A parade of former Olympians took their turns with the torch Friday, as the flame neared its final destination, reaching Whistler, one of the host sites for the 2010 Games.
“For Whistler . . . (this) is the actual beginning of the Games,” said Mayor Ken Melamed.
“The athletes are here, they are training on the mountains now, so this is really the kickoff for the Games.
“It is game-on now.”
Fourteen former Olympians carried the flame that will launch the Vancouver Games as it travelled on Day 99 of the relay.
It began the day in Squamish, B.C., travelling to Whistler, where some skiing and sliding events for the Games will take place.
Among the Olympians taking up the torch Friday was John Smart, who competed for Canada in freestyle skiing in 1992 in Albertville, France, and again in 1994 in Lillehammer, Norway.
“It is a great honour,” said Smart.
“Representing Canada in the Games was a great honour and now, as a former Olympian, it’s great way for us to be involved again in this Olympics. . . . It is exciting.”
Smart is married to a former Olympian, has two young boys and lives in Whistler. He owns and operates Momentum Ski Camps, which has helped train several of the 2010 medal contenders.
Smart’s torch run was Friday night through the centre of Whistler Village.
The former Olympians were asked by the Canadian Olympic Committee and presenting partners Coca-Cola and RBC to carry the torch as a way of honouring their commitment to sport in Canada.
“This incredible event will evoke the memories that these dedicated Olympians created, and inspire our 2010 Olympians competing in Vancouver and Whistler,” said Canadian Olympic Committee president Michael Chambers in a statement.
More than 300 Olympians are part of the torch relay.
On Friday, the torch travelled from Squamish after first making its way up a three-metre tree (thanks to a local logger and carpenter), to Whistler Olympic Park (site of the Nordic event competitions) and then on into the resort.
In all, 182 torchbearers were carrying the flame Friday across 104 kilometres.
But Olympians weren’t the only ones carrying the flame. Local schoolteachers, former mayors and even a 2010 Olympic hopeful, Julia Murray, were also taking part.
The relay will arrive in Vancouver on Feb. 12 to begin the 2010 Games.

Source: www.montrealgazette.com