BC
Summer Games Opening Ceremony
July
18, 2000
(City
of Victoria) Pam Madoff was joined today by Chief Andy Thomas from the
Esquimalt Nation, Chief Robert Sam from the Songhees Nation, and Liz
Ashton, President of the Victoria 2000 Summer Games Society in announcing
the symbolic linking of the First Nations’ Tribal Journey with the
Victoria 2000 Summer Games on Thursday, July 27.
The
Victoria 2000 Summer Games will run from Thursday, July 27 to Sunday, July
30. Approximately 4500 participants, including athletes, coaches,
officials, family members and friends are expected to visit Victoria. The
athletes will participate in 43 sporting events held at 35 different
venues throughout the region.
A
three-week long tribal journey began on July 14 and will be travelling
along the northwest coast where it will visit First Nations communities
before arriving in Victoria on July 26.
Up
to forty canoes, and 1000 Tribal Journey participants, are expected to
arrive in the inner harbour at approximately 4:30 pm on Thursday, July 27
where they will receive a traditional Coast Salish welcome by Chief Thomas
and Chief Sam, representing the host nations. This ceremony is expected to
last two hours.
After
disembarking from their canoes, Tribal Journey participants will gather on
the north sidewalk of Belleville Street and will be formally acknowledged
by Chief Thomas and Chief Sam at approximately 7:40 pm as part of their
welcome address from the Victoria 2000 Summer Games stage in front of the
Legislature.
As
part of the festivities, a First Nations athlete who will be competing in
the diving competition at the Games, Paul Gorup, has been selected to
carry the torch in a canoe that will travel from Mariner’s Landing,
arriving at the Empress Floats at 8:30 pm. The torch will then be handed
over to an athlete who has been selected to carry it to its final
destination on the legislative lawns. Mr. Gorup will accompany this
athlete and the torch on the final leg of its journey.
Contact
for Information:
Marnie
Mayhew, Executive Assistant, Mayor’s Office
Telephone:
(250) 361-0558/email: marniem@city.victoria.bc.ca
