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Madeleine Leclerc
the victoria star

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GRAND FALLS - Banners are now installed on light poles along Broadway Boulevard to promote the arrival of the 2010 Olympic Flame Relay in Grand Falls on Nov. 28. Final preparations are underway to welcome the Flame on its 45,000-km journey to its final destination, Vancouver, BC for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games which will be held Feb. 12-28.

The torch relay visit to Grand Falls is the only visit to Victoria County and one of only two scheduled stops north of Fredericton during the torch relay's 106-day route through Canadian communities before the torch lights the Olympic flame in Vancouver to start the 2010 Olympic Games.

Nearly 200 communities across Canada will have the opportunity to gather and participate in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay community celebrations so that friends, relatives and neighbours from surrounding communities can also enjoy in the experience.

The celebrations will start at approximately 2:15 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 at the E. & P. Sénéchal Centre.

"The Olympic flame is scheduled to arrive on the site and the cauldron will be lighted at 3:30 p.m.," stated Lise Ouellette, president of the Town of Grand Falls' Olympic Flame Relay organizing committee. "We will also unveil the community torchbearer during the same ceremony."

"Coca-Cola and RBC will have souvenirs and giveaways, interactive games and more. HBC (Hudson Bay Company) will sell official Olympic merchandise on the site as well. Multicultural dishes will be offered free of charge by the Rural Immigration Centre and hot beverages will be sold by the local figure skating club," Ouellette added.

Two of the three Olympic Games mascots (Quatchi, Sumi and Miga) will also be present.

Street performers will be on Broadway Boulevard approximately 30 minutes before the start of the celebrations.

"A multicultural concert and celebration with local artists will be presented and the Vancouver Games relay organizers will have special surprises, videos, presentations, tributes, interviews and speeches," Ouellette stated.

A free skating session will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. following the official ceremonies.

There will be no public parking on the site (except for handicapped parking). "Parking will be available on marked vacant lots along Ouellette Street," she said.

The organizing committee will hold a photo contest of the Relay and related activities. Those wishing to participate in the contest are asked to bring in their 4x6 photos (maximum of five) to the Grand Falls Town Hall before Jan. 15, 2010. One winner will be chosen and will be announced on Feb. 9 at the Town Hall. He or she will receive an official Olympic Games 2010 jacket.

The organizing committee will also have information booths on Nov. 19 at the Grand Falls Shopping Mall, from 6 to 9 p.m.; on Nov. 20 at the Wal-Mart, from 6 to 9 p.m.; and on Nov. 21 at the Superstore in the afternoon.