Rota welcomes Olympic Torch Relay

Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota
News Release

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North Bay – Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota is thrilled to be joining residents from all parts of the riding in welcoming the Olympic Torch Relay to the area over the next two days.

“The Olympic Torch has become one of Canada’s most recognized symbols of the Olympic movement,” says Mr. Rota. “With more than 12,000 Canadians participating in the relay, it has sparked patriotic celebrations in communities from coast to coast to coast as people demonstrate their pride in their country and their dedication to make the 2010 games a success.”

The Olympic Torch Relay will make its way through several communities in the riding, including Powassan, North Bay, Nipissing, Temagami, Latchford, Cobalt, Haileybury, and New Liskeard. Two special celebrations are being organized to welcome the torch to the region, including one in North Bay on the evening of December 30th, and another on the afternoon of December 31st in Temiskaming Shores.

“Our riding is very fortunate to be hosting two community celebration events,” says Mr. Rota. “These will provide residents from throughout the region with an opportunity to come together and celebrate the Olympic spirit, and to send all Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes our best wishes for success.”

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay is over 100 days. It began on October 30, 2009 and will conclude the cross-country journey at Vancouver’s BC Place on February 12, 2010, as it lights the Olympic Cauldron, signalling the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

According to Mr. Rota, “The torch is Canada’s beacon on the journey to the games, and it fills Canadians with a great sense of pride – in our athletes, in our role as host of the 2010 Games and in our country. Its 45,000-km trek from Victoria Island, to the far North, to our eastern coasts, and finally to the site of the Vancouver games – has brought Canadians and Olympians alike together to pay witness to this remarkable journey.”

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