questions aimed her way.

Freeman's status, enhanced by her lighting of the Olympic flame, will undoubtedly help the cause of Aborigines down the track.

She has used her influence in the past.

When she emerged as an athlete in 1990, the-then 16-year-old relay runner said she would wait until she understood the Aboriginal issues before taking any stands.

She has been true to her word. After winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in Canada in 1994 she draped herself in Aboriginal and Australian flags.

That sparked a verbal tussle with the notorious team manager Arthur Tunstall, who decreed that only the Australian flag could be used.

Freeman, whose grandfather was Syrian while a great-grandfather was Chinese, had wanted to inspire her fellow Aborigines.

But she deflected questions on those lines on Tuesday, as she prepares for the 400m which begins on Friday and next week's 200m.

"I can't please everyone, everyone has different views on things," she answered when asked whether she had annoyed sections of Australian society.

In a sign that she is steering clear of political statements leading up to her races, she will wear green and gold running shoes in contrast to the Aboriginal colours they bore in Atlanta.

While reaffirming her commitment to her people, Freeman made it clear that she felt she represented a new multicultural Australia, symbolised by her role in an evocative opening ceremony.

"It was a big honour for the Aboriginal community," she said.

"We are living in a multicultural and bilingual country."

Freeman was second to enigmatic Frenchwoman Marie-Jose Perec at Atlanta. On her 200m/400m chances, she said: "I'm really, really determined to have a good time. I don't want it to be stressful.

"I love running. I have a lot of pride in my heart. I'll try the best I can."

The Freeman-Perec clash in Monday night's 400m final should be a highlight of the Games, although Perec has competed only twice this season.

French officials believe Perec's proven experience in preparing for big races will overcome her lack of preparation. However, the 400m schedule is tough with two rounds, the semifinals and final over four consecutive days.

The Frenchwoman has a 7-2 advantage over Freeman in the 400m, but they have not clashed since 1996.

Perec, the Atlanta 200m/400m double winner, has been in typical form before she lines up in Sydney.

At her website she accused the Australian media of hounding her, and failed to show for a news conference scheduled by the French Athletics Federation on Tuesday, although other French athletes were also missing.