The Olympic torch for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics touched down in Thompson Nov. 7, carried by torchbearers from City Hall to the celebration stage at the recreation centre, with Thompson teenager Darion Latchman having the honour of toting the flame the last few hundred metres before lighting the flame in front of hundreds of onlookers.
Latchman received the flame from fellow torchbearer Maureen Hrbachek, with the torch accompanied by a motorcade of police, torch run vehicles, photographers and cameramen along Thompson Drive before the final leg.
The federal and provincial governments and the City of Thompson were represented on stage by Churchill NDP MP Niki Ashton, Manitoba's new Premier Greg Selinger and Thompson Mayor Tim Johnston, along with representatives of the torch relay committee and RBC, one of the relay's major sponsors.
"I'm so glad that the Olympic relay and the flame is starting here in Northern Manitoba in Thompson," said Selinger, acknowledging his recent NDP leadership rival Steve Ashton, who was among the crowd gathered to witness the lighting of the Olympic flame.
"It is an honour for me, as someone who was born and raised in Thompson, to share the honour with you," said Niki Ashton. "We recognize the torchbearers from Thompson, from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, from Tataskweyak Cree Nation who have carried the torch tonight."
Ashton then presented a plaque from the Government of Canada to the City of Thompson to commemorate the arrival of the torch.
"As the first site of the Olympic torch relay in the province, what a great day for the province of Manitoba," said Johnston, telling Latchman that the City of Thompson would purchase the torch he had carried as a memento of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as well as make a donation to the Own the Podium program.
"Today you are showing the pride of all of Canada in hosting these games," said Jim Richards, the director of the Olympic torch relay.
The celebration was capped off with a fireworks display.
The torch landed in Churchill Nov 8.
It will pass through 31 more Manitoba communities in January as it heads back towards Vancouver where it will finish its 106-day journey across Canada and light the Olympic cauldron at the Feb. 12 opening ceremonies.
