A military Hercules aircraft carrying donated sporting goods to 20 communities across the North this week, part of a project leading up to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The donated hockey, soccer, lacrosse, baseball and basketball equipment began its northern journey Monday as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Truce Northern Outreach Project, which officially launched Monday morning in Winnipeg.
The project is organized by the 2010 Olympic organizing committee (known as VANOC), the Canadian Forces and the United Nations Association of Canada.
"Canada is the largest country in the world ever to host the Winter Olympics, and it's six times the size of Europe," VANOC chief executive officer John Furlong told CBC News on Monday.
"We have plenty of need at home, and so we thought, why not try to do some outreach work in our own country, where there's definitely a need?"
Furlong said the donated equipment will foster more play and hopefully mean less conflict in northern communities.
The sports gear — donated by Nike as well as the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames teams — has been loaded into a CC-130 Hercules aircraft at CFB Winnipeg and is scheduled to fly to the Yukon community of Watson Lake on Monday afternoon.
Canadian Forces spokesperson Jennifer Taylor said the Hercules will spend Monday night in Whitehorse, then drop off more donations Tuesday in the Yukon communities of Faro and Mayo.
Perfect landing!
I think this picture helps to convey how cold it was out there today. It just looks cold!
Waiting for everyone to get off the plane. Cavan was tucked away in the amouti.
Here comes the Olympic Spirit Box along with delegates, the Mascots and a news (film?) crew!
Matt and Hunter posing with Miga:
*I am pretty sure the mascots were the only ones nice and toasty warm out there!
The Spirit Box being unloaded:
The box was jammed full of new sports gear for our community. What a treat!
Showing off the loot!
Even with the chilly temperatures we had a great time out there today. Thank you to all of those who organized and participated this event. I am sure all Faroites appreciated being chosen as a recipient of this Spirit Box. Safe travels to this crew as you continue around the north!
8 comments:
What a bummer we couldn't go...too cold for Abby. And a real shame, because she LOVES her Quatchi doll! Like LOVES it!
Okay, that is soooo cool! Will be nice to see Faro and Ross put that gear to work:)
That is so cool! I wish I lived somewhere cold enough to wear a big parka too :P
Random thought, trying not to put a negative note on the promotional VANOC Olympic event, but wouldn't the cost of the fuel of the Herc and the carbon footprint not overwhelm whatever sport equipment contribution is made to a small community. Even if the Herc was a n in-kind contribution from DND. The environmental cost is burdened by us all. (Look up the fuel consumption on each take off). A truck drop-off may have been more sensible.
Ah yes, I have seen my home-city of Van transformed, and I am concerned about the long-term future effects on social programs in the province - the first thing to be cut when $ shortfalls result post-olympics.
I need only ask my friends/family in Sydney for their recovery experience.
soph
Soph,
I am not sure if you realize this, but only 3 of the 20 stops the Herc makes will be in communities with road access.
And that is as far as I am going to go into this argument!
Very diplomatic Kara. I was thinking the same exact thing. (about how trucks would not be a good way to deliver in Northern Canada)
Love your pictures! The Herc is landing in Kugaaruk tomorrow. I'm now very much looking forward to meeting Quatchi.
I'm very impressed with VANOC and the support they are offering to young-athletes in small northern communities.
Sweet!
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