Torch run also igniting Olympic fever across B.C.
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Updated: November 07, 2009 8:23 PM
Last week the Olympic torch began a journey across our country to light the way for the start of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It was thrilling to see and the feel the excitement generated by the crowd waiting at the Legislature in Victoria and all along the streets as the world watched VANOC CEO John Furlong and Darlene Poole lighting the Olympic Caldron.
It has been a long journey to get to where we are today, and we should all be proud of the hard work that has brought the Olympics to our province. The eyes of the world are now upon us as the countdown to the games really starts.
We are already starting to see the seeds of new relationships being built as a product of hosting the games, and with those relationships come great opportunities for future development, partnerships and new ideas about how we all can work together to build a bright future.
The journey to hosting the Olympics began in 1997, when a group of citizens thought that it would be an excellent opportunity for British Columbia to host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. In 1998 Premier Clark and his government supported the ideas along with subsequent premiers and their governments, showing that the benefit of hosting the Olympics here in British Columbia goes beyond partisan lines.
The Olympics are a celebration of excellence, dedication and community. Those values are certainly demonstrated in the athletes competing in the events, but also in the many dedicated Olympic organizers and volunteers that have worked tirelessly to get the Olympic and Paralympic Games to this point. I know that I’m not alone in hoping and believing that the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler will leave Canada with not only its first gold medal from a winter games on Canadian soil but infrastructure and cultural legacies that will live forever.
I am really looking forward to the Olympic torch arriving in Kelowna on the evening of Jan. 25.
A community celebration is to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Flame. Kelowna’s very own Olympic silver medalist Scott Frandsen will run his portion of the 45,000km journey before lighting the community cauldron. The next day, the Olympic torch will continue on its journey.
It is hard to describe how special it is to see each torchbearer as their carry the torch and share their once in a lifetime moment with the crowds that line the streets.
Other torchbearers that will share the inspiring and incredible experience on Jan. 26 will include 16 Okanagan Mission Secondary students and two teachers among many other lucky community members. I
I can’t wait to share the experience of seeing the Olympic torch in Kelowna with everyone.
Steve Thomson is the Liberal MLA for Kelowna-Mission.
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