The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, which starts October 30, 2009, will be visiting more than 1,030 communities from coast to coast to coast across Canada before it finishes its 106-day, 45,000 kilometre journey in downtown Vancouver February 12, 2010 when the Olympic Flame will light the Olympic Cauldron during the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Games.
It will be the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history with 12,000 torchbearers carrying the flame by almost 100 alternative transportation modes, including dogsled, Haida canoe, chuck wagon, seaplane, ice resurfacer and double-decker bus.
About 200 torch relay celebration communities will celebrate the arrival of the relay with skydivers parachuting in from above, top regional musical performers, giant puppets, a “dazzling” light show, foot stomping Acadian fiddling, towering snow and ice sculptures, a huge tepee, and even a kazoo band.
John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver 2010 said in a press release, “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. Our celebration communities are so excited to welcome the Olympic Flame and they’ve planned some truly memorable and inspirational entertainment for the crowds”.
One of the most anticipated announcements in each community hosting a celebration will be the naming of the community torchbearer which will have been nominated by fellow members of their own city, town or village as the person who best exemplifies his or her civic pride and the Olympic Spirit.
The torchbearers name will remain a closely guarded secret in some communities until the celebration begins and will have the task of lighting a cauldron on stage during the festivities. The cauldron is white, curved, and stands 1.3 metres high, complimenting the look of the Olympic Torch.
Torchbearers, accompanied by escort runners and Aboriginal flame attendants, will approach the celebration site and the flame will then be passed to the community torchbearer who will light the celebration cauldron in what is expected to be one of the most highly anticipated moments of the day.
