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Olympic torch arrives in Kamloops

Sarah Bruce - Arts & Entertainment Editor

The night had festivities, streams of colours in red and white, cheering sports fans, hockey and a cold nip to it; the only thing Canadian missing was snow.

“For one evening the world is tuned into Kamloops,” the host called from stage moments before the Olympic torch was carried into the stadium.

“These are your games,” his words were met with cheers from the crowd. “Welcome the torch with open and glowing hearts.”

The torch was carried into the stadium by Sen. Nancy Greene, Canada’s Olympic ambassador. She was once named Canada’s women athlete of the century and won gold and silver medals in the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics for alpine skiing.

Greene passed the flame to Mark Recchi, a Kamloops-born hero in the NHL—player for the Boston Bruins, within the stadium who carried it to the stage to light the celebration cauldron.

On stage Recchi was greeted by BC Premiere Gordon Campbell and the Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir and McGowan Park Silent Voices Children's Choir who sang the national anthem in English, French and sign language.

“We’ll win gold medal after gold medal,” Campbell announced. “Go Canada go!”

Celebrators were invited to get their picture with the flame, play a mock game of hockey in a staged tent and record personal messages for Canadian athletes competing prior to the torch’s entrance.

Before arriving in Kamloops the torch came from Revelstoke, travelling through Salmon Arm and Chase for brief festivities. Following the night in Kamloops it will be run north towards Williams Lake and carrying on to northern communities.

The flame was lit in Olympia, Greece on Oct. 22, 2009 and was handed over to VANOC on Oct. 29 before beginning its Canadian journey the following day, the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics website says. The winter 2010 torch run marks the longest domestic relay in history.

Its route will take 106 days and travel 45 thousand kilometers by the time it reaches Vancouver. It reached Kamloops on day 90 of its journey.

The Canadian torch relay is expected to reach over 90 per cent of Canadians within one hour driving distance.

“Our goal has always been to engage and inspire Canadians in their communities and provide maximum opportunity for them to experience the Olympic Flame,” the website says. “The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will focus its time within Canada’s borders.”

On Friday Feb. 12, the Olympics Opening Ceremony will be shown in the Clock Tower Alumni Theatre at 5pm.