Canadians invited to be torchbearers for historic games
LITTLE CURRENT-More than 130 communities, including Little Current, and 3,000 torchbearers will take part in 41-day journey of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay.
Canadians from coast to coast are invited to celebrate and share their Pan Am spirit by taking part in the torch relay, presented by President’s Choice and OLG.
Along with the public application process, which closes tonight, Monday, December 1 at 11:59 pm (ET), torchbearers will also be chosen by torch relay route communities (such as Little Current) and other Games stakeholders.
The national event will be fuelled by local hometown pride, with stops planned in five Canadian cities: Calgary, Winnipeg, Montreal, Halifax and the Greater Vancouver Area, as well as 130 communities in all corners of Ontario. For the full list of communities, visit TORONTO2015.org/torch-relay.
“The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Torch Relay is an invitation to the nation to join the journey, share the spirit and show community pride as we prepare to welcome the best to the biggest international multi-sport Games Canada has ever held,” said Saäd Rafi, chief executive officer of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am (TO2015)/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015). “Anyone aged 13 and up by May 30, 2015, can enter to be a torchbearer. All they need is a sense of pride, an abundance of community spirit and an ability to inspire us with their joy.”
TO2015 is proud to bring the relay to Canadian communities with the help of presenting partners President’s Choice and OLG, community partner CIBC and signature supporter Ontario Trillium Foundation to ensure it is a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Three-thousand torchbearers will proudly carry the flame and share the welcoming Pan Am spirit of the Games on its 41-day journey towards the lighting of the cauldron on July 10, 2015, in the exciting conclusion of the Opening Ceremony in downtown Toronto.
Enter to be a torchbearer today at TORONTO2015.org/torch-relay.
The highly-anticipated relay begins in May 2015 with the traditional Aztec lighting ceremony at the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico. The flame represents the history and spirit of the Games and is a potent symbol that unites the 41 Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) member nations.
The Canadian journey for the flame starts with its arrival in Toronto on May 30, 2015. It will then travel to the five other Canadian cities and more than 130 Ontario communities.
Torchbearers must be a Canadian citizen or legal resident of Canada and 13 years of age or older (as of May 30, 2015). For a complete list of criteria, visit TORONTO2015.org/torch-relay.
In addition, a separate TORONTO 2015 Parapan Am Torch Relay will take place prior to the start of the Games on August 7, 2015. Details on the route and torchbearer application process will be released in April 2015.
For more information, visit TORONTO2015.org/torch-relay.
