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Torch Relay - Vancouver Island
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by B. Zelley | October 30, 2009 at 06:22 am
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The torch relay and Olympic Torch ceremonies begin at the Victoria International Airportand will wind it's way to the legislative buildings in Victoria for a ceremony and then the torch relay will head North to various cities such as Nanaimo and Campbell River before leaving the Island to head for the Queen Charlottes.
As expected there will be various anti-Olympics groups ready for a variety of anti=Olympic celebrations and protest.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (11)
at 06:40 on October 30th, 2009
Part of the celebration of the Olympic Torch even will feature participation in the relay of various former or current elite athletes and politicians and assorted VIP's. but as is expected the bulk of the work will be done by the unsung regular folks who will be running in the torch relay throughout Vancouver Island.
Also part of the celebration will be played out by the First Nations of Vancouver Island including the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations.
It is unknown what effect the various protest group will have, but they are unlikely to play a significant role in the process and celebration. However, it is expected that there will be an important police role to ensure security for the celebrations and to minimize any safety risks for the volunteers participating in the torch relay from Victoria to Campbell River.
For Greater Victorian, the events of 2009 take us back fifteen years and the 1994 Commonwealth Games held in various locations in Victoria and surrounding Municipalities. Aside from the sporting activity, for regular folks it was a great time to take-in the free events and activity in the downtown core with music and other forms of entertainment.
at 07:06 on October 30th, 2009
OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY 2009 vs COMMONWEALTH GAMES 1994
What a difference 15 years make, of the activity and excitement is still the same.
However, for many Victorians, the big difference is the actual Commonwealth Games were staged in Greater Victoria and required much planning and organization in preparing sites and sports volunteers.
In early 1989, I became one of the members of the Boxing Committee, and in 1991 I served as a temporary chairman of the committee which proved to be interesting as the various sports committee chairs formed part of the Sports Committee of the Greater Victoria Commonwealth Games Society, This enabled one to see how the various pieces of the organization puzzle were being put together despite some delays and disappointments. Four of the original boxing committee members were:
Hassan Sunderani, Brian Zelley, Mike Sartori and Glynn Jones (Boxing BC rep.).
One of the important decisions made and presented to interested volunteers was to re-establish the old Greater Victoria Amateur Boxing Association that was an important part of sports in the Fifties.
at 07:32 on October 30th, 2009
Like the Commonwealth Games of 1994, the Winter Olympic Games of 2010 is no different when it comes time for the main stream news media to spin the stories:
1. Focus on the elites such as political leaders, elite athletes,has been elites, and the other members of the "inner circle" of "VIP ' s", and
2 Focus on the so-called scary stories such as protest groups.
If any lessons have been learned from the protests of the Sixties, most protest groups are full of good intentions for the greater good of society, and concern for the non-elites, the poor, the homeless, and the regular folks.
For those of us that fully support the Olympic Games, we welcome the buzz, and we welcome reasonable levels of security, but can do without the scary stories and recall those welcome words of the past "give peace a chance" and let the games process begin with room for the protest groups to have their day in the sun!?
at 07:43 on October 30th, 2009
I just heard the torch is running about 75 minutes late, but the ceremonies will start on time.
at 10:09 on October 30th, 2009
It appears the torch is now in downtown Victoria.
As of now the flame is lit at the Legislative Building.
A fast moving jet just flew over my house heading in the direction of the Legislative Buildings.
at 01:57 on October 31st, 2009
Managed to catch part of the parade along Fairfield Road by Thrifty Foods with police vehicles, vehicles carrying some of the runners and others. That was about 6:45 pm.
Interesting watching the helicopter circle round and round as part of the Security.
at 09:51 on October 31st, 2009
Nice post to start the Olympic movement, thanks.
at 13:49 on October 31st, 2009
Torch coverage continues on the TV screen and in the pages of the local newspapers.The Victoria baed "Times Colonist: on Saturday October 31, 2009 had front page coverage with the bold headlines "OUR BLAZE OF GLORY" and six pages of coverage.
Appearing on th front page were Olympic athletes Simon Whitfield and Cateriona Le May Doen, First Nations Chiefs, and others including the Premier of British Columbia.
Inside coverage had stories and pictured with ome eye catching headlines such as:
"Fkane burns bright on relay's debut" and "A Day Of Soaring Spirits:,,
For balance even the protest groups received a slice of the pie with an interesting few words "Protest cuts short Rockland relay leg" and the big important issue re. security "Guardians give Flame VIP security".
at 16:07 on November 1st, 2009
DAY 2 - SOOKE to NANAIMO
Along the road from Sooke, BC to Nanaimo, BC on Vancouver Island,runners were greeted by raindrops, singing, folks in Halloween costumes, local politicians, and the odd protestors that tried to steal the show.
The runners came in all shapes and sizes, ages an ethnic backgrounds including 72 year old EVAN FAGAN while GORDON PLANES carried the torch to the T'Sou-ke Nation for a flame-blessing ceremony.Throughout day 2, there were many runners and many stories to tell about slices of the event and the many runners that rn every inch, foot, yard and mile.
at 16:25 on November 1st, 2009
Day 3: NANAIMO to UCLUELET & TOFINO and the WEST COAST TRAIL
/Day 3 - The relay run is on in the "Hub City" also known as the "Bathtub Capital" or home to the historic Bastion. From Nanaimo the runners will fo north and west through Nanoose, Parksville, Coombs, Port Alberni, to Ucluelet and then to Tofino.
Local ceremonies and action in Port Alberni will take place at the Bob Daily Stadium. slos yhere wi;; be community activity at the Pacific Rim National Park and then to Tofino community celebrations at Campbell Street's Village Green.
A group connected to the Nanaimo celebrations have a group site on face book while some folks against the Olympics have voiced their opinions on a Nanaimo Information site but the major complaint is the use of Government funding for the Olympics. For those that complain about cost, they have the right to comment, but in my opinion they are only looking 180 when they should be looking 360 degrees for the big and long term picture.
at 21:21 on November 1st, 2009
An interesting article in Nanaimo News:
http://digg.com/olympics/Olympics_Torch_Relay
Also, checking out some Nanaimo sites indicates there were a lot of good times had by many, but there are still those complaining about the spending of tax $$$ on the event and some other groups or organization getting a fair share of our "tax pie", maybe some individuals should try a heavy slice of "humble pie" and focus on the positives.