The Vancouver Olympic Torch has undertaken a 106 day journey across Canada culminating tonight with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron to signal the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and becoming the longest Torch Relay in history, contained within the Host Country. Sebastian Coe and Arnold Schwarzenegger are just two of a number of celebrity torch relay runners who have carried the Olympic Flame in its final week, with popular Canadian singing star Michael Buble appearing as the final runner yesterday.
Sebastian Coe said: “It is a true honour to be given the opportunity to carry the flame on behalf of my team and to experience this celebration. It is a truly inspiring moment for me. Being passed the flame by the Terminator is something to tell the kids about too. The atmosphere around Vancouver is a great insight into the type of celebrations we can expect to see across London and the UK in 2012.”
The torch, which is the Olympic symbol of peace, brotherhood and enlightenment, will continue its journey through Vancouver through the day on its journey to Vancouver’s BC Place, which will host the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Games later this evening.
The Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay has inspired and engaged Canadians from coast to coast to coast, shining a light on the people, places and perspectives that are truly and uniquely Canadian. It has visited over 1,000 communities and places of interest with nearly 200 celebrations hosted by communities in every province and territory.
Photos will be on the London 2012 website soon.
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Notes to editors:
As it heads towards its £2bn budget for staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games, LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are six domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now thirteen domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, Crystal CG, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, GSK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, The Nielsen Company, Populous, Ticketmaster and Trident.
The Worldwide Olympic Partners signed up for London 2012 are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos Origin, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa.
The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay in brief:
• Over 100 days in length.
• Over 1,000 communities and places of interest where torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame.
• Nearly 200 celebrations hosted by communities in every province and territory.
• Approximately 90 per cent of Canada’s population will be within a one-hour drive of experiencing the Olympic Flame.
• Over 45,000 kilometres will be travelled.
• Extensive tour of the North including a visit to Alert, Nunavut, the northernmost permanently inhabited community in the world.
• 12,000 people will have the honour of being an Olympic Torchbearer and will help carry the flame to Vancouver, a majority of whom will be selected through public programs.
• The design of the Torch was inspired by Canada’s open land, vast potential and smooth, fluid lines left in the snow and ice from winter sports.
• Made from stainless steel, aluminium and sheet moulding compound, the Torches are 94.5 centimetres high and weigh 1.6 kilograms.
• Each burns for 12 – 15 minutes.
• The first Olympic Winter Games Torch Relay occurred in 1952 in Oslo, Norway.
The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay began in Canada on October 30, 2009 and will conclude at the Opening Ceremony signalling the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games on February 12, 2010.
