SASKATCHEWAN’S OLYMPIC TORCH CELEBRATIONS A SUCCESS

Released on January 13, 2010

Saskatchewan's spirit shone in spades over the past four days as the Olympic Torch made its way across our province. Thousands of people turned up at celebrations to see the Olympic Flame, and to participate in a variety of activities.

"Saskatchewan's enthusiasm was incredible," Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Dustin Duncan said. "The communities did a great job of organizing events, engaging their residents and embracing the Torch Relay. This was a historic event and I couldn't be more proud to be from Saskatchewan."

The Olympic Torch travelled through 30 Route communities and eight Celebration Communities (as designated by VANOC - The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee) over four days. The Torch had previously travelled through a route and celebration community in November 2009 on its way east.

The Provincial Government helped the communities with their celebrations by providing approximately $725 to each Route Community and $45,000 to each Celebration Community.

The Celebration Communities used part of that money to create a lasting legacy in each of their communities.

The legacy items are:

• Yorkton - a sculpture mural on the Gallagher Centre;
  • Prince Albert - Rotary Trail enhancements (including a public art display, sitting area
• d drinking fountain);
• La Ronge - an Inukshuk with welded Olympic rings and the Paralympic symbol;
• Saskatoon - a Fire Vessel at River Landing (the Fire Vessel is fashioned from steel and is the physical portion that holds the flame in the fire pit);
• Swift Current - a park boulevard space and a commemorative video of the day;
• Regina - Olympian Pathway Markers on the Devonian Pathway;
• North Battleford - two art installations. The first piece will be a permanent display that will include an official torch, the video of all activities for the past year and other art work relating to the event. The second piece is a sculpture entitled "Olympic Fire". 
• Moose Jaw - a clay mural representing the city, an Inuksuk made from a photographic collage, a framed 20x24 double photographic print for participating schools and a heated outdoor rink shack with a washroom; and
• Lloydminster - an art installation woven through the city's Border Markers.

"These are fitting commemorative pieces that will remind future generations that Saskatchewan hosted the Olympic Torch Relay and showed the world what a fantastic place our province is to call home," Duncan said.

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For more information, contact:

Art Jones
Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3506
Email: art.jones@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8635