Torch celebration approved by council

Wayne Moore -Dec 1, 2009 Castanet:

Kelowna Council has approved details of the Olympic Torch Relay celebration. The Torch is scheduled to make an extended stop in Kelowna January 25, 2010, as it makes its journey to the Vancouver Olympics. A lengthy celebration will be held at City Park from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. The Torch is expected to reach the city at about 6 p.m. Kelowna Olympian Scott Frandsen will carry the torch the final 300 metres before lighting the ceremonial cauldron.

The evening long celebration comes with a $104,000 price tag. The City will chip in $48,0000, the province $40,000, the federal government $15,000 with the remaining $1,500 coming from value in kind. Partnership and Development Manager Reid Oddleifson reminded council it originally budgeted up to $80,000 for the celebrations. "I'd like to remind council that it had approved from the Festivals and Community Event reserve account up to $80,000 in support of this event," says Oddleifson. "Through the grant from the province and the grant from the federal government, and in working with the City Manager, we were able to identify $48,000 instead of the $80,000 should it be necessary." Oddleifson says the program was turned down to the point where he says they have a solid budget and a solid event planned.

While council unanimously endorsed the event, one councillor still had some concerns about the amount of money being spent. "I'm glad you were able to get it down from $80,000 to $48,000. That being said I still have some concerns about $48,000 for a party," says Councillor Charlie Hodge. "I'm not convinced that the entire province is going to benefit from the Olympics like some people do." Expenses include $17,000 for Aboriginal, sport and school connections and participation, $16,500 for promotional giveaways, (glow candles, Canadian flags, red mittens) and nearly $23,000 for equipment rentals, entertainment and performers. Oddleifson says Kid Sport will handle the 10,000 'by donation' glow candles on the site while another 10,000 Canadian mini-flags will also be distributed.

Councillor Robert Hobson says he's excited to see the torch relay come to the Okanagan. "If you look on the web or the news events in the evening, this torch relay is really galvanizing the country. I think when it gets to Kelowna it's really going to be a great big happy train of people," says Hobson. "It's a really nice event and it's nice to see the involvement of all the groups." Oddleifson says he expects between 10,000 and 15,000 people will take in the festivities.