Scarborough already in gear for 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver

Chances open for 4500 performers at opening and closing ceremonies
by George Kagame

With exactly 346 days from today to the start of the 2010 Winter Games, Bell Telecommunications has given the Scarborough community the opportunity to be part of the most important sports event in Canada in recent years.

By appointing Pat Canwith as Venue Telecommunications Manager at the Games, Bell stated that the Rouge Hill resident for 17 years is part of a ‘dream team’ of technical directors who will support the critical communications services required to deliver the Winter Games to other parts of Canada and the rest of the world.

Canwith who has been working with Bell for 18 years joined the 2010 Operations team in 2008 and for the past two months, she has been at the Whistler Centre in Vancouver leading the technical team in support of the World Cup for Bobsleigh and Skeleton and Luge.
Canwith is part of Bell’s 20 member strong team of venue communication managers that are already engaged in supporting a range of 17 different World Cup sports events currently taking place at Olympic venues from January to March 2009.

In a related development, residents of Scarborough and other parts of Toronto now have more opportunities to participate in the 2010 Winter Games as performers, dancers and athletes of all types. This was announced on Tuesday 3rd March after the organizing committee of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games-VANOC launched the search for thousands of volunteers to participate in these iconic and magical mega-productions that bookend the Games.

According to the VANOC website, the application process for ceremonies volunteers can be downloaded and filled online at www.vancouver2010.com/ceremonies. Candidates are asked to complete an application online that lists their skills and abilities. VANOC is searching for 4,500 dancers, athletes and performers across all disciplines. All performers must be aged 17 or older by May 1, 2009 to apply. The Games begin on 12th February 2010.