It's official: I am a 2010 Olympic torchbearer
Thursday, October 29, 2009 | 06:45 PM ET
BIO: Jason Kucherawy is a comedian and tour guide. He is a co-founder of Tour Guys, a walking tour company based in Toronto and Vancouver. Jason lives in Toronto and travels as much as he can.
MY TAKE: This past August I was informed by email that I was selected as a torchbearer for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. When I opened the email, I practically exploded with joy. I hooted, I made fist pumps, I jumped out of my chair and I beamed. It written in black and white: I was going to be a torchbearer!
The congratulatory email I received contained a video montage of past torch relays and one of my favourite Coldplay songs (Fix You) served as the soundtrack.
As I watched the video, the realization that I would be a part of this great tradition truly sunk in — that for a few hundred glorious metres, I would be carrying the Olympic flame.
The Olympic flame is an internationally recognized symbol of peace between nations, and for me to run with it is a great honour. I know how precious a thing peace is. In 2006, I spent six months in Afghanistan working with the Canadian Forces as a travel co-ordinator. As a result of my experience, I have a far greater appreciation now for the peace and prosperity we enjoy here in Canada. It's something I wish more of the world would know. I don't think the Olympics will ever bring about world peace, but it is heartening to know that people from all over the world can set aside their differences for a while and come together for the sake of sport.
For me, the Olympics are a wonderful celebration of sport and human achievement. Sports were a huge part of my life growing up. I cherished the countless hours spent playing baseball, competing in high school wrestling and volleyball tournaments, and later helping coach a slow-pitch team in a league for people with special needs in my hometown of Barrie, Ont. Sports have been, and continue to be, a positive aspect of my life. For me the Olympics represent much of what is admirable about humanity, from our natural tendency to work together to our desire to reach further, go faster, fly higher and accomplish more than those who came before us. I don't plan to run my part of the relay in record time, but I'm sure I'll be flying high on adrenaline.
I'm a very proud Canadian. I've worked in the travel and tourism industry since university and spent most of the past decade working as a tour guide for educational tour companies. It was a rewarding job taking students to cities across Canada and teaching them about their country and society and their place in it as young citizens. I've travelled from one coast to the other and have fallen deeply in love with not only our magnificent geography, but our colourful history as well. The eyes of the world will be on Canada in 2010, and as a tour guide who loves showing off his country, I am thrilled to be part of the torch relay and all of the Olympic hoopla.
The other day I received a surprise package in the mail from Coca-Cola. Inside was little piece of the hoopla in the form of a letter congratulating me on being a torchbearer and a red T-shirt made from recycled PET bottles given out only to the official torchbearers who won their spot through Coca-Cola. What a nice thing to do! Too bad it's not really T-shirt weather anymore.
So, come Dec. 29, on some stretch of road between Owen Sound and Barrie, I will be running, chest out, chin up and holding the torch high with a smile on my face as wide as Canada. It will be my Olympic moment to share with family, friends and strangers cheering me on and something I know I will never forget. I hope they let me keep the torch.
Road To The Games: Have you been selected as a torchbearer? Email us your story: yournews@cbc.ca or tweet about it at #cbcyv
Will you be taking pictures from the torch route? Vist cbc.ca/torchrelay to upload your photos.
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Comments
Geoff. Tourond
I have Been given the priveledg of being a torchbearer I applied for one of the 120 torch positions allocated to the Hudsons Bay Company.
my first nation heritage is that of a Metis back in the 1800's Metis scouts led the Hbc red river cart caravans to the various HBC fur trading posts and forts. My great granfather was such a scout working for Hbc fur trading
now in 2009 I work for Hbc as a security investigator. I am also a decorated RCMP veteran I have a very unique heritage connection toHBC and I applied to an Jbc TB with an essay describing this connection.
I was awarded a spot on the Hbc's list
I was watching the news today when suehanna at Cbc newsnet stated she would like to here from other torchbearers so I thought I would let you know of my proud moment.
My run takes place in Port Albernie BC @ 12:40pm
I run down Harbour Rd to the marina and into the Harbour quay
Posted October 29, 2009 08:27 PM
Mike Canada
I hope they block your run.
Uninformed droid citizens like you will continue to be used by the corporate system to try and cram their products down our throat and put nothing back into our communities.
Lets hope for some good global warming in 2010. I'd love to see B.C. experience the hottest winter on record in 2010
Posted October 31, 2009 02:13 PM
Kevin Perry
Victoria
Simon Whitfield handed me the torch on the grounds before it was lit.It was a light weight torch and I got my picture taken by several torch fans.
I tried to go home,but all the bus routes where snarled so I began walking the route ahead of the eight stinky police horses.I walked the entire route from downtown to Esquimalt,where it ducked into the Army Base.
By the time I got to the Trans-Canada Hwy I still had a 20 minute lead on the relay...if i can keep up the pace for 105 more days I will have covered more distance than any human in modern history and will have raised enough money to feed every person on the face of this earth.
Too bad i'm an able bodied Canadian without any apparant debilitating afflictions to garner any world sympathy for such a worldly cause.
See you Ian and Gloria in Whisler!
Posted October 31, 2009 08:12 PM
Marc
Burlington
Hello JAson, Congratulations on being an official 2010 torchbearer! :D I entered all the contests at least 10 times and unfortunately. . .wasnt chosen :( I watched the same video and I had the opposite feeling. I really liked the video and it sunk in, but I was sad watching it because im not carrying it.
Posted November 3, 2009 10:38 PM
Anonymous
That's good Jason.
I just had a look at the "route" map for this monstrous, bloated Fun-Run. Looks like somebody's been smokin' that big ol' torch.
For cripes sakes, Someone get these guys a GPS.
Posted November 11, 2009 11:52 PM
elena brody
toronto
i'm an immigrant... i just wonder who pays for all this runs to carry the fire from Greece to Canada? with movies cameras? Whow much it cost
to pay H1N1 vaccine for people who needs that for canadians? And whow much is this joke?
Just a guqstion.......
Posted November 13, 2009 10:49 PM
pat b.
2010 Olympics - I am a supporter of the concept of the Olympics as a sporting event but that's not wot it has morphed into. Its all about making money - or losing it, as the case may be. when the olympics are over and the bills come due each taxpayer in the province better be ready to pay up becuz in my opinion there will be a huge deficit to cover. Inevitably thats going to mean sacrificing other more worthwhile programs.
Posted November 19, 2009 07:06 PM
DPGumby
Toronto
Congrats! How the heck did you even get a chance from what I see you have to work in TV to even get a shot. The journo's are coming out of the woodwork to line up for this. CTV, TSN. What next FOX news?
Posted November 20, 2009 04:39 PM
Alison Hird
Caledon
Hi there Jason, I too have been selected for the Owen Sound to Barrie leg of the relay. I will post a comment from home this evening. Lovely to meet you! You might want to visit my community website - list your tour business!!! We are a non profit, anyone may add events Free of charge. Ali
Posted November 30, 2009 10:45 AM