What do you think about opening up the Torch Relay to bearers from other countries?

[trailmix 77]

So this was on the news tonight, i'm just wondering how our poll results will differ from those at CTV (if at all - no peeking before voting now lol)

American teens chosen to carry torch

Updated: Tue Jan. 19 2010 16:34:23

By the time the Olympic Torch Relay is finished, 12,000 people will have carried the flame. But not all of them are Canadians.

Twenty American teens have been chosen to be torchbearers for the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.

15-year-old Stevie Peacock, who is from Sarasota, Florida, was one of those teens. Peacock, who won a contest through Coca-Cola, got to carry the torch while it was in Calgary on Tuesday. "It's overwhelming and it's really incredible. I'm just so proud to be part of this tradition and seeing everyone here, it's amazing," says Peacock.

The fact that the Torch Relay wasn't reserved for Canadians hasn't bothered those cheering it along the route. From the northeast, to the jam-packed streets off 17 Avenue, the relay fanfare continues to grow. Students from nine southeast high schools packed the sidewalks along International Avenue on Tuesday. They were all cheering with pride as they snapped pictures and soaked up every moment of the Olympic experience.

Edited January 20, 2010 by trailmix

[CDAgirlMI 51]

I think if they're not Canadian, at least make it someone competing in the Olympics.

In December the torch passed through Amherstburg, Ontario(where I was living at the time). Stood by the road & snapped these:

[CDAgirlMI 51]

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Isn't the Olympics supposed to be about bringing countires together in sportsmanship? Why not open it up to people of other countries?

[OBX 51]

Isn't the Olympics supposed to be about bringing countires together in sportsmanship? Why not open it up to people of other countries?

True but I think it's one of the perks of being the host country. I like to see regular people carrying the torch rather that the rash of CTV celebrities scheduled.

http://www.truthandrumours.net/2009/10/22/...-embarrassment/

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

I think it's a great idea for all to be torch relay bearers, regardless of country....

After all, isn't the olympics open to all countries and suposed to "unite" us all? So why not continue this "olympic international spirit" to all....

However, I think "priority" should be placed to those who are citizens of the country hosting the olympics, as the citizens of this country are the ones going out of their way to host such an international event....

Lol...Either way, Happy Olympics to all! Go Canada 2010!!!

Ant

P.S. On a somewhat unrelated note....

My Dad in Canada e-mails me...out of the blue...a few weeks ago..

Says that my "step-brother" was a torch bearer....picked from over thousands of applicants......lol......no joke.......

The problem: I don't even know how my step-brother looks like, as I haven't seen him in years!.....

Edited January 20, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Hugglebuggles 60]

There's something I'm a little confused about actually. I know in past Olympic games the torch has traveled through more countries than just the host state. I remember in the last Olympics (Beijing 2008) the torch passed through a number of European and Asian countries before the long route through China. I'm not sure if this is specific to the summer games or if Beijing broke with tradition, but Canada hasn't exactly shared the torch. After it left Athens it came right here and hasn't left. So, I think that alone is a pretty good reason to want to open the torch carrying duties of people from other countries. Even though we are the host country, the Olympics is about bringing nations together and torch hogging isn't really providing a good example!

Another thought I had, is what about the millions of non-citizens that live in Canada? Shouldn't a permanent resident who has lived in Canada for a long period of time be able to share in torch carrying duties? I don't see why not.

I'm wondering if people would be so upset about this if the non Canadians kids carring the torch weren't American. If there was a 15 year old kid from Switzerland carrying the torch I'm not so sure it would be such a big issue.

Edited January 20, 2010 by Hugglebuggles

[Allie 5]

When the winter Olympics were in Lake Placid and Atlanta did they offer Canadians the chance to run with the Olympic Torch? I may be wrong but I don't think they did.

Canada won the Olympic bid and it's their party and show so I think it should be strictly Canadian runners. Those are 20 running spots I'm sure some Canadian kid would love to have.

[Carlawarla 1]

I voted only Canadians. I feel kind of petty actually! One of those things that when I first read it I thought...awww, how nice to have others join in, then I thought about it, and actually saw that one of the carriers was a teen from the U.S. that won the right to carry the torch from a Coca-Cola contest????!!!!!!!! THAT is just wrong. So, then I had no qualms after that in voting "only Canadians".

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

I voted only Canadians. I feel kind of petty actually! One of those things that when I first read it I thought...awww, how nice to have others join in, then I thought about it, and actually saw that one of the carriers was a teen from the U.S. that won the right to carry the torch from a Coca-Cola contest????!!!!!!!! THAT is just wrong. So, then I had no qualms after that in voting "only Canadians".

Yeah, that's the thing -- you shouldn't be able to WIN some corporate contest to get to carry the torch in another country... I'd be totally fine with it if there was a specific reason for someone from another country to be carrying it, but it's supposed to be a great honor to carry the torch -- NOT a randomly assigned prize! Easy for me to say this now, but if I'd somehow won such a thing, I'm pretty sure I'd turn it down. Kind of like how hockey players don't touch the Stanley Cup unless they've won it. It's just a respect for the honor of the tradition, you know?

Maybe I'm just getting more sentimental now that I'm in my thirties.

[Sprailenes 47]

UGH NOT OTHER COUNTRIES!!!! UGH IMAGINE THE GERMS!!!!!

[trailmix 77]

Yeah, I haven't even voted in this poll because i'm kind of divided.

On the one hand I think it should only be Canadians - for many of the reasons you all have already stated - it is an honour and i'm sure many Canadians are worthy of that honour. There was a 96 year old woman here yesterday who got to carry the torch and I thought that was sweet and it was very special to her.

The fact that people are from other countries doesn't bother me too much, the fact that they won it in a Coke contest does - but who is responsible for that, the Canadian Olympic Committee? There is also a Coke truck driving alongside the torch bearers. (I love coke, don't get me wrong haha)

I guess if people from other nations had 'won' the priviledge for doing something worthy or remarkable, whether in athletics or something else, I wouldn't have a problem with that.

[warlord 73]

I personally couldn't care less who carries the torch. I never watch the torch run on TV anways. In fact I never really see much of the winter olympics to begin with so doubt I'll even watch any of it. I perfer the summer games myself. Well used to when you could see all countries participate. I haven't even watched that for the past many years due to networks only showing US teams (or if you're in Canada, Canadian teams). I want to actually see other countries against other countries in the events as well.

So to me I really don't care who carries the torch if its 1 person from Uganda or a million people from all over...

[trailmix 77]

I don't follow the Olympics either, but I figured this wasn't actually about ME - they didn't ask me to carry the torch at all - surprisingly.

What do you care about warlord? I have only ever seen you state all the things you don't care about

[warlord 73]

I don't follow the Olympics either, but I figured this wasn't actually about ME - they didn't ask me to carry the torch at all - surprisingly.

What do you care about warlord? I have only ever seen you state all the things you don't care about

Re-read how I wrote my thing and yeah comes across that I don't care about anything etc. Not what I was going for in that post, but I have a tendency not to proof read how I write, so often it can get mis-interpreted, especially when I get off topic like above.

Since the Olympics is Nation vs. Nation, I think that every nation should be allowed to carry the Olympic torch to the ceremony regardless what country it's held in. After all it's just a location, but the torch symbolizes every athelete and nation participating, so all nations should have that honor to run with it through the host country. I just think having only the host nation carry the torch, makes it seem like the host country owns the Olympics and invites other countries to their Olympics, when in fact the host nation is picked by other nations for a specific location only.

So make it as many countries as possible and let them carry the torch is what I feel...

Edited January 20, 2010 by warlord