Torchbearers needed for Pan Am Games relay

The Toronto 2015 Pan Am Torch Relay, presented by President’s Choice, is coming to Greater Sudbury next spring.

Three-thousand torchbearers will proudly carry the flame and share its welcoming Pan Am spirit on the 41-day journey towards the lighting of the cauldron on July 10, 2015 to officially open the Games.

Residents of Greater Sudbury are invited to enter to be a torchbearer at TORONTO2015.org/torch-relay.

“We’re excited that Greater Sudbury has been named as a major celebration community for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Torch Relay, and we look forward to welcoming the Pan Am flame next spring as we showcase our unique heritage and sporting traditions,” said Mayor Marianne Matichuk.

“We encourage all of our residents who will be aged 13 and older by May 30, 2015 to sign up to be torchbearers today at TORONTO2015.org/torch-relay. We’ll also be selecting our own special community torchbearer to run on our behalf when the flame comes to our city.”

The highly anticipated relay begins in May 2015 with the traditional Aztec lighting ceremony at the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico. The Canadian journey for the flame starts with its arrival in Toronto on May 30, 2015. It will then visit five other cities in Canada, as well as 130 communities in all corners of Ontario.

“The Toronto 2015 Pan Am Torch Relay is an invitation to the nation to join the journey, share the spirit and show community pride as we prepare to welcome the best to the biggest international multi-sport Games Canada has ever held,” said Saäd Rafi, chief executive officer of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015).

Along with the public application process, which closes December 1, 2014, at 11:59 p.m. (ET), torchbearers will also be chosen by torch relay route communities, and other Games stakeholders.

Torchbearers must be a Canadian citizen or legal resident of Canada and 13 years of age or older (as of May 30, 2015). For a complete list of criteria, visit TORONTO2015.org/torch-relay.