Olympic Torch Run
February 11, 2006 by Tim Stay
Filed under Sports Rumors
I love the Olympics. I love the ideals, the symbolism, the dream, the brotherhood of the Olympics. I love the stories of the athletes, their courage, their perserverance, the challenge of overcoming great odds and doing the unbelievable.
I love the Olympic Torch Run. The concept of carrying the flame, passing it from person-to-person, across cities, across countries, until it lights the Olympic cauldron, where all these nations come together in unity and peace for these handful of blessed days.
I think it is shameful for those few Italian protestors to protest something so noble as the Olympic. You want to turn me off to your cause? Disrupt and try to hijack one of the world’s greatest symbols. Que Vergogna! Fortunately, it appears that protesters have backed off and were more subdued.
My mother, Helen Stay, was able to be an Olympic Torch Bearer for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. The Athens Torch Run had the torch run through every past Summer Olympic City, including Los Angeles. She was 80 years old when she did the run. It was such a thrill to watch her have the flame lit on her torch and run the 4 or 5 blocks (yes, she did run the whole way!). Everyone on the street stopped to watch, to cheer her on, and for that one moment, she was the only one in the world carrying the Olympic flame.
The selection committee were looking for people that embodied different aspects of the Olympic Spirit. I sure think my mom was a good choice as she is one of my heros! Her quiet life of service, sacrifice, and perserverance match the Olympic ideas very well.
May each of our flames burn brightly and may we bring light and peace into these troubled times and darkened days.
How does one get selected to run the Olympic Torch?
That’s a good question .. The Vancouver2010 site doesn’t really mention much .. except
Hi, I chaired a conference for almost 2,000 people at the United Nations this last Septembert (2007) on climate change. If the polar ice cap does melt in 50 years, will this be the last time an Olympic Games could have the flame brought over the North Pole? And what effect will climate change have on holding future Olympic Games in countries where ice and snow are part of life? What is the fate of future Winter Games? Richard Jordan
Have to wait till the Fall of 2008. For detail:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/CultureEducation/TorchRelay/HowToGetInvolved