Executive Council
Tourism, Culture and Recreation
November 10, 2009
Minister to Welcome Olympic Torch Relay
to Newfoundland and Labrador
The Honourable Clyde
Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, on
behalf of the Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of
Newfoundland and Labrador, will welcome the Vancouver
2010 Olympic Torch Relay tomorrow (Wednesday, November
11) as it arrives in Wabush on day 13 of its 106-day
Canadian journey. The Torch Relay will spend the next
five days visiting 42 communities throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador.
�The Olympic Flame is an
international symbol of peace and goodwill, and it is
appropriate that we welcome it to our province on
Remembrance Day,� said Premier Williams. �This national
event is an exciting step on the road to the Olympics,
and as the Flame travels throughout our communities we
will showcase our province to the country and the world.
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians embody the positive
energy that defines the Olympic spirit and we are
excited to welcome the Flame to our province.�
Eight community
celebration events have been planned along the Torch
Relay route. They will be held in Wabush/Labrador City,
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, St. Anthony, St. John�s,
Clarenville, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook and
Channel-Port aux Basques. These regional events will
showcase the province�s history and cultural heritage,
and include various performances by local entertainers.
A provincial Olympic-sized banner is also travelling
with the relay, giving Newfoundlanders and Labradorians
an opportunity to send their best wishes to Canadian
athletes. The signed banners will hang in the Athletes
Village in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. during the
Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
�Over the next five days
we invite all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to come
celebrate and participate in the Olympic Torch Relay
festivities,� said Minister Jackman. �The designated
Celebration Communities are encouraging friends,
relatives and neighbours from surrounding communities to
get involved in this once-in-a-generation experience.�
The Olympic Flame will
travel 3,120 kilometres by land, water and air while in
Newfoundland and Labrador, and involve 330 torchbearers.
More details on the Torch Relay route and the regional
celebrations can be viewed at:
www.gov.nl.ca/2010olympics
The Vancouver 2010
Olympic Torch Relay began in Victoria, British Columbia
on October 30, 2009 before heading to the far north,
becoming the first relay to bring the Olympic Flame
within 900 kilometres of the North Pole through its stop
in Alert. The relay will now head across Newfoundland
and Labrador to historic Cape Spear, before making a
cross-Canada journey west back to Vancouver.
Additional torch relay
media materials, including maps, videos, audio files and
backgrounders are available in the media centre at
www.vancouver2010.com.
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Media contacts:
2009 11 10
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