West Vancouver Welcomes 2010 Olympic Torch Relay
Friday, November 21, 2008
West Vancouver, BC -- Residents of West Vancouver will have the opportunity to see the Olympic Flame in person on February 10, 2010 as it passes through on its way towards the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will reach over 90 per cent of Canadians within a one-hour drive. The torch relay route is available at vancouver2010.com and information on how residents can apply to be torchbearers can be found at icoke.ca and rbc.com/carrythetorch.
“Sea to Sky started when the first skiers caught a ferry to West Vancouver and hiked up the hill and then up the mountain to ski,” says District of West Vancouver Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones. “The torch relay celebrates our healthy outdoor lifestyle and spectacular natural world.”
Residents interested in applying for an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame can apply at iCoke.ca or rbc.com/carrythetorch. Coca-Cola and RBC, the relay’s presenting partners, have the exclusive rights for the public to enter the Olympic Torchbearer program and are looking for Canadian applicants who commit to live healthier or are inspired to create a stronger country by volunteering or making sustainable choices. There will be several opportunities to apply for torchbearer spots beginning on November 21, 2008.
The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will begin its 106-day Canadian journey on October 30, 2009. The Flame’s pan-Canadian journey will culminate on February 12, 2010 when it arrives in Vancouver for the Opening Ceremony before a global viewing audience of billions.
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay route will be the longest domestic Torch Relay in Olympic history, stretching over 45,000 kilometres throughout Canada. Upon its conclusion, the Olympic Flame will have been welcomed in over 1,000 communities and passed within a one-hour of more than 90 per cent of the entire Canadian population.
The Government of Canada is a proud supporter of the Olympic Torch Relay helping to bring the Olympic Flame to as many Canadians as possible.
About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit vancouver2010.com for further details on programs and schedules.
About West Vancouver 2010
The District of West Vancouver is an official Venue City for the 2010 Winter Games and the focus of West Vancouver 2010 is to engage residents of all ages – youth, families, seniors, and to support the values inspired by sport, recreation, arts and culture. Cypress Mountain, located in West Vancouver, is the official freestyle skiing and snowboard venue for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Freestyle skiing events include aerials, moguls and ski cross, while snowboard events include half-pipe, parallel giant slalom and snowboard cross.
About West Vancouver
West Vancouver is a seaside community of 44,000 residents, nestled on the lush south-facing slopes of the Coast Mountains on the North Shore of Burrard Inlet, in British Columbia. The community is known for its beaches, mountains, recreation facilities, and cultural activities. West Vancouver combines small-town charm with cosmopolitan amenities in several unique village business areas. The natural setting and proximity to downtown Vancouver completes the desirable setting.
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Media Contact:
Priscilla Sharun
Project Manager
West Vancouver 2010
778-928-5818