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Let the mayor’s personal torch relay begin

October 19th, 2009 · 3 Comments

This just in (or out) from city hall

Mayor Robertson to travel to London, Greece to take part in Olympic Flame ceremonies

Mayor Gregor Robertson will travel to Greece this week, where as Mayor of the 2010 Winter Olympics host city he will take part in the lighting of the Olympic Flame ceremony in Olympia and the handover of the Olympic Flame in Athens.

The Hellenic Olympic Committee will present the flame to the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Winter and Paralympic Games (VANOC).

“To take part in the Olympic flame ceremonies in Greece is very exciting, and it’s yet another reminder of just how close we are to hosting the world in 2010,” said Mayor Robertson. “Once the flame arrives back in Canada, all eyes will turn to us.”

The Mayor will also spend four days in London – October 24 – 27 – to attract new business and investment to Vancouver and promote the City as a world-leader in environmental sustainability.

During his trip to London, Mayor Robertson will be meeting with Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London; Daimler AG; James R. Wright, the High Commissioner for Canada; the London Organizing Committee for the 2012 Summer Games (LOCOG); and some of LOCOG’s sustainability partners including Cisco and EDF.

Mayor Robertson noted that Mayor Boris Johnson pledged in July 2009 to make London the “cleanest and greenest city in the world,” and just two weeks ago outlined his plan to make London the “best big city on earth.”

“With the Summer Olympics arriving in London in 2012, both of our cities have a lot to share in terms of what it takes to prepare for the Games,” said Mayor Robertson. “I look forward to meeting with Mayor Johnson and discussing Olympic host city challenges and our mutual goal of making our cities leaders in the green economy.

“We need to maximize the Olympic opportunity to help Vancouver’s local economy grow, and put our city on the global economic map. With our new business brand of Vancouver Green Capital in place, and our 10-year plan to become the greenest city in the world being released this week, we’re in a great position to be able to tell the world what Vancouver is all about and why they should set up shop here.

“The 2010 Winter Games are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to showcase Vancouver to the world, and I intend to leverage it as much as possible to promote our City and help spur economic investment for years to come.”

Mayor Robertson will fly to Greece on the evening of October 20, and will represent Vancouver at both the lighting of the Olympic Flame ceremony in Olympia(October 22) and the torch handover ceremony in Athens (October 29). He will arrive in Victoria with the Olympic flame on October 30.

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