OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today welcomed the Olympic Flame to Parliament Hill as thousands gathered to celebrate the passage of the Olympic Torch Relay through the National Capital Region. He was joined by Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Michael Chambers, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee, and from the National Capital Commission, Russell Mills, Chair of the Board and Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer.
“I am proud to welcome the Olympic Flame to the National Capital Region,” said the Prime Minister. “The Olympic Torch Relay began its epic journey 44 days ago in Victoria. For the next 62 days it will continue to travel from coast to coast to coast, showcasing our people, our lands, our athletes, our communities and our Canadian spirit.”
The Parliament Hill celebration featured appearances by Canadian Olympians Steve Podborski, Nathalie Lambert and Joé Juneau, who was the final torchbearer on Parliament Hill. The event also showcased performances by Canadian artists Gregory Charles, Asani and Tom Cochrane as well as the annual lighting ceremony of Christmas Lights Across Canada. This year, the Christmas Lights Across Canada program is celebrating its 25th anniversary with more than 350,000 LED lights.
“As the Olympic Flame makes its way across our great country, it is emblematic of the spirit of the Games,” said Prime Minister Harper. “It embodies the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. Those values resonate deeply with our national character.”
On February 12, 2010, the Olympic Flame will make its way to downtown Vancouver to light the Olympic Cauldron before a television audience of 3 billion people worldwide, signalling the start of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Canadians across the country are taking part in the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays to celebrate the arrival of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 106-day Olympic Torch Relay will visit more than 1,000 communities and places of interest in every province and territory.
For more information on the Government of Canada’s support for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay or the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games visit http://www.Canada2010.gc.ca .
For more information on Christmas Lights Across Canada, visit
http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca.
