2009 News and Information
Olympic Flame in Richmond Feb. 9
28 October 2009The Olympic flame will light up Richmond on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, just three days before the end of a 45,000 km cross-country journey that begins Friday in Victoria and culminates with the lighting of the cauldron in BC Place during the Opening Ceremony on February 12.
Richmond, Venue City of the 2010 Winter Games, is where the world’s best speed skaters will compete for gold at the award-winning Richmond Olympic Oval.
“Richmond is honoured to be a stop on this historic relay,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “We congratulate all the communities across Canada welcoming the torch over the next few months as it makes it way to our city, and wish each an exciting and successful celebration.”
The torch arrives in Richmond in late afternoon of February 9 and winds its way through the island city, carried by up to 70 torch bearers, including many residents, into the Richmond O Zone, the city’s official 2010 Celebration Site located in Minoru Park. There, on the main stage, the torch’s travelling cauldron will be lit in the midst of a two-hour, free community celebration. The 21-km route through Richmond will be revealed closer to the event, so residents can line up along the streets to cheer on their torch-bearing neighbours and friends. The identity of the final torch bearer will remain secret until his or her appearance with the torch at the celebration site.
The Torch Relay Community Celebration also gives residents a sneak peak at the O Zone, the 17-day festival of the Games in Richmond with top Canadian, international and local live entertainment, a 42-metre screen broadcasting Games events, activities including outdoor ice skating, exhibits and Holland Heineken House. The Richmond O Zone officially opens February 12.
The Olympic torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, the site of the ancient Games, on October 22, by using sunlight focused on a metal reflector to create a flame in a ritual that is more than 2,000 years old. It was run 2,180 km through Greece from Olympia to Athens, before boarding a jet bound for Victoria. The flame was kept in a lantern enroute to Canada.
From Victoria, the Olympic flame will chart its way across the country and back, visiting more than 1,030 communities in Canada and carried by 12,000 torchbearers, before arriving in Richmond. For more information, visit the city's website, www.richmond.ca.
