Vancouver and Beyond

Vancouver, BC — Three powerful words known to all Canadians will be forever linked with Olympic and Paralympic athletic achievement, with the 2010 Winter Games and with Canada. With Glowing Hearts was announced today as the motto for the 2010 Winter Games by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
“With Glowing Hearts is connected and familiar to all Canadians through our anthem ‘O Canada’ and it also embodies what it takes to be an Olympic or Paralympic athlete,” said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer. “It embodies the emotions every athlete will feel — no matter where they are from or what flag they stand under — when they have the honour to represent their own country on the world’s grandest international stage in 2010.”
“With Glowing Hearts captures in a few simple, time-honoured words what it means to be Canadian, the deep pride we have in our country and who we are. It’s our hope that Canadians will see themselves in these words. They reflect our personality, our values as a country and our rich history,” continued Furlong.

Des plus brillants exploits was also revealed today as the French motto for the 2010 Winter Games. While the French and English mottos are different, they are drawn from the same inspiration. “Des plus brillants exploits references the pinnacle of achievement and the extraordinary feats of human endeavour that will occur, both for the athletes and for everyone involved in staging the 2010 Winter Games,” said Furlong.

“What better metaphor for the incredible achievements of the world’s best athletes than the heart itself?” Furlong continued. “And perhaps most importantly, the mottos describe the pride that results from outstanding achievement, be it an athlete’s performance of a lifetime or the valuable contribution of a dedicated volunteer. There’s a champion in everybody and the mottos invite everyone to step up to their own podium and give their very best through the once-in-a-lifetime experience of the 2010 Winter Games.”

The motto was launched today with the participation of several noted Canadian Olympic and Paralympic medal-winning athletes, including Daniel Wesley (Paralympic alpine skiing), Duff Gibson (skeleton), Carol Huynh (wrestling) and Denny Morrison (speed skating). Joining via video message was Nathalie Lambert (short track speed skating and Canada’s chef de mission for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games).

“I think With Glowing Hearts works no matter where you are coming from. It’s about being proud and working hard,” said Nathalie Lambert, a four-time Olympic medallist. “It’s about commitment, passion and dedication, and everybody has that when they make it to the Games. I think everyone will be inspired by that motto.”

“Finding the perfect motto for the Olympic Games is one of the great challenges Organizing Committees face,” said Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “It may be the last inspirational words an athlete reads on the field of play before their performance of a lifetime, or the first celebratory words they see when stepping onto the medal podium. It should both welcome visitors from around the world and motivate an army of volunteers. With Glowing Hearts is an inspired motto choice and we commend VANOC on selecting a motto that delivers on all of these counts and invites the world to share in these time-honoured words from Canada’s national anthem.”

“The 2010 Winter Games motto will evoke the emotion and pride that everyone feels when performing at their best,” said Sir Philip Craven, MBE, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). “The motto captures the warm and welcoming spirit of the Host Nation and it promises to the world that the extraordinary achievements of all athletes will be honoured and celebrated. The motto also continues the spirit of the Paralympic values: courage, determination, inspiration and equality.”

With Glowing Hearts today becomes an integral element of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games communications platform. It will be integrated into pre-Games and Games-time materials and activities, and will be a key component of the 2010 Winter Games graphic identity that will be seen throughout the host region and at sport venues in 2010.

VANOC does not have and has no desire to own the phrases With Glowing Hearts and Des plus brillants exploits and VANOC’s use of the motto in no way changes how these words can be used by Canadians or how Canadians enjoy the national anthem as a whole or the specific phrases. VANOC has taken steps to protect its use of the motto, in both English and French, by registering the marks under trademark legislation but would only review the use of the motto if a business began using them to create a specific, unauthorized commercial association with the 2010 Winter Games.

With Glowing Hearts was selected in the fall of 2007 and was followed by focus testing in Vancouver, Toronto and Quebec City to ensure the concept, in both official languages, resonated with all Canadians. The VANOC Board of Directors and the IOC formally approved the motto in the spring and early September of this year respectively. A full creative campaign was then developed. With Glowing Hearts is being launched this fall with a national advertising campaign featuring television, internet and cinema spots as well as a print advertising campaign. The new thematic commercial that includes With Glowing Hearts is available immediately at www.vancouver2010.com. The site also includes a new desktop wallpaper for download featuring the new motto.

History of Olympic and Paralympic Games Mottos
Historically, Olympic and Paralympic Games mottos have been used to capture the essence of the Host Country. Recent Games mottos include Beijing 2008: One World One Dream; Torino 2006: Passion Lives Here; Athens 2004: Welcome Home; and Salt Lake City 2002: Light the Fire Within.

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 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Contact
VANOC Communications
mediarelations@vancouver2010.com

The City of Vancouver held a special ceremony today to honour the nine distinguished citizens selected to represent Canada as torchbearers in the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Torch Relay. The tenth torchbearer, Mayor Sam Sullivan, is already in the Chinese capital.

The theme of the Beijing Paralympic Torch Relay is “Transcendence, Integration and Equality” and the total length of the route is 13,181 km. The lighting ceremony of the torch relay was held at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven earlier today and a total of 850 torchbearers will take part in the nine-day event.

Among the Canadian torchbearers, Andrea Holmes, Bruce Gilmour, Shirley Olafsson and Duncan Campbell were chosen by a five-member community panel to represent the City of Vancouver. A total of 68 applicants or nominees were nominated based on their Olympic or Paralympic Games performances, their contributions to the cause of the Games, or their abilities to inspire and motivate fellow citizens.

At today’s ceremony, Deputy Mayor Raymond Louie received a Paralympic torch, specially flown in from Beijing to officially mark Canada’s participation in the event, from Consul General Yang Qiang of the People’s Republic of China.

The Canadian torchbearers will fly to Beijing next week and participate in the relay which will be in 11 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

Vancouver was originally selected as one of three international cities to host the first-ever International Paralympic Torch Relay. In June of this year, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 29th Games of the Olympiad (BOCOG) announced that the relay route had been modified and the international leg of the event was cancelled. BOCOG subsequently announced that 10 Canadians would participate in the Beijing torch relay, along with 10 torchbearers from London, England and 10 from Sochi, Russia.

The City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) partnered to select the 10 Canadian Torch Bearers. Four were selected by the City of Vancouver, two by Whistler, and four by the CPC, which included Mayor Sullivan among its selected torchbearers.

Biographies of Vancouver Torchbearers
Andrea Holmes

Andrea Holmes is a below-the-knee amputee who has turned her physical limitation into a powerful strength. She has been competing for Canada for 6 years, and represented our country at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Olympic Summer Games and at the Commonwealth Games, where she won a bronze medal in long jump. In 2006, Andrea made a transition from track and field to Alpine Skiing, and now trains daily in preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. In addition to being an amazing athlete, she is also a role model and inspiration to many through her public speaking as an RBC ambassador. Andrea motivates young and old to overcome any disabilities. Her goals are to ensure everyone in Canada knows about Parasport, and to ensure that no one with a disability misses out on the opportunity to experience the thrill of sports.

Bruce Gilmour

Bruce Gilmour represented BC at the Canadian National Summer Games as a middle and long distance runner. He was selected to the standing national track team for the New York 1984 Paralympic Summer Games, and serves as the first VP of the Canadian Blind Sports Association. Bruce is also an active member of the BC Blind Sport and Recreation Association (BCBSRA). Bruce lost his eyesight from an accident in his early 20s. His love of recreation and leisure activities led to a Bachelor Degree in Forestry and Geography and a successful career in the forestry industry. Bruce is very active in community service and sits on the 2010 Legacies Now Disability Advisory Committee to support inclusion and sustainability in the 2010 Winter Games.

Duncan Campbell

A Winnipeg native, Duncan Campbell is affectionately known as the “Quadfather” of Wheelchair Rugby (aka Murderball). Quad Rugby, which he invented in the late 1970s, is an action-packed, must-see sport that has raised the profile of wheelchair athletics throughout the world. Duncan was a recreation therapist at G. F. Strong Rehab Centre for approximately 16 years, and colleagues from his tenure there are especially proud of his contribution to the world of sport. In 2006, Duncan was honoured by the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) in the “Builder Category” for his role in the creation and evolution of the sport. He is a member of the Paralympic Hall of Fame, and the annual trophy awarded to the Wheelchair Rugby National Champions is now called the “Campbell Cup.” Duncan humbly acknowledges that his role as athlete, coach and advocate for Wheelchair Rugby has changed his life and the lives of countless others. Duncan currently works with the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association.

Shirley Olafsson

If Shirley Olafsson were still competing she would surely be a Paralympian. Hers is an inspirational story, as she was born with a club foot and extensive surgeries left her with one foot sized 5 1/2, the other sized 9 1/2. Nonetheless, she placed 10th in high jump at the London 1948 Summer Olympics, won the Canadian High Jump Championship in 1949, and placed 5th at the 1950 British Empire Games. In 1947, Shirley was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Vancouver Hedlunds Basketball Team (winner of the Canadian Championship) and individually as a high jumper. Today, Shirley coaches youth track and field, basketball and curling. She plays tennis three times a week, and swims regularly. Shirley is a member of the Richmond Spirit of BC Community Committee, and helped organize the Beijing 2008 Summer Games Opening Ceremony event in Richmond.

Torchbearers Representing the Resort Municipality of Whistler
Brad Lennea

Brad Lennea has been skiing for Canada on the Para-Alpine Ski Team since 2002. Lennea has not only embraced the sport and competed at the highest level; he has become a true leader in his community. Lennea’s accomplishments go well beyond his success in the gates. Lennea is committed to raising the profile of the Paralympic Games and specifically sit-skiing. He continues to help train individuals at the grass-roots and those on the BC Disabled Ski Team.

Sarah Tipler

Sarah Tipler has been a tireless Whistler volunteer from her home in Squamish. Tipler is a graduate of the Leadership Sea to Sky Forum. Tipler can also be found volunteering at VANOC events and working in the race office during the Rotary GS and BC Para-Alpine Championships. Sarah recently became an Alpine Level 1 Race Official, and is planning on volunteering as a race official for many years to come.

Torchbearers Selected by the Canadian Paralympic Committee
Peter Eriksson

Peter Eriksson is the coach of Paralympic multi-medallists such as Chantal Petitclerc and Jeffrey Adams as well as up-and-coming athletes. He has been to every Paralympic Summer Games as a coach since 1984, and the athletes he has trained have won 103 medals over that time. He is the author of books on wheelchair racing and athletes with a physical disability.

Eamonn Nolan

Eamonn Nolan is public school teacher who has tirelessly supported his wife Victoria, who will be representing Canada in rowing in Beijing. He drives his wife to every practice, training camp and regatta as well as to appointments with massagers, doctors and personal trainers. He has also created a fan website for the rowing team and publicizes the team’s races and individual rowing accomplishments. He teaches all of his classes about people with disabilities and the Paralympic Movement.

Sian Blyth

Sian Blyth is the volunteer president of the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, high performance director for the Disabled Skiers Association of BC, and program coordinator for BC Wheelchair Sports. She has moved the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program from a group of about 35 volunteers delivering 50 lessons annually to a registered non-profit organization with 120 volunteers and nine paid staff who deliver more than 1,000 lessons a year.

Mayor Sam Sullivan

Mayor Sam Sullivan was chosen for his work as a builder and leader in helping to make the perception of disability disappear and replacing it with the inclusion and equity. Sullivan broke his neck while skiing at the age of 19 and is a quadriplegic.  He is the founder of six non-profit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of North Americans with disabilities. After being elected to Vancouver City Council in 1993, Sullivan served as a City Councillor for 12 years and was elected Mayor in November of 2005.
Members of the Vancouver Community Panel:
Maggie Ip: Retired Teacher, Educator; Former Vancouver City Councillor, Founding Chair & Vice Chair S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

David Jang: Regional Communications Manager CBC Vancouver

Rob Sleath: Vice-Chair CNIB BC-Yukon, Division Board President Access for Sight Impaired Consumers, Chair
TransLink’s Access Transit User’s Advisory Committee

Paul Tubbe: President PhoenixRising Solutions: Universal Design, Accessibility, and Business Research/Design Consultants

Kelly Smith: Paralympian, NavCan Air Traffic Controller, Sport Advocate
For more information:     
Corporate Communications
604.871.6336

On August 9 and 10, the City of Vancouver and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) will host a free  2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games Celebration alongside the 9th Annual Vancouver Chinatown Festival in downtown Vancouver.

The aim of the celebration is to bring the Olympic and Paralympic spirit and Vancouver’s diverse sporting culture to life in an inspiring weekend of entertainment for the whole family.

The celebration will feature: a giant outdoor screen showing coverage from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, live athlete interviews, sport demonstrations and musical entertainment.

Top Canadian athletes will be available for autograph signings, while 2010 Legacies Now and Sportfit will provide the festival goers the opportunity to experience Olympic and Paralympic sports through demonstrations and the chance to try out some sports themselves.

The two-day celebration event will feature live musical entertainment from around the world, including the Big Bang Big Band, Kutapira Marimba Band, Orquesta Goma Dura, Lache Cercel Roma Swing Ensemble and Johnny Montuno.

When:                   
The Celebration kicks off on the main stage in Chinatown on August 9 at 2 p.m.

Events will take place between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on August 9, and from 12 noon to  6 p.m. on August 10. 

Where:        
Corner of Keefer Street and Columbia Streets.

For more information and a complete schedule of events during the two-day celebration, visit the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games Celebration website at vancouver.ca .

For more information:

Corporate Communications
604.871.6336
 Media contact onsite (August 9 and 10):
Anna Parisi
Optimum Public Relations
604.828.2875
 

2008 Olympic and Paralympic Celebration Schedule of Events
August 9 and 10, 2008
August 9       2 p.m. – 8 p.m.
                            

2:00  2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games Celebration kick off 
2:30
 CBC coverage of the opening ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
 
3:20
 Athlete interview: – Olympian Alexa Loo, Snowboarding
 
3:30
 Entertainment by Big Bang Big Band
 
4:15
 Athlete interview: Paralympian Garrett Hickling, – Wheelchair Rugby
 
4:30
 CBC overage of competition from the 2008 Olympic Games
 
5:20
 Athlete interview: Olympian Mark Johnston, Swimming
 
5:30
 Entertainment by Johnny Montuno
 
6:15
 Athlete interview: Olympian Stephanie McCann, Pole Vault
 
6:30
 Celebration of the Paralympic Spirit
 
7:20
 Athlete interview: Paralympian Andrea Holmes, Long Jump and Downhill Skiing, RBC Athlete
 
7:30
 CBC coverage of competition from the 2008 Olympic Games
 
8:00
 Event ends
 

August 10     12 noon – 6 p.m.

12:00
 CBC overage of competition from the 2008 Olympic Games
 
12:50
 Athlete interview: Paralympian Misty Thomas, Wheelchair Basketball
 
13:00
 Entertainment by Kutapira Marimba Band
 
13:45
 Athlete interview: Olympian Crispin Lipscomb, Snowboard-Half Pipe, RBC Athlete
 
14:00
 CBC coverage of the opening ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
 
14:50
 Athlete interview: Olympian Margaret Langford, Canoe-kayak
 
15:00
 Entertainment by Orquesta Goma Dura
 
15:45
 Athlete interview: Olympian Tammy Bradley, Freestyle Skiing
 
16:00
 Celebration of the Paralympic Spirit
 
16:50
 Athlete interview: Paralympian Donovan Tildesley, Swimming, RBC Athlete
 
17:00
 Entertainment by Lache Cercel Roma Swing Ensemble
 
17:45
 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games Celebration wrap up
 
18:00
 Event ends