CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES TORCH BEARERS FOR THE VANCOUVER 2010 PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES TORCH RELAY

2010-03-03

VANCOUVER, B.C., (March 3, 2010) –

The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is proud to announce the 25 torch bearers it has selected to take part in the Paralympic Torch Relay for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. These individuals have been selected for their outstanding contribution to the Paralympic Movement. The relay will raise awareness for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, which will be held from March 12 – 21, 2010 in Vancouver and Whistler.

At the Paralympic Torch Relay Lighting Ceremony today on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Paralympian Arnold Boldt became the first torch bearer of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay. A true representative of the Paralympic spirit, Boldt competed at the first Paralympic Games hosted in Canada, the 1976 Torontolympiad, where he surprised the world with a 1.86m high-jump and 2.96m long-jump, on one leg, winning gold medals for both events. In 1981, he surpassed his own records with a high-jump of 2.04m and long-jump of 3.01m. Boldt has continued to be a role model and inspiration for Paralympians throughout Canada and is most deserving of the honor of lighting the first torch.

Five-time Paralympian, Chantal Petitclerc will carry the torch in Vancouver. Debuting on the international stage at the 1992 Summer Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Chantal has earned a total of 21 Paralympic medals over her career, including 14 gold. She earned these gold medals in the 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1500m races at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games and repeated the feat 4 years later in Beijing. The Athens 2004 Olympic Games also hosted a 800m wheelchair race, where Petitclerc won another gold, making her the only Canadian to have won medals in Olympic, Paralympic, and Commonwealth Games.

“The torch bearers chosen by the Canadian Paralympic Committee represent the coaches, volunteers, athletes, and administrators that are the heart and soul of the Paralympic tradition in Canada,” said Carla Qualtrough, President of the CPC. “They will proudly share the Paralympic Spirit with Canadians across the country as they start the celebrations for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. As they do we hope they will inspire Canadians to keep the flags flying and show their support for Canada’s Paralympic athletes as they prepare to make the country proud by going for gold on home soil.”

CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES TORCH BEARERS FOR THE VANCOUVER 2010 PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES TORCH RELAY 

2010-03-03 

VANCOUVER, B.C., (March 3, 2010) –

The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is proud to announce the 25 torch bearers it has selected to take p... read 

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