Oly: Priscilla tribute to feature at Olympic closing ceremony

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2000
Oly: Priscilla tribute to feature at Olympic closing ceremony

Drag Queens wearing original costumes from Priscilla Queen of the Desert will recreate
scenes from the film at the closing ceremony of the Olympics.

Olympics minister MICHAEL KNIGHT has confirmed reports that the Priscilla segment --
along with tributes to other internationally known Australian movies -- will form part
of a celebration of Aussie film-making over the years.

Mr KNIGHT's told ABC radio he won't detail all of the films to be included in the tribute.

But he's listed Babe, Crocodile Dundee, Strictly Ballroom and Mad Max as examples of
internationally known cutting edge Australian movies.

Ceremonies director RIC BIRCH says the drag queens will be fitted out in original Priscilla
costumes.

Both Mr KNIGHT and Mr BIRCH have dismissed concerns raised by callers to talkback radio
that the drag queens would represent a celebration of gay culture.

Mr KNIGHT says there's not a celebration of drag or drag queens or the Gay and Lesbian
Mardi Gras or homosexuality in the closing ceremony.

AAP RTV jjs/ah/rt/jn

KEYWORD: OLY DRAG (SYDNEY)

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