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February 28, 2006City of Vancouver raises Olympic flagOn July 2, 2003, members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected Vancouver as the Host City of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and at a flag-raising ceremony today at City Hall, the City of Vancouver raised the Olympic flag where it will fly through the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The flag symbolizes Vancouver's tenure as an Olympic City from now until 2010. Accompanied by an Honour Guard comprising members of the Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, the Olympic flag was marched to the north lawn of Vancouver City Hall and then raised up an 80-foot flagpole. The Olympic flag will fly there through the 2010 Winter Games. "This is the start of our Olympiad," enthused Mayor Sam Sullivan. "What I took home from Torino is the enthusiasm and passion of the thousands of people who helped stage such an enormous event. This is what we will now bring to our 2010 Winter Games." "Raising the Olympic flag today officially represents the start of B.C.'s time to shine," said Colin Hansen, Minister of Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative and Olympics. "The 2010 Games are an incredible opportunity to celebrate and showcase British Columbia. Over the next four years and beyond, B.C. will be front and centre telling the world why our province is the best place to live, work, play and invest." "It's been an incredible journey so far, made more special by the relationships we've forged and the partnerships we've strengthened," stated Whistler Mayor Ken Melamed. "On behalf of the Whistler community, we are thrilled to share in the special day with Vancouverites and all British Columbians. We look forward to working together to stage great Olympic and Paralympic Games for all Canadians." "In Torino, we were vividly reminded of the power of Olympism, of the values and spirit that define the Olympic movement and that live inside all of us. And now we have a daily reminder of those values as we view the flag flying above City Hall. We can feel honoured and fortunate to have this powerful symbol flying in our city," said John Furlong, Vancouver 2010 CEO. The Olympic flag features five interlocking rings in blue, yellow, black, green and red on a white background. The six colours of the flag, including the white background, represent all continents of the world, united by Olympism, while the six colours are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at the present time. The original 1952 Oslo flag will be housed in a case inside City Hall. On March 9, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Micha‘lle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will dedicate the flag case. The flag will then be on display for the public through to the 2010 Winter Games. Media enquiries: Jennifer Young, Corporate Communications, City of Vancouver Chris Brumwell, |
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© 2008, City of Vancouver |
