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Olympic Flame Star of Torch Relay Media Visit
A group of top-tier travel media were on hand to join British Columbians cheer on the start of the Olympic Torch Relay.
When the Olympic Flame touched down in Victoria on Oct. 30, travel media representatives from the 2010 Tourism Consortium were lighting their own BC story ideas with more than 40 journalists from Canada, the US, Mexico and key overseas markets including Australia, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and Germany.
“Many of these writers have not been to BC before and we were successful in capitalizing on the allure of the Olympic Flame to attract so many quality writers for this visit,” said Mika Ryan, Manager of 2010 Travel Media Relations at Tourism BC.
The trip was organized by the 2010 Tourism Consortium – which includes Tourism BC, Tourism Vancouver, Tourism Whistler, Tourism Richmond and the Canadian Tourism Commission – in partnership with Tourism Victoria and Tourism Vancouver Island.
The visit was timed to coincide with the start of the Olympic Torch Relay and the 100 Day Countdown to the Games.
After watching the magical lighting of the first torch by Olympians Simon Whitfield and Catriona Le May Doan in front of the BC Legislature, journalists set out on a Gold Medal tour of their own in Victoria including an Urban Forage By Foot through Victoria with Travel with Taste Tours, shopping the trendy Lo-Jo district and other jam packed itinerary options.
After following the Olympic Torch Relay for Day 2 of its journey up Vancouver Island through the Cowichan Valley to Duncan and Nanaimo, the group travelled to Vancouver for more Games-themed activities and strapped on some speeds skates in Richmond to test out the Olympic Oval.
In Whistler to celebrate the 100 Day Countdown to the Games, the group toured the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre to learn about local First Nations art, heritage and cuisine, went ziptrekking, dined out at the resorts award-winning restaurants and enjoyed a pancake breakfast with the Vancouver 2010 mascots Miga, Quatchi and Sumi.
The bonus for BC in hosting this mega-visit around the start of the torch relay is important pre-Games buzz in prime media outlets in the lead up to the Games.
While some of these writers may return for the actual Games, Ryan says that for most this was their one chance to experience the destination and share the excitement prior to February 2010.
“The itinerary was created to allow participants a get up close and personal with the Olympic Flame, feel the spirit of the Games and take home memorable stories that can only be created right now in British Columbia.”
Photo caption: Simon Whitfield and Catriona Le May Doan light the torch to begin the relay across Canada.
Photo credit: Victoria Spirit Committee.
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