HAMILTON, ON - December 4, 2009 - In just 15 days from today on December 19, the eyes of the world will turn to our city as the Olympic Flame arrives in Hamilton as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada.
“We all look forward to the arrival of the Olympic Flame in Hamilton on its journey across Canada to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games” said Councillor Russ Powers, co-chair of Hamilton’s Olympic Torch Relay Community Task Force. “On December 19, we’re expecting thousands to turn out for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Olympic Flame in person right here in our city and feel inspired by its universal message of peace and friendship.”
The torch relay will arrive in Hamilton at approximately 6:30 pm as part of a convoy of vehicles, which will include torchbearer shuttles, media vehicles, relay support vehicles and police cruisers. Temporary rolling road closures will ensure the safety of the torchbearers and spectators lining the relay route. The crowd will see a new torchbearer carry the flame every 300 metres through the community as it travels on its 45,000-kilometre-long journey across Canada - the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history.
To celebrate the arrival of the flame, the community is planning a celebration commencing at 5:30 pm starring some of Hamilton’s well known entertainers. Performers include, legendary rocker Tom Wilson; John Ellison best known for his hit song “She’s Some Kind of Wonderful”; local songstress Jude Johnson; the high energy steel pan drums of the Hamilton Youth Steel Orchestra among other entertainment. The public are encouraged to come early to Dundurn Castle and check out activities beginning at 4:00 pm provided by sponsors Coca-Cola and RBC. Dundurn Castle will offer free guided tours from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, and free roaming tours from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm with interpreters stationed throughout the home.
HSR will be providing a non-stop shuttle service to and from Dundurn Castle between 3:30pm and 8:00pm. This special shuttle will depart from the HSR bus stop on the north side of King Street between Hughson and John and go directly to Dundurn Castle. In cooperation with Hamilton Food Share, the shuttle service will be free to all riders who bring a non-perishable canned good to the event. Riders are asked to simply show the canned good to their HSR operator for a free ride to the event. Upon arrival to Dundurn Castle, donors are asked to deposit their canned good in the Food Share box to receive a complimentary ticket for the return trip. The public are strongly encouraged to walk or take the shuttle bus to minimize traffic as there will be no parking permitted on-site and very limited public parking available in the area.
As part of our community celebration, Ron Foxcroft has been named as Hamilton’s community torchbearer. He will have the honour of lighting the community cauldron during Hamilton’s torch relay celebration.
Born in Hamilton, Ron Foxcroft is probably best known as the inventor of the Fox 40 whistle, a "pea-less" whistle, which is now sold in 100 countries throughout the world. He is a strong supporter of the Hamilton Community Foundation and he and his family have established ‘The Foxcroft Family Youth Fund’ which aims to break down social, economic and cultural barriers faced by some young Hamiltonians wishing to participate in sport. Foxcroft is also renowned as a professional basketball referee. His career spanned 35 years and 1600 games in 30 countries – including the 1976 Olympic Gold Medal game – and earned him a place in both the Canadian and the Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame.
Ron Foxcroft and many other Hamiltonians will be running through the city streets carrying the Olympic Flame but being a torchbearer isn’t the only way to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay. Hamilton’s Community Task Force is still in need of volunteers. Volunteers are required to assist with many different celebration tasks including providing information and enthusiasm along the torch relay route. Volunteer forms and information are available at www.hamilton.ca/torchrelay.
“Our goal with these celebrations has always been to bring the magic and excitement of the Olympic Spirit home to millions of Canadians no matter where they live and truly make these Canada’s Games,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
The 106-day Olympic Torch Relay will visit more than 1,030 communities and places of interest in every province and territory. On February 12, 2010, the Olympic Flame will make its way to downtown Vancouver to light the Olympic Cauldron in a magical and awe-inspiring moment before a television audience of three billion people worldwide, signalling the kick off to the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
For more information on Hamilton’s Olympic Torch Relay Community Celebration visit www.hamilton.ca/torchrelay.
For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay visit www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay. Detailed street-level route details will be available on the website approximately two weeks before the Olympic Flame arrives in the community.
About VANOC
The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.
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Hamilton’s Olympic Torch Relay Community Task Force Representative
Coucillor Russ Powers
905-546-2424 extension 2714
Russ.Powers@hamilton.ca
City of Hamilton Staff Representative
Jennifer Kaye
Manager, Arts and Events Section, Culture Division
905-546-2424 extension 4807
Jennifer.Kaye@hamilton.ca