Word that Canadas new ambassador to Washington, former Manitoba premier Gary Doer, has invited President Barack Obama to send his kids to see Canadian polar bears creates the possibility of the biggest concentration of awww-inspiring photo-ops ever imagined. Needless to say, Churchill, Man., the polar bear capital of the world, is beside itself at the prospect of Sasha, 8, and Malia, 11, coming to town. A so-called “tundra buggy” to take the First Daughters out to see the bears is reportedly being held waiting. Of course, it’s all speculation—but Doer did have a track record as premier of luring the powerful and famous to view the bears.
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Contrary to popular belief, the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic flame at the Opening Ceremonies is, in fact, a decidedly modern affair. The culmination of the torch relay in a grandiose display at the Opening Ceremonies is a relic of the 1936 Berlin Games—just one of many attempts by the Nazi regime to lend a mythical air to the Games. Still, despite its dubious history, the lighting of the cauldron has evolved into one of the most spectacular and ostentatious displays at the Games. And the secretiveness that surrounds the lead-up to the ceremony only lends to the hype.
When it comes to the 2010 Games, the speculation about who will be selected to light the cauldron has coalesced around whether VANOC will go the traditional route and opt for a former Olympian or take the road less-travelled and pick someone from outside the sports world. Facebook groups have popped up promoting everyone from Terry Fox’s mother, Betty, to former Vancouver Canucks captain Trevor Linden. So far, Vancouver’s Olympic organizers have kept a tight lid on who the potential candidates might be. We’ve assembled a list of the names making the rounds, but feel free to add your own in the poll or in the comments below.
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He is awesome, and Churchil Manitoba is amazing, I hope they will take on the oportunity and everybody else does too, a very unique place!
If this happened, the visit would be hijacked by the eco-loons / lib left media demanding that we protect these poor creatures by buying 10 trillion dollars worth of carbon offsets from China and India..