Australian Officials Hope Santa Delivered Freeman Body Suit

(ATR)Fiona de Jong, secretary general of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), says officials are not making claims on a body suit worn by Cathy Freeman during the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympics.

"I believe that's a matter for Cathy Freeman to choose. It's her suit," de Jong said during an interview with The Australian. "We are just delighted that Santa has delivered this present."

The silver body suit, which disappeared from the track star's dressing room following the opening ceremony of the Games, was delivered anonymously to a staff member of the Melbourne Cricket Club on Tuesday.

In a statement the AOC says that on the night of the opening ceremony, "Freeman was soaked while standing under a waterfall after a mechanical fault delayed the lighting of the cauldron.

"She removed the suit after the ceremony, and it has not been seen since."

AOC spokesperson Mike Tancred tells Melbourne's Herald Sunthe disappearance of the suit bewildered officials.

"It was one of the great mysteries of sport as to where it went."

According to The Australian, the most common theory was that someone accidentally threw the suit into the garbage.

Freeman, an Olympic gold medalist, will be called on to confirm the authenticity of the suit.Her manager, Mark Truelson, told The Australian he could not comment until Freeman had seen the suit.

"She's pretty bemused by it all," he said.

The AOC said officials hope to have the 14-year mystery solved soon.

"We're delighted for Cathy if it's true," Tancred told the Herald Sun, "It's part of our history and we'd love to have it back."

Written byNicole Bennett

Homepage photo: Getty Images

For general comments or questions,click here.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics isAroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.