Team NZ defector declines to carry Olympic torch

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Team New Zealand defector Russell Coutts has pulled out of the Olympic torch relay.

For the past week, relay organisers have been waiting to hear whether he would fulfil his commitment to carry the Olympic flame through the America's Cup village.

But Coutts, an Olympic gold medallist in 1984, said yesterday he would not be home from Europe in time for the Auckland leg of the torch's journey next Wednesday.

He has been in Switzerland setting up his new Cup syndicate, and is sailing in a matchracing regatta in Italy this weekend.

In an iTouch voteline survey conducted after Coutts defected to the Swiss syndicate, 85 callers said he should not be allowed to carry the torch and 32 said he should.