Who should light the 2010 Olympic flame?

[T@T]

Originally Posted by wpgflamesfan

Yeah getting Terry's mom to light it would be really cool. It'd be even better if they could somehow like another post mentioned get Terry to appear to light it at the same time.

Totally agree, there isn't a Canadian school age kid who doesn't know Terry Fox and since Betty has now branched the Terry Fox Run globally in 53 countries she would be the perfect choice, i would actually be disappointed with anyone else.

[Sainters7]

I'm not sure if we have a former athlete to light the torch that would generate the same type of emotion and power from Muhammad Ali lighting it in Atlanta '96(although Terry Fox wouldve been in the same ballpark). But there's still some great athletes to choose from. What about Donovan Bailey? Or do you think a former winter athlete would be better suited?

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Boy that's not what I said at all.

But the olympics should be represented more by a athlete who sacrifices a better paying career, trains for years to havefor many what will be just one chance to achieve the top of their sport - which is olympic gold.

As opposed to NHLers who are paid millions, get together for a few weeks and really do care more about the Stanley Cup than Olympic gold (Canadian NHLers do anyways)

I completely understand what you are saying. All I am saying is that the ones that we consider amateur athletes are not by any means amateur athletes for the most part. Most receive payment in the form of sponsorships, stipends, etc. It seems as though if their sport doesn't offer them the opportunity to make enough money to support their family and retire on, they are amateurs.

The athletes we only watch every four years and not every Saturday night are amateurs because the public only cares about them for two weeks every four years. Doesn't mean they aren't out there competing on a regular basis just as hard as an NHL player competes for the Stanley Cup.

The Stanley Cup was to be played for by amateurs as well. The history of hockey is riddled with arguments about who can and can not play for the championship.

Like Communism, amateur competition at the Olympics is a great idea in theory but becomes unmanageable.

I just like the fact that I can watch the top athletes in various sports all compete. The amount of money they make is not any of my business.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

But there's still some great athletes to choose from. What about Donovan Bailey? Or do you think a former winter athlete would be better suited?

Catrina Lemay Doan perhaps? Didn't she rake in the golds at the last olympics?

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by driveway

Boo to that. There's enough CG in movies, it would be brutal in the opening ceremonies - tribute to the man would be awesome - but a CG terry fox lighting the torch? Cheese-o-rama.

Yeah, I didn't really mean CG like JarJar Binks. Something like a screen of smoke with Terry's image projected on it moving through the stadium.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I completely understand what you are saying. All I am saying is that the ones that we consider amateur athletes are not by any means amateur athletes for the most part. Most receive payment in the form of sponsorships, stipends, etc. It seems as though if their sport doesn't offer them the opportunity to make enough money to support their family and retire on, they are amateurs.

The athletes we only watch every four years and not every Saturday night are amateurs because the public only cares about them for two weeks every four years. Doesn't mean they aren't out there competing on a regular basis just as hard as an NHL player competes for the Stanley Cup.

The Stanley Cup was to be played for by amateurs as well. The history of hockey is riddled with arguments about who can and can not play for the championship.

Like Communism, amateur competition at the Olympics is a great idea in theory but becomes unmanageable.

I just like the fact that I can watch the top athletes in various sports all compete. The amount of money they make is not any of my business.

OK and that's all fine but in the context of this discussion - that is - who should light the flame - who is a better representative of the typical olympic athlete.

I would add my favourite suggestion so far is Terry Fox's mom.

[CaptainCrunch]

How about that Olympic wrestler Daniel Igniali (sp?)

He's a Vancouver kid.

[browna]

Robyn Perry lit the torch here, I know because she was a year ahead of me at my junior high at the time. She couldn't tell anyone but her parents in advance, being such a surprise. But she didn't have much of a "story" behind her. Upper middle class white 12 year old girl.

I like that idea, at least that of a "unknown"...sure, they had all the Canadian heros around Ken Read brought it into the stadium...as well as other ex Canadian athletes I can't recall, ran it a lap around McMahon.

But that's nowhere near enough flash 2 decades later.

David Suzuki lighting it would be priceless...but he's more likely to uselessly attempt to pour a bucket on the water rather then be the person who light a 15 day perptually lit, hydrocarbon burning, device.

Its either to be someone that's completely unique that people will rush to get to know their story, or, instanly recognizable...Wayne Gretzky for example.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

How about that Olympic wrestler Daniel Igniali (sp?)

He's a Vancouver kid.

I was thinking this as well. Didnt realize Igali lives in Vancouver, that makes it even more likely. The only reservation I have about him is, does he have enough fanfare that everybody knows who he is? I'm sure most big Canadian sports fans do, but I'd be willing to bet that alot of Canadians wouldn't(compared to a Donovan Bailey). Would be a solid choice though, I'd like it.

[Flames2007FIRE IT UP]

Hailey Wickenheiser
Catrina Laymay Doan
Gretz

[icarus]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Catrina Lemay Doan perhaps? Didn't she rake in the golds at the last olympics?

You must be thinking of Cindy Klaasen.

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Won't Nelly's 15 minutes of fame created by her new kinda slutty image be over and done with by then?

And we've apologized to our allies around the world for Bryan Adam's enough, do we have to rip that scab open again?

Pretty long 15 minutes for Nelly Furtado considering she played at the Olympic concert series in Salt Lake City in 2002.

As for Bryan Adams, considering he forgot the words to the Canadian national anthem during the NHL All-Star game seven or eight years ago, I really hope they give him a miss.

[Rejean31]

If Suzuki lights it I'll personally kick his ass and tell him by lighting such a large flame he is contributing to global warming.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I don't even understand the inclusion or suggestion of Suzuki by TSN at all. Kind of strange.

I think the person lighting it should at least have something to do with sports.........since it's kind of a sporting event.

I'll go with Nancy Greene.......... B.C. girl and past Olympic champ.

[icarus]

Rory Fitzpatrick.

I hope the CODA puts this to a vote...

Originally Posted by Barnes

Yeah, I didn't really mean CG like JarJar Binks.

That's it! Jar Jar Binks! "Meesa declare the Olympics is opening!" Done.

[CaptainCrunch]

They should get Suzuki to drive the torch across Canada on his big diesel gas guzzling super bus.

And then he can buy some carbon credits to off set the torch.

[Shawnski]

My off the board pick would be Brett Hart.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Shawnski

My off the board pick would be Brett Hart.

He could totally heel turn on Joe Sakic.

Hart bashes him with the torch and then locks him in the sharpshooter while billions boo him.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Flames2007FIRE IT UP

Hailey Wickenheiser
Catrina Laymay Doan
Gretz

Nope, not Gretzky, he has little association with the Olympics except for 2 appearances with hockey.

I would go with Catrina Laymay Doan or even Sale and Pelletier for recent past Gold Olympians and since the Olympics are being held in BC, I think Nancy Greene Raine would be a nice touch for someone from the far past.

Some of our past male figure skaters deserve honorable mention too, Kurt Browning and Brian Orser come to mind.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

I already said earlier that I vote Sakic and some people agreed.

However, not that a celebrity would get to start the flame, but who are celebrities from BC? Michael J. Fox, Nelly Furtado, Pamela Anderson...who else? (I don't think this will happen nor should it, but just curious who else is from BC?)

for the closing ceremonies, they should have her pop her saline implants to extinguish the flame; it'd be a tidal wave

[Ford Prefect]

Forgive my cynicism, but I think that in the true spirit of the modern Olympics they should auction off the right to light the flame to the highest bidder ... Coke, Nissan, Budweiser, etc. That's what it's all about anyway (global marketing), and it'll help pay the tab so tax payers aren't left with a huge legacy of debt.