CARRYING THE TORCH FOR MAZATLÁN
By Jackie Peterson

When the Olympic flame flashed through Mexico City recently, a Mazatleco named Ricardo Urquijo was one of the select few who got to carry the torch here in Mexico. Regular patrons of events at the Angela Peralta Theater know Urquijo, the theater´s tall, white-haired manager, because he often stands in the outdoor lobby to greet people at the end of a performance. And he always has a smile on his face. It was the Coca-Cola company, being worldwide sponsors of the Olympic games to be held this month in Athens, who chose Mexico´s torch bearers. They decided to invite people who were distinguished in this country´s cultural affairs as well as in its sports activities. Urquijo received his invitation because he has helped put Mazatlán on the map as outstanding for its cultural activities throughout all of the northwest of Mexico. He has received international recognition for his achievements not only in the management of the Angela Peralta Theater, but

also as director of the Mazatlán Municipal School for the Arts. His allotted 400 meters of torch bearing began in front of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and he trotted along Avenida Ayuntamiento before turning the flame over to the next participant. Among others, these included Lolita Ayala, Antonio de Valdez and Germán Dehesa. A fifth generation Maz-atleco, Urquijo has served as director of cultural affairs for the Municipality of Mazatlan for 12 years and four mayors. He has helped in the development of the Angela Peralta Chorale, the Professional School of the Dance, the Municipal School of Classical Ballet, the Ballet Folklorico Sinaloense, the Delfos Group (contemporary dance) and two schools of music. As for the torch, after its run through Mexico City it traveled on to Los Angeles, St. Louis, Atlanta, New York, then to Montreal and across the Atlantic to Brussels and points eastward. Last stop is Nicosia, Cyprus, on July 8, just before the games begin in Greece.

 

 


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