Prime Minister Stephen Harper, accompanied by children, welcomed the Olympic Flame today as the Torch Relay stopped at the Canada Pavilion during its final journey to open the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
“The Olympic Flame has travelled across this great country, from community to community to bring the spirit of the Games to all Canadians,” said the Prime Minister. “The Torch Relay has ignited our passion for sport and our pride for our athletes.”
The Olympic Flame will end its journey at the opening ceremonies at BC Place, where the flame will light the Olympic Cauldron, officially marking the start of the Olympic Winter Games. When the Flame ends its journey, it will have been carried by over 12,000 torch bearers and will have travelled over 45,000 kilometres in 106 days. It will have visited over 1000 communities and come within a one-hour drive of over 90 per cent of the population. Through the torch relay, Canadians have been able to share in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games experience.
The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a chance for Canada to show the world what it means to be Canadian.
The Canada Pavilion is located at the LiveCity site in downtown Vancouver. The Pavilion will open its doors on February 13 at 11 a.m. It will welcome visitors from all over Canada and the world. The Pavilion will give visitors a chance to discover Canadian sporting excellence and golden moments in the history of sport in Canada.
