SOOKE STOP ON THE
2010 OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY ROUTE

Sooke, BC - November 21, 2008

Residents of Sooke anxious to catch the Olympic Spirit will have the opportunity
to see the Olympic Flame in person on October 31, 2009 as it passes through on
its way towards the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The 2010 Olympic
Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC, will reach over 90 per cent of
Canadians within a one-hour drive. The torch relay route is available at
vancouver2010.com and information on how residents can apply to be
torchbearers can be found at icoke.ca and rbc.com/carrythetorch. (alternate sites: https://www.carrythetorch.com )

“We are very pleased that Sooke has been selected as one of more that 1000
Canadian communities that will host the Olympic Flame as it travels across the
country to the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Games.” said Mayor Janet
Evans. “Sooke has the tremendous honour of being recognized, as our
community represents a dynamic and modern culture rooted deeply in the history
of our people that make up the cultural fabric of our community. This is an
opportune time for our children to be able to learn what the journey to the 2010
Winter Games means for the aspiring athletes and how that translates into
everyday life. I encourage all Sooke residents to get involved, to celebrate the
possible-past, present and future inspired by the spirit of the Games. Sooke
residents will have the opportunity to be torch bearers in the 2010 Olympic Torch
Relay and all of us will be brought together by the power of the flame, to
celebrate this once-in-a-generation opportunity..”

Residents interested in applying for an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry the
Olympic Flame can apply at iCoke.ca or rbc.com/carrythetorch. Coca-Cola and
RBC, the relay’s presenting partners, have the exclusive rights for the public to
enter the Olympic Torchbearer program and are looking for Canadian applicants
who commit to live healthier or are inspired to create a stronger country by
volunteering or making sustainable choices. There will be several opportunities to
apply for torchbearer spots beginning on November 21, 2008.

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will begin its 106-day Canadian journey on
October 30, 2009. The Flame’s pan-Canadian journey will culminate on February
12, 2010 when it arrives in Vancouver for the Opening Ceremony before a global
viewing audience of billions.

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay route will be the longest domestic
Torch Relay in Olympic history, stretching over 45,000 kilometres throughout
Canada. Upon its conclusion, the Olympic Flame will have been welcomed in
over 1,000 communities and passed within a one-hour of more than 90 per cent
of the entire Canadian population.

The Government of Canada is a proud supporter of the Olympic Torch Relay
helping to bring the Olympic Flame to as many Canadians as possible.

About VANOC

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the
XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The
2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from
February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter
Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit vancouver2010.com for further details
on programs and schedules.


For more information, contact:

Bonnie Sprinkling
Corporate Services Manager/Deputy Clerk
District of Sooke
tel: (250) 642-1620
fax: (250) 642-0541

We are extremely excited about the Olympic Torch visiting Sooke, and look forward to the event!
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