Greater Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Sabrina Byrnes 
On January 2, 2010, the Olympic torch relay will make a stop in Greater Sudbury, one of 1,000 communities across the country along the route.
Mayor John Rodriguez announced Friday afternoon that the city has also been selected to host a community celebration in honour of the relay, which is taking place in the 100 days leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Several downtown venues are being considered as the site for the relay celebration, said Rodriguez. He said this will be a chance to showcase Sudbury to the world, and the world to Sudbury.
"The Olympic flame has long been a symbol of the Olympic games," said Mayor Rodriguez.
"It's also a symbol of peace and friendship, of inspiration and passion above all things...it is a symbol of unity."
"The torch will be carried by thousands of Canadians of all ages and all cultural backrounds, reaching people in every corner of every community across the nation," said Rodriguez.
"Greater Sudbury has the tremendous honour of being recognized as a 2010 Olympic Torch Relay Route community."
Bruce Bourget, former principal of Lockerby Composite School, has been named chair of Greater Sudbury's Task Force, who will be co-ordinating the celebrations in consultation with the VANOC Olympic Torch Relay team.
Rodriguez said that Sudbury's participation in the torch relay will be a memory that will last a lifetime for Sudburians.
