Flame arrives in province today; will be in metro area on Friday
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=302177&sc=83
JOHN BROWNE
The Telegram
Local softball legend Ross Crocker hasn’t decided if he is going to walk, jog or run when he gets to carry his 2010 Olympic torch for 300 metres in Mount Pearl on Friday.
“I’m going to do what I’ve got to do,” he said with a laugh.
Crocker joked that his first concern is “running that far.” Making sure he doesn’t drop it “might be number two,” added the Softball Canada Hall of Famer.
But then his remarks took on a more serious tone.
“It’s a big deal … a great honour,” said Crocker. “Until you actually do it, it’s hard to describe your feeling.”
Crocker, a Molson Brewery employee, was one of only 10 people from across the country chosen by the brewery to become a torchbearer.
“To be selected by your co-workers and to be able to carry the torch on behalf of all of them is quite the honour,” added Crocker, who will get to keep the torch that he will be carrying from Roosevelt Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue sometime around noon.
Details of the St. John’s and area portion of the run were announced at a news conference Tuesday at St. John’s City Hall.
A number of province’s most prominent sports personalities will participate in the Olympic Torch Relay, which gets underway around 7 a.m. at Cape Spear.
Besides Crocker, some of the others taking part are Paralympic swimmer Katarina Roxon from Stephenville and provincial rugby coach Dr. Pat Parfrey of St. John’s.
Roxon says being a torchbearer is “the opportunity of a lifetime.”
“I am absolutely thrilled, honoured and humbled to participate in such an extraordinary event,” said Roxon, the youngest member of the Canadian team to compete in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. She will carry the torch during the Bowring Park celebration portion of the run.
The Olympic flame, which arrives in Labrador City-Wabush today, will spend five days visiting 41 communities in this province. The relay will involve 330 torchbearers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, finishing up in Port aux Basques on Sunday.
“Growing up in this beautiful province has been one of the greatest blessings and experiences that life has offered to me,” said Roxon, who is training to try and make the London 2012 team “I realize this each time I travel outside this province. It is truly an honour to represent this province on the world stage and now to carry the 2010 Olympic Torch is by far one of the greatest highlights of my life and swimming career.
“I would like to especially thank God, my family, supporters over the years, the swimming family in Newfoundland and Labrador and Swimming Canada for the various opportunities and support provided to me.”
The Olympic flame will visit 10 communities in St. John’s and area including Cape Spear, Petty Harbour, Goulds, Conception Bay South, Manuels, Chamberlains, Topsail, Paradise and Mount Pearl.
On Friday, after the flame makes an appearance at the Cape Spear National Park, it heads for a dory ride in Petty Harbour. The torch will be at O’Donel High School in Mount Pearl at 11 a.m.
At 2:10 p.m., well-known provincial curler Mike Adam will slide down the ice with the Olympic torch at the Re/Max (St. John’s Curling Club). Then the torch is off to Quidi Vidi Lake for a brief spin in a rowing shell at 3:20 p.m. before it heads to Signal Hill at 4 p.m.
The major celebration in St. John’s will be begin 5 p.m. at Bowring Park, where Parfrey will light the community cauldron.
The Honourable Gary Lunn Minister of State (Sport) will be on hand for the ceremony, along with Premier Danny Williams and St. John’s Mayor Danny Williams. Entertainment will include Masterless Men, Gregory Charles Choir and East Rock Crew.
Overall, the Olympic Torch Relay will cover 45,000 kilometres in its 106-day journey across Canada, making it the longest domestic relay in Olympic history. The relay will visit over 1,000 communities and places of interest.
jbrowne@thetelegram.com