Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay to reach 54 communities in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotians can apply to be torchbearers through Coca-Cola and RBC
    programsHALIFAX, Nov. 21 /CNW/ - Nova Scotians will greet the Olympic Flame with
"Ciad Mile Failte" (Gaelic for a hundred thousand welcomes) when the torch
relay for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games reaches Cape Breton Island
on Day 18 of its 106-day Canadian journey. The national event will spend five
days in the province, involve 520 torchbearers and visit 54 communities - six
of them Aboriginal. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay is presented by
Coca-Cola and RBC and proudly supported by the Government of Canada. The 2010
Olympic Torch Relay route is available at vancouver2010.com. Information on
how Nova Scotians can apply to be torchbearers can be found at iCoke.ca,
sogoactive.com or rbc.com/carrythetorch.
    The Olympic Flame, which arrives in North Sydney by ferry from
Newfoundland on November 16, 2009, will travel 1,390 kilometres by land and
sea and will be within a one-hour drive of 93 per cent of the province's
population. The torch relay will travel to such places as Windsor, which has
long laid claim to being the birthplace of hockey, Fort Anne National Historic
Site in Annapolis Royal, as well as the capital Halifax as it makes its way
down the centre of the province and takes part in seven community
celebrations.
    "The Olympic Torch Relay is a tremendous opportunity to unite the country
and make the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games Canada's Games," said the Honourable
Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport). "This is a once-in-a-generation
opportunity to bring together millions of Canadians, in every province and
territory, as we celebrate and welcome the passing of the Olympic Flame. As it
makes its way across Canada, it will touch the soul of this great nation and
inspire the world."
    Nova Scotians interested in applying for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to carry the Olympic Flame can apply at iCoke.ca, sogoactive.com or
rbc.com/carrythetorch. Canadians who commit to live more active lives or are
inspired to create a better Canada could win the chance to carry the flame
through 2010 Olympic Torchbearer programs run by Coca-Cola and RBC. Coca-Cola
and RBC, the relay's presenting partners, have the exclusive rights for the
public to enter the Olympic Torchbearer program. There will be several
opportunities to apply for torchbearer spots beginning today.
    "Bringing the Olympic Torch across our province is a significant way for
Nova Scotians to be a part of this world-class event," said the Honourable
Rodney MacDonald, Premier of Nova Scotia. "As the Olympic Flame lights the
path for athletes and their coaches making their way to the Games, it will
also provide the opportunity to showcase our province on the international
stage and give all Nova Scotians the chance to stand proud and celebrate our
role in the Olympic Games."
    The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will begin in Victoria, British Columbia on
October 30, 2009 before heading to the Far North, becoming the first relay to
bring the Olympic Flame within 900 kilometres of the North Pole through its
stop in Alert. The relay will then head to North America's easternmost tip,
historic Cape Spear in St. John's, Newfoundland before making a cross-Canada
journey west to Vancouver.
    Designed to reach the greatest number of Canadians, the relay will begin
the countdown to the XXI Olympic Winter Games, spanning Canada to engage and
inspire through the power of the Olympic Flame.
    "When designing this route, we wanted to include as many Canadians as
possible," said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Organizing
Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). "It is our
hope and dream to unite this country and bring Canadians closer together to
discover the many cultures and perspectives that make up our nation. We will
share the Olympic Flame with young and old, northern and southern, eastern and
western - and everyone in between - in order to make these truly Canada's
Games and ones where everyone can celebrate with glowing hearts."
    The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay route will be the longest domestic
torch relay in Olympic history, stretching 45,000 kilometres within Canada.
Upon its conclusion, the Olympic Flame will have been welcomed in 1,020
communities and places of interest or passed within a one-hour drive from
nearby cities and towns, making it accessible to more than 90 per cent of the
Canadian population.
    The Government of Canada is a major contributor to the Olympic Torch
Relay helping to bring the Olympic Flame to as many Canadians as possible. The
torch, designed and manufactured by Bombardier, and the torchbearer uniform,
designed by Hbc, will be unveiled later this winter.
    Extensive additional torch relay media materials, including maps, videos,
audio files and backgrounders are available in the media centre at
vancouver2010.com.

    About VANOC

    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 vancouver2010.com for further
details on programs and schedules.

    Coca-Cola and the Olympic Movement

    The Coca-Cola Co. has been associated with the Olympic Games since 1928
and is the longest continuous corporate supporter of the Olympic Movement.
Through the Olympic Games, Coca-Cola encourages people to create their own
path of "positivity" in everyday life by believing that anything is possible.
The company's sponsorship supports national Olympic committees in more than
200 countries to help athletes train and compete. The Coca-Cola Co. is the
exclusive non-alcoholic beverage provider to the Olympic Games through 2020.
For information on Coca-Cola's Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torchbearer programs go
to icoke.ca or sogoactive.com.

    RBC and Amateur Sport

    As part of our commitment to helping create a better Canada, RBC sponsors
amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local communities to national sport
associations that support the development of amateur athletes who compete at
home and abroad. Canada's longest-standing supporter of the Canadian Olympic
Team since 1947, RBC continues its sponsorship through the Vancouver 2010
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and is proud to bring the Olympic Spirit
to communities across Canada as co-presenting sponsor of the Vancouver 2010
Olympic Torch Relay. RBC is also a premier sponsor of Hockey Canada, the
Canadian Snowboard Team, the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, Athletics Canada and
the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Visit rbc.com/sponsorship.

For further information: Media Contacts: Kirsten Mihailides, Coca-Cola,
Manager, Public Affairs & Communications, [phone],
[e-mail]; Chethan Lakshman, RBC, Director, Corporate
Communications, [phone], [e-mail]; Sue McKeage,
Communication Director, Health Promotion and Protection, [phone],
[e-mail]; Sean O'Leary, Office of the Minister of State (Sport),
Government of Canada, [phone]; Katie Green, VANOC Communications, (604)
403-2473, [e-mail]; Sebastien Theberge, VANOC
Communications, [phone], [e-mail]