By PAT NEWMAN
Staff Writer

After a couple months of transcontinental negotiations and local uncertainty, the Fayette County High School band will perform at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Parents voted 141-61 Thursday night to accept the Olympic Committee's latest offer to include the band in opening festivities.

The Olympic Committee rescinded its invitation to the Fayette County band and 1,300 other American and Japanese students who were set to perform at the Games in July.

Their action triggered an international incident with protests lodged on both hemispheres.

Kenny Beard, Fayette County High's band director, took a wait and see approach to the whole affair and predicted two months ago that the whole issue may come full circle. He was right. The band will perform as originally planned, and will be the only American band in the opening ceremonies.

Fund-raising will proceed in earnest now, with students moving toward their goal of raising approximately $3,600 apiece.