Singer will be at Winter Olympics

Press, 23 January 1988, Page 36

Singer will be at Winter Olympics

PA Auckland Rachel Weston, an Auckland alto, will carry on a family tradition when she sings at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Calgary.

Her mother Mary sang at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games held in Melbourne in 1956. Miss Weston was one of two New Zealanders selected to take part in a sponsored World Chorus, which will sing the official Games song, “Can You Feel It?” at the ceremony on February 13.

Both Miss Weston and a Wellington tenor, John Murray, both fellow National Youth Choir members, expressed surprise at being chosen to represent their country in the 30-nation chorus.

“It came straight out of the blue,” said Miss Weston at her Remuera home.

“I was told the day after my twenty-first birthday last month.”

The pair were chosen after Games organisers asked national choir directors and managers from selected countries for nominations.

Miss Weston said a priority would be to get warm clothing for the trip.

“I find it hard to imagine the winter scene at the moment. It will be excellent to be there and see how the New Zealand team goes.”

Her trip to Canada will differ from that of her mother, who paid her own way from England to Australia for the Melbourne Games more than 30 years ago — all travel and accommodation costs, and spending money will be paid by the sponsors.