Paralympic Torch Relay to pass through Whistler

November 17, 2009: Whistler, BC – Three days after the Olympic Flame is extinguished the Paralympic Torch Relay begins a 10 day journey that includes a stop in Whistler on March 8.

When the Paralympic Flame arrives in Whistler, it will ignite a boisterous community celebration, which will showcase the extraordinary achievements of local Paralympians and community members.

“As Whistler prepares to host the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, we look forward to this milestone and invite the community to celebrate our Paralympians and their achievements,” said Mayor Ken Melamed.

The relay, supported by the Government of Canada, focuses on amazing stories of courage and perseverance rather than geography. The 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay will start with a special Aboriginal-themed lighting ceremony in Ottawa and will involve approximately 600 torchbearers. The relay will visit 11 celebration sites before arriving at BC Place in Vancouver for the opening of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games on March 12.

The torch's path is as follows: Ottawa, (March 3), Quebec City (March 4), a yet to be named community in Central Canada (March 5), Victoria (March 6), Esquimalt and Squamish (March 7), Whistler (March 8), Lytton and Hope (March 9), Maple Ridge (March 10), and Vancouver (March 11 and 12).

The Flame won't pass through all regions of Canada but torchbearers representing each province and territory will participate in the Ottawa lighting ceremony before serving as ambassadors in their local communities.

The Games kick off in March, 2010, and will see upwards of 1,000 athletes from more than 40 countries compete in five sports (alpine and cross-country skiing, ice sledge hockey, wheelchair curling and biathlon). The big international sporting event comes just 12 days after the region hosts the Olympic Winter Games.

For Whistler, the Paralympic Torch Relay serves as a milestone in the journey toward accessibility. Approximately 90 per cent of the Paralympics will take place in the Sea to Sky Corridor, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and biathlon. As a result, “access for all” has become a mantra for many in Whistler as the community prepares for its role as Host Mountain Resort for the 2010 Paralympics Winter Games.

“The arrival of the torch serves as a milestone and I am looking forward to seeing hometown heroes on the world stage,” said Chelsey Walker, Whistler Adaptive Sports Program executive director. “The torch represents the Paralympic ideal of inspiring and exciting the world, I hope that Whistler will be ignited with an even greater Paralympic spirit in March.”

The 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay will be presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada. For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay, visit www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay.

About the Resort Municipality of Whistler
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is the local government in Whistler governed by an elected Council, and administered by an executive team and staff on behalf of 10,000 residents and 2 million annual visitors.

It includes the following community service departments: Environmental Services – planning, development and operations of utilities; Resort Experience – planning, development and operation of village, parks, sports facilities; Community Life – planning, building services, recreation, bylaws, RCMP, Fire Rescue; Economic Viability – fiscal planning and financial services; Policy and Program Development – legislative services and Whistler2020; and the 2010 Games Office.

Whistler is proud to be Host Mountain Resort for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It will be the site of the alpine, Nordic, and sliding events for the Games as well as the Whistler Live! Program featuring daily entertainment, nightly medals ceremonies, and the closing ceremony for the Paralympic Winter Games.

Whistler's vision is to be the premier mountain resort community as it moves toward sustainability.

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Media contact:

Julia Waring
Communications Officer
Resort Municipality of Whistler
TEL: 604-935-8138
EMAIL: jwaring@whistler.ca
WEBSITE: www.whistler.ca