Dollars for Olympic Torch Parties Set

Thursday, July 02, 2009 03:58 AM

The Premier has announced $3.5 million has been set aside for the parties across the province to celebrate the Olympic Torch relay.

Prince George is on the list of “Celebration Communities” where there will be a major event to mark the arrival of the torch.

"The Olympic Torch Relay is a way for communities in every corner of the province to share in the enthusiasm and excitement as we prepare to welcome the world for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," said Premier Campbell.

"This funding will support communities in holding their own unique, local events in celebration of the Olympic Flame, bringing community members together to mark this incredible moment in B.C. history."

The 2010 Olympic Flame will be lit on Oct. 22, 2009 and handed over to a representative of Canada in Athens, Greece on Oct. 29 before making its trans-Atlantic flight.

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will begin its 45,000 kilometre, 106-day journey on Oct. 30, 2009 in Victoria. The flame will spend a total of 27 days in B.C., carried by 3,500 torchbearers. It will run through 268 of B.C.'s communities and places of interest, 50 of which have been designated as Celebration Communities.

The flame will visit every province and territory in the country and will be carried by approximately 12,000 torchbearers, with up to 120 people having the opportunity to carry the flame each day.

The torch celebration in Prince George is to be held in the evening of January 29^th.

The first Prince George torch bearer was named last week, she is Barb Dureau, a student at UNBC

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Posted on Thursday, July 02, 2009 03:58 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: lmorge on July 2 2009 5:23 AM

More money that could have been better used elsewhere in this Province other than to support Gordo's show. BC will be in the red for many years.

Posted by: socredible on July 2 2009 8:09 AM

It's to help cover the cost of the Carbon Tax on all the fuel that stupid thing will burn up uselessly while it's being toted all around BC.

Posted by: CaringSoul on July 2 2009 8:10 AM

Party for the rich on the tax payers dime. The group of tax payers is shrinking, people living off the system including government workers is increasing. Our debt is over 260 billion dollars federally and God only knows what the provincial tally is. Our municipality is on a unstopable spending plan as well with their plans to borrow over 100 million dollars on projects such as the 11 klm paved trail, police station and arts centre. The question is WHEN all of this extreme spending will catch up with us. IMO Canada as a whole could be in serious trouble.

Posted by: EatsBushesShoots&Leaves on July 2 2009 9:46 AM

The Olympics are going to happen. It makes no difference which party is governing, they all want this inane crap.
Get over it.

Posted by: just the facts on July 2 2009 10:02 AM

Campbell can give 3.5 million for parties all over the province for Olympics but nothing to the people laid off in the forest industry.He should take a page out of Danny Williams book and make sure the people effected by the closures of these mills by Abitibi Bowater and other companies like canfor and west fraser don't screw everyone out of their severance

Posted by: gus on July 2 2009 11:17 AM

"IMO Canada as a whole could be in serious trouble."

The world is in trouble. Canada is one of the industrialized countries that is in the least trouble of those based on standard economic criteria.

On top of that, until oil is no longer needed at the current rate we are using it for our energy, Canada has a key asset that is not counted when one is into counting money. We have the second highest reserves in the world when the current accessible component of the oil sands are counted.

Posted by: gus on July 2 2009 11:29 AM

And expo 2010 will also happen where Canada has a pavilion.
http://en.expo2010.cn

Canada has a pavilion.
http://www.expo2010canada.gc.ca/canada_participation/pavillon-pavilion-eng.cfm

BC is a participating province.

They are looking for 30 to 40 Canadians to employ for the event. Just in case anyone is interested.

Posted by: gus on July 2 2009 11:39 AM

BTW, it appears that the USA may not have a pavilion. They cannot raise about $60 million according to this article.

http://shanghaiscrap.com/?p=2976

Here is the offcial USA site:

http://www.usapavilion2010.com/usa_pavilion_2010_facts.htm

Posted by: astro on July 2 2009 11:51 AM

Remember the saying, "If you invite the rich to dinner, expect to pay the bill." BC has invited the world to a party for the rich, there the only ones who can afford a ticket, but we are paying for the set-up of the party.

Posted by: gus on July 2 2009 12:14 PM

I guess China must be paying for the Expo 2010 party then.

Here is the Norwegian Pavilion made out of prefabricated, laminated wood which is assembled on site and can be dismantled for component uses in various locations.

I would have thought the Canuck Pavilion could have used wood for its structure as well.
http://www.chinahotelsreservation.com/World_Expo_2010_Shanghai_China/Fjords_to_the_foremost.html

Posted by: gus on July 2 2009 3:20 PM

According to this Czech site, Canada is spending $44 million for the expo 2010 program. Australia is spending $59 million.

http://www.czexpo.com/en/expo-2010/expo-news/2.shtml

Looks like some of those invited to the Expo 2010 dinner are paying their own way. Guess those are not the rich countries.

Life goes on.

BTW, does anyone know how much of the money for the PG portion of the party gets spent here to pay for the local services?