Vancouver Welcomes the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

The paralympic torch relay, celebrating the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games,  arrived in Vancouver yesterday.  It had started from Ottawa March 3 and made its way across Canada with approximately 600 torch bearers.

The theme of the Paralympic torch relay is “spark becomes flame…that fires the imagination of anyone, anywhere and anytime.”   When it arrived in Vancouver on Wednesday, it was lit at the Tsleil-Waututh band office in North Vancouver, then transported in a lantern to Riley Park where a relay started with 22 torchbearers that carried the flame around a 400 meter circuit around the park. It was a family affair with music, circus performers and face painting.

The torch was then transported to the Musqueam reserve where the flame was lit for it’s final time, transported to the university of BC and carried around a 1.1 kilometre loop near the Student Union building.  Then the torch was taken to the GE Ice Plaza at Robson Square for the start of a 24 hour relay along a two-kilometre circuit on Robson and Smithe streets where about 280 torchbearers took part.  Vancouver Canucks captain Roberto Luongo lit the celebration cauldron and former mayor Sam Sullivan carried the torch by wheelchair.

Today the torch was carried through a heavy, cold downpour of rain.  A crowd of fans and supporters greeted it at Robson Square for a second lighting of the cauldron. There was entertainment, some of it by a group of paralympic performers and there was a sledge hockey demonstration on the GI Ice Plaza.  After the celebration, the torch resumed it final run to the BC Place stadium where the opening ceremonies will take place later in the day.

The zipline above Robson Square reopened this morning.  LiveCity Downtown(Georgia Street at Beatty) will be opening March 13, 24 and 18 to the 21 from 1 pm - 9 pm.  It will feature giant screens and live performers on stage.  The Canada Pavilion will be open during the Games.

Robson Square and the GE Ice Plaza (Robson Street between Hornby and Howe streets) will be a central gathering place for celebrating the Games, featuring ice skating, athletic demonstrations, family events and BC focused programming.  Ice skating is free at the GE Ice Plaza as well as for public events.

PHOTOS by W. Ruth Kozak