2010 Winter Olympics Torch Relay
The Olympic Torch came to our small town on December 28, 2009.
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The 2010 Winter Olympics begin in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on February 12, 2010.
On October 22, 2009, the Olympic torch was lit in Greece from the original Olympic flame. Six lanterns lit from the original flame flew across the ocean to British Columbia where a torch relay across Canada began.
Hundreds of thousands of Canadian citizens applied to participate in this amazing event, 12,000 were chosen. Each torch bearer, wearing official Olympic gear consisting of hat, mitts, coat and pants, carries the torch 300 meters before passing the the flame on to another torch bearer. Each torch bearer has their own torch to keep as a souvenir. Though the relay breaks each night, and for a couple of days over Christmas, the lanterns continue to glow with the original flame. No matches or lighters are used to light any of these torches. All flames come from the original Olympic cauldron in Greece.
The Torch Relay takes place over 100 days, visiting 1,000 Canadian communities, travelling over 45,000 kilometers.
On Monday, December 28, 2009 (Day 60), the Olympic Torch made its way into Orangeville, Ontario. Canadian boxing champion Bryon Mackie had the honor of carrying the torch up onto the stage where hundreds of Orangevillians cheered him on as he lit the Olympic cauldron.
Image: Bryon Mackie, courtesy of the author
My daughters and I met the torch as it entered Town and then attempted to follow it up to the celebration location some 10 blocks away. We had to run quite a bit, which kept us warm in the -5 degree celsius weather.
Outside Tony Rose Arena, where the celebration took place, we watched as the Olympic cauldron was set ablaze with Bryon Mackie’s torch and then joined the TOYS (Theatre Orangeville Youth Singers) choir in singing the Canadian National Anthem. Then we entered the Coca Cola tent and had our picture taken with a previously used Olympic torch. Coca Cola and RBC Royal Bank are official sponsors of the Olympic Torch Relay. RBC had a photo tent as well.
Image: The author and her daughters, courtesy of the author
Because the weather was so chilly we didn’t stick around to watch the festivities, which included the release of 50 homeing pigeons. During ancient times in Greece during the Olympics they used homeing pigeons to send the results back to the villagers.
So far the torch has been on planes, ferries, canoes, streetcars, and even wheelchairs.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we were thrilled to be a part of.
In 42 days the 2010 Winter Olympics begin. Go Canada!
Emmie
12 Comments
Wow! that was quite an experience for you. A interesting post.
Christine
Good article and lots of interesting information. Great opportunity for you to get out there and keep an eye on everything that was happening. Too bad you didn’t stick around to see all the pigeons turned loose. I bet that was amazing as well. Thanks for sharing and nice picture.
What a fantastic experience. Love the picture of you and your daughters. Will look forward to watching the events on TV.
Oh how exciting to run with the torch bearer. That’s just wonderful.
great post ,great to be one of them
I agree with them. A good experience indeed.
great post….
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That must have been very special being so close to such an iconic symbol – I know when the summer olympics comes to Britain for the first time since 1948 in 2012 I’ll definitely be getting involved in every part of it!
No doubt Mary…this will a wonderful experience that you will never forget…I’ll be writing a piece on the Winter Olympics shortly
…this will be a wonderful experience…hehehe
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