(ATR) The Olympic Flame for the 2010 Games is on its way to Canada from Athens, Greece.
Following a sundown ceremony in the Panathenaic Stadium, Vancouver 2010 CEO John Furlong carried miners lamps with the flame and its backups to a Canadian Forces Airbus at the Athens airport.
British Columbia capital city Victoria is the next stop, arrival scheduled for 7:15 am Pacific time.
The 45,000km cross-Canada relay begins when the first torchbearer departs the British Columbia Legislature grounds at 10:40 a.m.
“Today we accept the Olympic flame with humility, with respect and with joy,” Furlong said in a speech at the marbled stadium, home of the 1896 Olympics.
“This moment marks the beginning of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic torch relay,” said Furlong.
Greek president Karolos Papoulias and Canadian Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean were among the dignitaries who watched Canadian-born Greek figure skater Nikki Georgiadis carry the torch into the stadium. She was the final runner for a 2200 km Greek relay that began Oct. 22 at the flame-lighting ceremony in Ancient Olympia.
“We’re giving you the Olympic light to take it to your beautiful country so you can follow and lead the way to Vancouver,” said Hellenic Olympic Committee president Spyros Capralos.
“We trust you as a part of our history, as a part of our culture.”
Georgiadis lit a cauldron at the center of the stadium and extinguished her torch. High priestess Maria Naflpliotou lit another torch which was passed to Capralos and finally Furlong. Furlong transferred the flame to the miner’s lamp.
The longestdomestic relay in Winter Olympic history reaches all 10 provinces, three territories and three coasts before it winds up at B.C. Place Stadium for the Feb. 12 opening ceremony.
The flame will be carried by 12,000 torchbearers, 8,500 of them chosen by co-sponsors Coca-Cola and Royal Bank of Canada.
“Together they represent the makeup of Canadian society, a diverse and multicultural mosaic of young and old, athletes and artists, innovators and thought leaders, achievers and dreamers,” Furlong said.
Day One Takes Shape
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be on hand to greeti the Olympic flame upon its Victoria arrival Oct. 30.
After a tarmac ceremony, the flame will be transported to downtown Victoria. First Nations canoeists will row the miner’s lamp across the Inner Harbour at 9:20 a.m.
The torch will be lit and the first bearer will depart at 10:40 a.m. Opening day stops include suburbs Esquimalt, View Royal, Sidney, North Saanich, Central Saanich, Saanich, University of Victoria and Oak Bay.
Only a visit to the Canadian Navy base at Esquimalt is close to the public. The day’s highlight is expected to be a 3:45 p.m. appearance at Elk Lake where it will be rowed by members of Canada’s Beijing 2008 gold medal crew.
Protesters are threatening to disrupt the relay on its first day. Members of No 2010 Victoria are hosting an anti-Olympics festival in Centennial Square followed by a zombie march, timed for the start of the relay on Halloween eve.
With reporting from Bob Mackin in Vancouver.
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