Olympic Torch landed at home

Failing to host the Games, Quebecers will soak up the Olympic spirit next year at the passage of the torch relay for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Throughout his 45 000 km across Canada, the Olympic Torch Relay comes from 29 November to 4 December 2009 in Quebec City, Levis, L'Ancienne-Lorette, Saint-Georges and Rimouski. An opportunity to celebrate the sport for some municipalities, a springboard for others. "We hope that this too brief passage in the walls is a prelude to a more prolonged shutdown of the flame, and in the near future," said Mayor Regis Labeaume of Quebec at the unveiling of the route of the flame. For its part, L'Ancienne-Lorette wants to involve the entire population in the activities surrounding the passage of the torch through its streets. "We want the event to have a major impact on the sport among young people," said Mayor Emile Loranger. On the other side of the river, there is already preparing a big party. "We will organize a rally featuring artists and athletes Levis," says Yves St-Maurice, co-chair of the Committee for Olympic Torch Relay in Levis. In Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, the passing of the Olympic flame will be preceded by an evening gala marked a relay through the streets of the city and "show night". Mayor Roger Carette take the opportunity to "make the event a major regional promotion of sport and our city through Canada." The flame will also pauses in Sept-Iles, Gaspe, Riviere-du-Loup, Matane, Baie-Comeau and Les Escoumins. Two stops are planned in Rimouski, one at Place des Veterans for a show, the other at Lighthouse Pointe-au-Father. "We call upon the public to find an original idea to carry the flame by about 18 porters Rimouski," said Eric Forest, mayor of Rimouski. The flame will leave Victoria on October 30 2009 for the north, then to the prairies and then return north before taking the leadership of the Maritime provinces. It comes in Quebec in December 2009, Val-d'Or in the New Year's Day 2010. The Olympic cauldron will be lit on 12 February 2010.