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A Torch Fit for a Cross-Canada Journey
November 12, 2009
Employees of Bombardier are feeling a special bond with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. The Montreal, Quebec-based company — manufacturer of state-of-the-art planes and trains — designed and produced the 12,000 torches that will be used in the epic cross-Canada Olympic Flame journey that embarked on October 30, 2009.
They didn’t have a handbook on how to build a torch. The torch design came from a team of over 50 engineers, industrial designers and other specialists from Bombardier Aerospace and Bombardier Transportation, working in collaboration with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). Beginning in November 2007, this design team was given the extraordinary task of creating a defining symbol of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, one that would ignite the imaginations of all Canadians, and inspire the 12,000 torchbearers who will carry it proudly.
“It’s one of the important highlights of my career,” said Bombardier industrial designer Daniel Deschénes. “I’m excited to see the torch put to the ultimate test in Canadian winter conditions.”
Contours of Canadian Winters
The torch design has fluid lines and elegant form. Designers were inspired by long horizons, graceful snowdrifts and delicate shadows that form the contours of a Canadian winter landscape. The shape also emulates the journey that will be traced by the torch relay across Canada and the lines carved by winter sport, such as ski tracks in fresh snow or the line left from a skate blade on ice.
Building 12,000 Olympic Torches
Bombardier was tasked to produce one torch for each torchbearer who will participate in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay — more than 12,000 torches are being manufactured by the company in Canada. After the component parts are created, employees perform the final assembly of each torch by hand, give it their personal autograph of maker, and then expert assemblers ensure the correct fit of the components and inspect each torch before it is packaged and shipped to VANOC’s Torch Relays team.
Designers kept environmental sustainability in mind. As much as possible, recyclable materials were used during manufacturing, including the interior’s steel components and the torch’s exterior aluminum shell, and the cylinders inside every torch will be recycled after their use. Post-relay, VANOC and Bombardier are also committed to recycling any unused torch fuel.
Prepared for Extreme Conditions
Bombardier tested the torch design in a climate-controlled room to simulate the harshest Canadian winter conditions. That testing helped the Bombardier team come up with their dual burner system that withstands gusts of up to 60 kilometres per hour. Plus, a tiny opening for the flame enables it to withstand the rain and snow, while a tested blend of propane and isobutene will make it possible for the Olympic Flame to burn bright at lower temperatures than any other Olympic Torch in history. It’s made for Canada all right.
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The Best of Us Challenge
November 12, 2009
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) collaborated with YouTube to create The Best of Us Challenge — a new global, digital initiative geared at inspiring youth to share their Olympic Spirit. In personalized video messages, about 20 international Olympians present a unique challenge to their audience. Viewers may select any one of these challenges and then try to “best” that challenge and capture it on video for uploading to YouTube. Visitors to the site are also encouraged to upload a video featuring their own challenge to others around the world.
Silly Human Tricks
Participants don’t have to be natural-born athletes to take part, but continuous cartwheeling skills or experience in one-handed umbrella twirling could be an advantage. For example, Swedish track and field Olympian, Carolina Kluft, showcases her distance handstand walk, and American swimming great Michael Phelps sinks 12, five-foot golf putts in 60 seconds.
And what’s a contest without prizes? A range of prizes will be awarded to anyone who simply uploads a video or proposes their own challenge, and special prizes will go to those who beat or come close to beating an Olympian’s challenge. Prizes include:
» A trip for two to watch the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
» A trip for two to watch the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games
» T-shirts signed by Olympians
» Official Olympic video games
» The Best of Us Challenge posters
The Digital Era
The Best of Us challenge was created in part because of a resolution from the recent Olympic Congress that the Olympic Movement should actively engage the next generation of Olympic fans through digital media. The challenge will appear on thebestofuschallenge.olympic.org, olympic.org and on the IOC YouTube channel.
Another IOC Competition
In addition to The Best of Us Challenge, the IOC also created a medal design competition in preparation for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games next summer. The public is invited to vote and determine the 10 best medal designs and an IOC jury will then select the best design from the top 10. The winning designer will get a trip to the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games and receive a gold medal replica of their design. The design deadline is December 4, 2009. Visit medaldesigncompetition.com for details.
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Vancouver 2010 congratulates City of Toronto on winning 2015 Pan Am Games
November 12, 2009
Vancouver, BC — The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) congratulates the City of Toronto for earning the honour today of hosting the 2015 Pan Am Games — marking the third time Canada will host the games.
“We want to congratulate the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games Bid teamand all Torontonians on their successful bid to host the 2015 Games — the first time the games will ever be held in Ontario,” said John Furlong, VANOC’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Given the enormously positive culture for sport that is growing in Canada and being supported by the 2010 Winter Games, this success is hugely encouraging for the country and for the City of Toronto. We know in 2015 Toronto will win top marks as a superb host to thousands of athletes, officials and media from the Americas and the resulting sport and infrastructure legacies will last for generations.
“The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee have members on VANOC’s board of directors and we hope their experience and valuable contributions gained in the planning for the 2010 Winter Games will help the 2015 Pan American team build and create a successful organizing committee. We also expect that many of the key Toronto 2015 organizers will attend the 2010 Winter Games to learn and observe and we will give them a warm welcome.”
Toronto was selected by the Pan American Sport Organization in Guadalajara, Mexico on the first ballot out of a pool of three cities that also included: Bogota, Colombia and Lima, Peru.
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Statement from VANOC with regard to BC Ambulance Service at the 2010 Winter Games
November 12, 2009
Like any major international event that draws thousands of participants, safety is our number one priority. When athletes and the public are at our venues, we must ensure the necessary medical services are in place to provide a safe environment
We have always maintained that paramedic support would be required to meet our medical services commitments at Games-time. While we are hopeful that BC Ambulance Service will be provided, we understandably must plan for contingency scenarios.
In order to complete our plans, VANOC requested confirmation from the Ministry of Health and BC Ambulance of the participation of BC Ambulance in our planning for Games time. A September 14th memorandum from Dr Mike Wilkinson, VANOC Director of Medical Services, asked for confirmation whether or not BC Ambulance Service would be available at Games-time as we need to make decisions about contingency plans.
Again, while we are hopeful that BC Ambulance Service will be provided, we have the responsibility to make sure that the required medical services are in place for the safety of everyone attending the 2010 Games.
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