Olympic Torch leaves Winnipeg

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This article was published 07/01/2010 (5984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — The 2010 Olympic torch has left Winnipeg on its way through southern Manitoba and westward to its home at the Winter Olympics Feb. 12-28 in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C.

Facing early morning temperatures of -21 C, and a wind chill of -38, Aimee Carvey began its trek at 8 a.m., from Minto Armouries.

Waiting to meet her 300 metres west on St. Matthews was 1988 Calgary Olympics ski jumper Eddie (the Eagle) Edwards, who would take the flame from her.

Edwards had no second thoughts about the bitter cold, "Oh no," he said, holding the torch. "I am not even feeling the cold at this moment."

Edwards was Great Britain’s first and only ski jumper, at the Calgary Games, and despite the fact he finished dead last, his popularity at those Games, made him an Olympic icon.

"This is wonderful," said Edwards, with dozens of excited Winnipeggers cheering him on. "It’s almost as good as competing in Calgary 22 years ago, only a lot safer. I just hope I don’t fall down and drop it, or anything like that.

"I am immensely proud and honoured to be invited back to Canada and be a part of the whole Olympic dream again," said Edwards.

The torch made its way through the West End this morning and down Portage Avenue, reaching Polo Park Shopping Centre by 8:25 a.m.

Turning off Portage Ave., at the Perimeter Highway, the torch was driven to Oak Bluff, where Jody Champagne, a Dominoes Pizza manager, took it from there for his 300-metre section of the relay. "I’m freezing," said Champagne, who said he would pay the $400 fee to keep the torch, "but oh yeah, it (carrying the torch) was sure worth it."

From Oak Bluff the torch was to wind its way down Highway 3 through southern Manitoba, making stops in Sanford, Carman and Morden before spending the night in Portage la Prairie.

On Friday, the torch hits places like Dakota Tipi First Nation, Gladstone, Neepawa, CFB Shilo and Brandon.

Meanwhile, look for the weather to be a little colder for the next few days in southern Manitoba, before temperatures begin to rise next week.

Today will be sunny with a high of -21 C in Winnipeg. However, 20-kilometre-per-hour north winds will create a wind chill of -38. Tonight will be clear with a low of -29 C.

Friday will be sunny again with the wind coming from the south at 20 km/h in the afternoon. The high will be -20 C with a wind chill of -32. Saturday’s outlook is again for sun, with a low of -23 C and much milder high of -10 C.

The improved conditions continue Sunday as we get a mix of sun and cloud with a low of -15 C and a high of -10 C.

The next three days are as follows: Monday, sunny with a high of -12 C; Tuesday, a mix of sun and cloud and a high -4 C; Wednesday, cloudy, high -6 C.