For Immediate Release
Mar. 31, 2009, 09:30 a.m.
Kingston A "Celebration" Site In Olympic Torch Relay
Apply To Become An Olympic Torchbearer During Relay In December
Kingston has been designated a "Celebration Site" on the Olympic Torch Relay route to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. That means that the Olympic Torch doesn't simply pass through the city, but will stop here to help rally Kingston's Olympic spirit.
The Olympic Torch Relay comes through Kingston en route to the Olympics on Dec. 14, 2009, on day 46 of the 100-day relay which will zig-zag across Canada over 45,000 km and involve 12,000 Canadians. The relay will end, of course, at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010, when the Olympic Flame is lit to mark the beginning of the games.
"What a privilege it would be to carry the Olympic Torch. I hope that Kingstonians will apply to carry the torch in Kingston and make a dream reality!!" says Dorothy Hector, City Councilor and Olympic Torch-enthusiast.
Residents of all abilities interested in becoming torchbearers - to have the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch for 300m - can log on to one of the Relay's sponsor's sites and enter their names. The Relay is being co-sponsored by RBC (www.carrythetorch.com) and Coca Cola (www.icoke.ca) and both companies are running separate contests to allow people to become eligible to become torchbearers and/or either offer their commitment toward improving lives in Canada (RBC) or describe how they "Live Olympic" (Coca Cola).
While residents can check the contests' sites for rules and other details, interested Kingstonians should know both contests also have upcoming deadlines:
- On April 17, RBC will draw 2010 names from eligible entrants who made submissions before midnight on April 12.
- Coca Cola will randomly select 6760 nominees from submitted sweepstake entries in May. These nominees will be asked to participate in the next step of the nomination process.
"Kingston is proud of its connection to previous Olympic Games and with the winter games of 2010 quickly approaching, the time for our city's participation has come. I encourage all citizens who ever dreamed of participating in an Olympic Torch Relay to submit their application online at www.vancouver2010.com. We want to have people from Kingston carrying the torch into and out of our historic community, this December. The only way we can help ensure this is by having Kingstonians register at the official website. Sign up early and often! A few minutes on-line may create a memory to last a lifetime!" says Mayor Harvey Rosen.
Many Kingstonians will remember that Portsmouth Olympic Harbour was built to host the 1976 sailing competitions for the Montreal Summer Olympics. The venue continues to host the Canadian Olympic Training Regattas (CORK) every year. Lake Ontario waters off Kingston offer some of the best fresh-water sailing in the world.
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Media contact information:
Cindie Ashton, Communications Officer (613) 546-4291, ext. 3116 (cell 613-329-3462);
The City of Kingston's media hotline is 613-546-4291, ext. 2300.
