The torchbearer experience LEWISPORTE BY PAM SNOW The Pilot

Mark Colbourne ran his 300 metres with the Olympic Flame in Gambo on Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of The Beacon.

As the Olympic Flame made it's way around the province, local torchbearers were given the opportunity of a lifetime.

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, sponsored by Coca-Cola and the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), includes a 45,000 kilometre, 100-day, 1000 community journey across Canada in hopes to build excitement for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The Torch Relay idea began in 1936, when the first Olympic Torch Relay took the torch from Olympia, Greece to Berlin, Germany. Now, three local torchbearers can look back and say they were a part of history and a part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Jennifer Mullett

For Jennifer Mullett the opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame was "unbelievable."

"It was completely and utterly indescribable," said Ms. Mullett. "I walked the whole way, I savoured every single moment and it went beyond all expectations."

Ms. Mullett said she began getting nervous on Nov. 14, the day before she was scheduled to carry the torch in Port Au Port, near Stephenville.

"I had to run in to the Town Hall the evening that they were doing the briefing in Lewisporte (Nov. 14) and I'm so happy that I saw it here before I went and did it myself," she said. "I felt that I had a better idea of what to expect and it helped to prepare me."

However, Ms. Mullett said that the briefing was carried out by a different team in Stephenville, so it was different, but in a good way.

"The lady who did the briefing there didn't show us any video like they did in Lewisporte," said Ms. Mullett. "She was a younger girl of about 22, really bubbly, and she had us doing exercises and different things and it was really, really nice.

"And there was 10 of us in Stephenville and it was great to have all of us together in one place."

Ms. Mullett said she left Lewisporte at 8 a.m. on Sunday to head to Stephenville for the Torch Relay.

"And I never got home until 11 p.m. on Sunday night," said Ms. Mullett. "It was a very long day, but I had some major support. There were 10 of us that went over to Stephenville, including myself, my husband Ken, and my two boys, my Mom and Dad, my brother and his wife, their daughter and one of her friends. Plus I have family in Stephenville, and there were 10 of them waiting for me and they had everything you could possibly think of done for me.

"They had the house decorated inside and out. They had a big potluck dinner planned for us and they had an actual Olympic cake made for me. It was all very overwhelming."

Ms. Mullett and the other torchbearers were bussed to the various routes where they carried the torch and said it provided a great opportunity to learn more about the torchbearers.

"I got to spend time on the bus with everyone and we all told our stories and then each person got dropped off at the beginning of their route," she said. "Plus we had plenty of time because we all left the Arts and Culture Centre in Stephenville at 3:15 and I didn't get back there until 5:15."

Robert Poirier

"Phenomenal" was the word Robert Poirier used to describe his experience as a torchbearer in Corner Brook on Nov. 15.

"It was over in a flash and it was like I floated for my 300 meters," he said. "It was a very thrilling experience and it was just something you never forget."

Mr. Poirier travelled to Corner Brook on Nov. 14, stayed overnight and then attended the briefing at Corner Brook Town Hall at 10 a.m. the day of the Torch Relay.

"There was people from Ontario, someone from the Olympic committee based in Ottawa, a sports-caster from the Globe and Mail; it certainly was a mixed bag of tricks I tell you that," said Mr. Poirier. "And I actually met an Olympian that was on the Canadian National Rowing team. It was great to meet so many different people."

Mr. Poirier ran at 1:02 p.m. and his 300 meters began at 26 West Valley Road, taking him down Central Street and onto West Street.

"I actually received the flame from a lady by the name of Helen Gushue of Ontario and I gave the flame to a lady from Corner Brook, Ruth Hillier, who is with the Children's Wish Foundation," said Mr. Poirier. "There were a lot of runners in Corner Brook. They were a Celebration Town, so they even had a caldron lit by a Special Olympian who has a world record in weightlifting."

Mr. Poirier said he was honoured to be a torchbearer and to take part in a piece of history.

"When I see the Olympic Flame being lit in Vancouver, I was a part of it," he said. "I carried that flame. That's a thrill that you can't even put into words."

Mark Colbourne

"The torch run was an amazing experience," said Mark Colbourne, "A once in a lifetime opportunity which I am glad to be to of been a part of."

When Mr. Colbourne heard individuals could apply to become a torchbearer, he immediately went to the RBC website and applied.

"To me the Olympics represents the pinnacle of personal achievement," he said. "I grew up involved in various sports such as hockey, curling, baseball, etc., and have always looked forward to watching the best athletes in the world come together and to complete in the Olympics. To me the chance of just being a part of this major international event was too great to miss out on."

Mr. Colbourne found out he was selected as a torchbearer the first week in October and immediately began calling friends and family to tell them the good news.

"When I found this out I was ecstatic," he said.

Mr. Colbourne ran in Gambo on Nov. 14, along Main Street from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church to the Irving location.

"I had to be there for 12:30 p.m. for a briefing before my segment of the run, which took place at 3:00 that afternoon," he said. "I had an excellent congregation that cam along to Gambo with me, including my mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, great aunt, my two sisters, and my nephew, all of whom were excited to be there to witness the event and cheer me on."

Carrying the torch was an experience that Mr. Colbourne said "blew away all expectations".

"It's hard to put into words the feelings and emotions that you feel when you actually run down the road with the torch in your hand and see everyone out cheering you on," he said. " It was as if you were a celebrity, perfect strangers would come up to you before and after your run to take your picture with them.

"The torch became a uniting symbol of people's dreams and aspirations and everyone, torchbearers and spectators alike were extremely proud to be a part of the event and ultimately a part of history. Overall, it was an excellent experience, and one that I will not forget anytime soon."