The Games Begin Feb 9 in Venue City Richmond, With Arrival of Olympic Flame
21 January 2010
For most of the world, the 2010 Olympic Winter Games begins February 12. Around City Hall and the community centres in Richmond, the Games actually start in the late afternoon on Tuesday, February 9, when the Olympic Flame is driven through the George Massey Tunnel in a convoy of vehicles and lands on this island city’s sandy soil.
“For Richmond, the Games essentially begin February 9,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “Everywhere you look, the anticipation and excitement is building. We’re expecting thousands to turn out for this emotional, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to the see the Olympic Flame in person and celebrate in our City.” Richmond is a Venue City and home of the Richmond Olympic Oval, a signature venue of the 2010 Winter Games, as well as home to the Richmond O Zone, an official celebration site.
Once in Richmond, the convoy of vehicles, which include torchbearer shuttles, media vehicles, relay support vehicles and police cruisers, will follow the first of more than 70 Richmond torchbearers as he or she steps out on a 21-kilometre route through the city.
Temporary rolling road closures will ensure the safety of the torchbearers and spectators lining the relay route. The crowd will see a new torchbearer carry the flame every 300 metres through the community, and celebrate with their neighbours at brief celebrations scheduled for South Arm, Steveston, West Richmond and Thompson Community Centres.
The final stage of the torch’s journey through Richmond brings it into Minoru Park and onto the Richmond O Zone main stage, in the midst of two-hour Torch Relay Community Celebration from 7 to 9 p.m. The show includes entertainment from the popular Delhi 2 Dublin, Richmond favourite Shanna Lynn, Danielle Hebert, Freshh and the Richmond Chorus from the Richmond Orchestra and Chorus Association. Roving entertainers, including stilt walkers, magicians, jugglers, a Chinese dragon and Taiko drummers will also engage the crowd. The evening culminates with fireworks at 9 p.m. O Zone gates (at Minoru Park) open at 5 p.m.
“Our goal with these celebrations has always been to bring the magic and excitement of the Olympic Spirit home to millions of Canadians no matter where they live and truly make these Canada’s Games,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
By February 9, the 106-day, 44,000 km Olympic Torch Relay will have visited more than 1,030 communities and places of interest in every province and territory. From Richmond, the torch travels to the North Shore, then spends two days travelling through Vancouver. On February 12, it will enter BC Place during the Opening Ceremony, and with the lighting of the Games cauldron, will signal the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Street-level route details will be available on the city’s website approximately one week before the Olympic Flame arrives in Richmond. For more information on the Torch Relay Community Celebration in Richmond, visit www.richmond.ca >discover richmond>2010 Winter Games. For more information on the Richmond O Zone, visit www.richmondozone.ca and for information on the celebrations planned at the community centres, contact them directly. For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, visit www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay.
