Former Paralympic gold medallist Dean Bergeron waves to the Quebec City crowd after carrying the Olympic torch to the stage as Canadian Olympic Committee president Marcel Aubut, left, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and Quebec Premier Jean Charest applaud. (Jacques BOissinot/Canadian Press)

The Olympic torch relay is an inspiration to those dreaming of holding the Games in Quebec City, Premier Jean Charest said Wednesday as he welcomed the arrival of the Olympic torch in the provincial capital Wednesday.

Charest was joined by British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell, federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Josée Verner, and Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume in greeting former Paralympic gold medallist Dean Bergeron as he carried the flame onto the stage outside the national assembly.

"Today [the] Olympic torch is stopping in Quebec City — soon maybe its voyage will end in Quebec City," Charest told the crowd. "[Quebec City] has all the attributes of an Olympic city."

Campbell said he would support such a bid.

"I'm very excited about the fact Quebec City has decided it wants to launch an Olympic bid," Campbell said after his get-together with Charest. "If there is anything at all we can do — any lessons we have learned, any technologies we can transfer — we want to make sure we are as a strong partner with Quebec as they have been for us."

Labeaume said he had "taken detailed notes" during a luncheon with Campbell, saying Quebec City is looking for an event to follow up last year’s celebrations marking the its 400th anniversary.

Campbell "said 'be yourself — that is the best way to convince the International Olympic Committee,'” Labeaume said. "That is our speciality, isn't it?"

Quebec City has not yet made any official Olympic bid, but both Charest and Labeaume have said they would love to see the city play host to the Winter Games in the near future.

Quebec looking forward to Vancouver Games

Addressing the crowd, Charest celebrated the history of Quebec athletes at the Winter Olympics, including alpine skiers Mélanie Turgeon, and Lucie and Philippe Laroche; cross-country skier Pierre Harvey and speed-skater Gaétan Boucher.

He said the province will also have a strong delegation at the Vancouver Games.

"Quebec will be present at the Games with its athletes, its artists and its volunteers — and to show the French face of these Olympic games."

"These are the Games of all of Canada," said Canadian Olympic Committee president Marcel Aubut.

Aubut, the former owner of the Quebec Nordiques, pointed to the torch, which was designed and manufactured by Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace.

"The whole of Quebec is behind you," Aubut said.