Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay to connect and inspire Canadians from coast to coast to coast

Relay route to reach 90 per cent of Canadians

Vancouver, BC – Today, Canadians and people from around the globe learned how the Olympic Flame will weave its way across the second largest country in the world, touching millions of citizens from coast to coast to coast, in a historic relay highlighting to the world Canada’s people and places. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay is presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and proudly supported by the Government of Canada. The route is available now at vancouver2010.com.

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay route will be the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history, stretching over 45,000 kilometres within Canada. Upon its conclusion, the Olympic Flame will have been welcomed in over 1,000 communities and passed within a one-hour drive of more than 90 per cent of the Canadian population.

Designed to reach the greatest number of Canadians, the relay will begin the countdown to the XXI Olympic Winter Games, spanning Canada to engage and inspire through the power of the Olympic Flame. On February 12, 2010, the flame’s pan-Canadian journey will culminate as it arrives in Vancouver, lighting the Olympic Cauldron in a dramatic and moving Opening Ceremony before a global audience of billions.  

“The Olympic Torch Relay is a tremendous opportunity to unite the country and make the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games Canada’s Games,” said the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport).  “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring together millions of Canadians, in every province and territory, as we celebrate and welcome the passing of the Olympic Flame. As it makes its way across Canada, it will touch the soul of this great nation and inspire the world.”

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will begin its 106-day Canadian journey in Victoria, British Columbia on October 30, 2009 before heading to the Far North, becoming the first torch relay to bring the Olympic Flame within 900 kilometres of the North Pole through its stop in Alert, Nunavut, the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited community. The relay will then head to North America’s easternmost place, historic Cape Spear in St. John’s, Newfoundland before making a cross-Canada journey west to Vancouver.

“The Olympic Flame is a powerful symbol of the hope, optimism and pride Canadians feel as we count down to hosting the world for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said the Honourable Gordon Campbell, premier of British Columbia. “The relay is an incredible opportunity to showcase the unique character of our nation and our communities, and to unite everyone in cheering on our athletes.”

Next to the Olympic Rings themselves, the Olympic Flame is the most universally recognized symbol of the Games and the Olympic Torch Relay is often the first and most tangible evidence the Games are just months away. Most importantly, the relay provides a powerful, personal opportunity for every Canadian to experience the emotion, excitement and significance of the Olympic Flame as it travels towards the Host Region. 

“The Olympic Torch Relay holds a unique place in people’s hearts. It not only marks the final countdown to the Games, building the excitement and expectation of people across the host nation and world as it winds its way towards the Host City,” said Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee. “It also carries with it a message of peace and hope, transmitting the Olympic Spirit to all who come out and celebrate its journey. We wish the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay well and are sure that by reaching the vast majority of Canadians and by allowing the world to see Canada and its people at their finest that the Vancouver 2010 relay will leave a lasting legacy to Canada and the Olympic Movement as a whole.”

Included in its travels through hundreds of communities from coast to coast to coast, the Olympic Torch Relay will stop twice daily for special noontime and evening festivities to celebrate the diversity of the region, the people and their culture through the power and glow of the Olympic Spirit. Celebration communities have been chosen to allow entire regions to come together and be a part of the Olympic experience.

“Mapping out this route, we wanted to include as many Canadians as possible,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “It is our dream to unite this country and bring Canadians closer together to rediscover the many cultures and perspectives that make up our nation — to celebrate Canada. With Glowing Hearts we will share the Olympic Flame with young and old, northern and southern, eastern and western and everyone in between — no one left out. A truly unifying Canadian celebration.”

On its journey to Vancouver, the Olympic Flame will participate in notable Canadian firsts and will travel to some remarkable and iconic locations, including the Olympic Host Cities of Calgary and Montreal, Aboriginal communities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While the Olympic Flame will be run by torchbearers in populated centres, it will also be transported by many other modes of transportation on its trek across Canada’s vast and beautiful landscapes. The Olympic Flame will travel 1,000 kilometres by water, 18,000 kilometres in the air and 26,000 kilometres on land. Modes of transportation influenced by history and innovation will be highlighted during the cross-country journey. These will be unveiled in the coming months.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us all,” said Tewanee Joseph, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Four Host First Nations. “As a result of our partnerships and in the spirit of unprecedented Aboriginal Participation for the 2010 Winter Games, the Olympic Flame will reach across the country, travel to Aboriginal communities and celebrate the diversity and cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.”

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. The torch, designed and manufactured by Bombardier, and the  torchbearer uniform, designed by Hbc, will be unveiled later this winter.

Extensive additional torch relay media materials, including maps, videos, audio files and backgrounders, are available in the media centre at vancouver2010.com.

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 further details on programs and schedules.

Coca-Cola and the Olympic Movement

The Coca-Cola Company has been associated with the Olympic Games since 1928 and is the longest continuous corporate supporter of the Olympic Movement. Through the Olympic Games, Coca-Cola encourages people to create their own path of "positivity" in everyday life by believing that anything is possible. The Company's sponsorship supports National Olympic Committees in more than 200 countries to help athletes train and compete. The Coca-Cola Company is the exclusive non-alcoholic beverage provider to the Olympic Games through 2020. For more information about Coca-Cola Canada, please visit our website at cocacola.ca or our parent company's website at thecoca-colacompany.com.

RBC

As part of our commitment to helping create a better Canada, RBC sponsors amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local communities to national sport associations that support the development of amateur athletes who compete at home and abroad. Canada’s longest-standing supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team since 1947, RBC continues its sponsorship through the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and is proud to bring the Olympic Spirit to communities across Canada as co-presenting sponsor of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. RBC is also a premier sponsor of Hockey Canada, the Canadian Snowboard Team, the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, Athletics Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Visit rbc.com/sponsorship.

Contact
VANOC Communications
mediarelations@vancouver2010.com