TORCH RELAY CELEBRATIONS
Posted 20 days ago
Leamington is gearing up to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic torch.
The municipality is thrilled to be chosen as one of the Olympic Torch Relay Celebration sites and is planning to mark its arrival in style.
The two-hour festivities will take place in the cordoned off parking lot of the Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex on Dec. 23 and will feature one-hour of local entertainment organized by a local committee, while the VANOC Committee will co-ordinate the other hour.
Brenda Fischer, task force chair, said the local hour will include local entertainment, the Stewie Tomato Family and a video entitled "Leamington Live", highlighting life in the municipality.
"As a route community on the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay we have a unique opportunity to leave an enduring and profound legacy that will continue well after the flame is extinguished in 2010, and create a legacy of friendship, inspiration and community pride," said Fischer. "Leamington's participation in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will certainly stand out as a memory to last a lifetime for us," she added.
Fischer said the excitement is building as several local torchbearers are hearing from RBC and Coca-Cola that they have been chosen to carry the torch locally.
She said one very special local person will be given the honor of running the torch into the celebration and lighting the official Olympic cauldron. Fischer said VANOC has not announced yet who will be given that honor.
While the time of the torch's arrival has not been verified yet, Fischer said she does know that the torch will make its way from Chatham on Dec. 23 to the complex, following the festivities, the torch will make its way to Point Pelee National Park. The remainder of the route will be announced in the near future by VANOC.
Fischer said she hopes residents from throughout Leamington and the surrounding area take part in the festivities.
"It's my hope that everyone will come out to view the torch relay celebration," added Mayor John Adams. "This will be our opportunity to showcase Leamington to Canada and the world--let's all be part of it!"
Leamington is one of more than 1,000 Canadian communities that will host the Olympic flame as it travels from coast to coast in the 106 days leading up to the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
The arrival here in Leamington is day 55 of the journey.
The Olympic flame has long been a symbol of peace, friendship and unity and is an extraordinary opportunity to unify not only our community but all Canadians, said Fischer, generating tremendous pride in our country.
