NEWS RELEASE
HRM Ready to Shine in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay
(Friday, November 13/09) —In just five days from today, on Wednesday, November 18th, the eyes of the world will turn to our community as the Olympic Flame arrives in Halifax as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada.
“As we prepare to host Canada’s next generation of Olympians next winter for the Canada Games, we are extremely excited to be hosting the Olympic flame,” said Mayor Peter Kelly, Halifax Regional Municipality.
The torch relay will enter the municipality at 10:30 AM in Enfield as part of a convoy of vehicles, which will include torchbearer shuttles, media vehicles, relay support vehicles and police cruisers. Temporary rolling road closures will ensure the safety of the torchbearers and spectators lining the relay route. The crowd will see a new torchbearer carry the flame every 300 metres through the community as it travels on its 45,000-kilometre-long journey across Canada - the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history.
The community celebration will take place in Grande Parade Square in downtown Halifax on Wednesday, November 18th, at approximately 6 PM - Flame arrives around 7 PM.
As part of our community celebration, Sarah Conrad has been named as HRM’s community torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. She will have the honour of lighting the community cauldron during the show.
Conrad, an Olympic snowboarder, was the only Nova Scotian to compete in the 2006 Torino Games, and is recognized as a community role model for her dedication to healthy living.
“Our goal with these celebrations has always been to bring the magic and excitement of the Olympic Spirit home to millions of Canadians no matter where they live and truly make these Canada’s Games,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
The 106-day Olympic Torch Relay will visit more than 1,030 communities and places of interest in every province and territory. On February 12, 2010, the Olympic Flame will make its way to downtown Vancouver to light the Olympic Cauldron in a magical and awe-inspiring moment before a television audience of three billion people worldwide, signaling the kick-off to the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
HRM host communities include Elmsdale, Enfield, Waverley, Cherry Brook, Cole Harbour, Dartmouth, Beechville and Halifax.
For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay visit www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay.
Detailed street-level route details are available on the website.
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 www.vancouver2010.com.
For more information:
Michaelyn Thompson
HRM Corporate Communications
Email: mccormm@halifax.ca
Phone: 902-490-5940
