The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games Torch Run Begins

The torch relay for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games began Wednesday in Ottawa, Ontario.  The flame was ignited on Ottawa’s Victoria Island by Aboriginal fire keepers of two Algonquin bands. Arnold Boldt of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan paraded the flame into the House of commons to a standing ovation by the Members of Parliament.  Boldt is a three times gold medal winner in track and field from the 1976 Paralympic Games in Toronto.

More than 600 torchbearers will carry the flame to Vancouver for the start of the Games on March 12.  The flame arrives in British Columbia on it’s route to Vancouver starting at Esquimalt/Victoria 10 am Saturday, March 6 at the Archie Browning Sports Centre then it travels  to Squamish, 1 pm Sunday. At 3 pm Monday it arrives at Whistler, host mountain resort of the Games.  Then it’s on to Lytton at 10 am Tuesday, Hope Memorial Park, 4 pm Tuesday, and arrives in Vancouver at Riley Park Community Centre, near the Vancouver Paralympic Centre, home to wheelchair curling competitons, at 11 am Wednesday.  Later that day, 6.30 pm it goes to Maple Ridge Spirit Square, then on to Vancouver for a celebration outside the Student Union Building near UBC Thunderbird Arena, home to ice sledge hockey, at 11 am. March 11  A 24 hour event starts around Robson Square as the Paralympic Flame is carried and passed between torchbearers prior to the opening ceremony of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games at BC Place, starting 2 pm March 11 to 12 pm. March 12. The cauldron by the Convention Centre, Canada Place will be relit for the Paralympic Games.

Former Mayor Sam Sullivan is Canada’s Ambassador to the 2010 Paralympic winter Games which will run from March 12 to 21.  Sullivan became a quadriplegic at the age of 19 after a skiing accident.  He was Mayor of Vancouver from 2005, succeeded by current Mayor Gregory Robertson.  Sullivan accepted the flag for Vancouver at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin.  He’s a recipient of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest honour.

The Paralympics features athletes with physical disabilities. The Games are smaller, but jst as compteitive on the playing field as the Olympics. About 600 torchbearers will carry the flame in curved steel blue torches across Canada.   About 1,000 athletes and officials from more than 40 countries will participate in five sports – alpine and cross-country skiing, ice sledge hockey, wheelchair curling and biathlon. Canada will be reprsented by a team of 55 athletes and 55 support staff. 

VANCOUVER 2010 PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES

March 12 to March 21

Events will be held in Whistler and Vancouver.

PHOTO by W. Ruth Kozak