Monday, April 29, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Cameron Andrews is 36 years old and he feels every day of it.
That's because Andrews, chosen as one of 50 "Community Heroes" to carry the Olympic torch through Las Vegas on Wednesday, has been running a little more than normal in recent weeks.
"I run as many miles as I am old each week," said Andrews, advertising and communications manager at Harrah's.
He was nominated for his volunteer work with Big Brothers and Big Sisters as well as helping to start Kid's Cafe -- a community food program that serves underprivileged children.
At exactly 5:39 p.m. Wednesday, Andrews is slated to take hold of the Olympic torch at Green Valley Plaza and carry it half a mile to Annie Oakley Drive, where it will be relayed to another Nevada torchbearer.
"I'm very excited," Andrews said. "Because, of course, the Olympics is a significant historical event, not only in Southern Nevada, but in the United States and the world, and because the torch relay is quite an incredible feat. Can you imagine what it's like coordinating an event that goes 15,000 miles through 42 states?"
More than 10,000 torchbearers, who began their long journey Saturday in Los Angeles, are scheduled to pass the sacred flame through 42 states and 29 state capitals before the relay concludes July 19 in Atlanta during the opening ceremony of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
The 50 "Community Hero" torchbearers from Nevada are among 5,500 from throughout the nation who make up the bulk of the members of the relay team.
The total number of 10,000 torchbearers, who will carry the flame for 84 days, will pass within a two-hour drive of 90 percent of the American population during the Olympic flame's journey.
Andrews is not only tired because of his training. He's also a little nervous.
"I think I know the exact leg of my run, but you always worry that you're going to do something stupid, like drop the torch as it's being passed," said Andrews, who has friends and family members flying in from Chicago to watch him.
The Olympic flame will arrive in Nevada shortly after noon Wednesday at the Hoover Dam and be carried through Boulder City, Henderson and Las Vegas.
Planned events include:
* A Hoover Dam "Welcome to Nevada" celebration featuring opening remarks by Gov. Bob Miller, the raising of a 505-foot-long, 250-foot-wide, 3,000-pound U.S. flag over the side of the dam, and a planned flyover by the Thunderbirds.
* Ethel M's caravan stop, featuring 80-90 delegates from the Miss Universe Pageant welcoming the caravan to the Silver State.
* Fremont Street Experience closing celebration, featuring local celebrity-athletes and closing remarks by Mayor Jan Laverty Jones and Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson-Gates.
From the Fremont Street Experience, the flame will travel aboard a special Olympic train to Barstow, Calif.
United Way of Southern Nevada is the primary provider of community support and volunteer services for the local segment of the torch relay.
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