Olympics | Games one step closer

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By ALEXANDRA DAVIS
davis.alexandra@dailygleaner.com

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A piece of the Olympic Games arrived in Fredericton on Wednesday night as the 2010 Vancouver Torch Relay makes its way through New Brunswick.

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The Daily Gleaner/Ray Bourgeois

Olympic medallist Marianne Limpert waves to the crowd after lighting the cauldron at Officers Square in downtown Fredericton on Wednesday night. On the right is Carrie Woodside, daughter of Mayor Brad Woodside.

Stephen MacGillivray

Getting into the Canadian spirit at the torch stop on the St. Mary’s First Nation from left are: Claudia Fillion, 10; Sophie Courcelles, 7; and Kristin Fillion, 9. They came from Douglas for the event

The Daily Gleaner/Ray Bourgeois

Marianne Limpert arriving at Officers Square with the Olympic torch.

Officers Square was filled for Fredericton's community celebration.

Thousands of people gathered to watch local musical acts, participate in Olympic-themed games and giveaways from Olympic sponsors Coca-Cola and RBC and, of course, to see the Olympic torch.

Sheila Snow of Burton ran with the flame Wednesday morning as it made its way through Grand Bay-Westfield.

She attended Fredericton's community celebration and brought her torch along with her.

She allowed excited Frederictonians to pose for pictures with the symbol of the Olympic Games.

Snow said she was thrilled to have had the chance to be one of 12,000 torchbearers who will run with the flame as it makes its way to Vancouver. She said she was also happy to share that opportunity with others.

"It was an incredible experience," she said. "There was just so much Olympic spirit."

Snow said that running with the torch wasn't something she would forget.

"So many people have held the flame, you really feel like you're part of something," she said. "For me, it represents peace and unity across the nation."

Kate and Andrew Scott leapt at the opportunity to pose for a picture holding the torch. They said it will be a wonderful story to tell their daughters, Mikala, 2, and Anna, 5 weeks, who also attended the community celebration.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Kate Scott said.

Andrew Scott said he saw a lot of meaning in the Olympic torch.

"It symbolizes the spirit of the Olympics," he said. "It shows that we can come together and be united as a country."

The celebrations leading up to the arrival of the flame included performances by The Rockin' Billies, the Muskrat Singers from St. Mary's First Nation and Les Grandes Retrouvailles.

The flame was carried into Officers Square by special community torchbearer, Olympic silver medal winner Marianne Limpert.

Limpert competed for Canada in three consecutive Summer Olympic Games, winning the medal in 1996 in the 200-metre individual medley swimming event.

The crowd roared as Limpert made her way to the stage and lit the community cauldron.

Limpert said that running with the Olympic flame was an even more amazing experience for her than winning an Olympic medal.

"I have to say, it's probably even better," she said.

"This is my home; this is where I grew up. Fredericton is the best place in the world."

Limpert said no matter where she has gone in her life, Fredericton has always had a special place in her heart.

"I think for me, it was so important for my career, the support I received from Fredericton," she said. "That's what makes Fredericton such a great place."

MP Keith Ashfield, minister of state for ACOA, and MLA Kelly Lamrock, minister of social development, took to the stage to express the Canadian pride they felt upon seeing the Olympic flame.

Mayor Brad Woodside said that he remembered the Olympic Torch Relay of 1988. He said he was proud to be mayor of Fredericton then, as well as now.

"What I would like to say is this," Woodside said. "I love this city, I love this province and I love Canada."

The flame will leave Fredericton early Friday morning.