Clearview Township has formed a committee to promote the arrival of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch in Creemore and to prepare for the big day.  

The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games announced a couple weeks ago the Olympic Torch Relay will pass through the village on Dec. 29.

Clearview's committee said it's ready to work with local organizations in order to promote and celebrate the event.  

The committee is comprised of several volunteers from the community. On board is Sara Hershoff, Larry Sinclair, Alex Hargrave, Peggy Novak, Julie Ellis, Clearview Township councillor Thom Paterson and the municipality's chief administrative officer, Sue McKenzie.

The torch will be lit on Oct. 22 in Athens, Greece - the birthplace of the Olympics - and handed to a Canadian representative before making its trans-Atlantic flight.

On Oct. 30, the torch will begin a 45,000 kilometre, 106-day trek across the country, starting in Victoria, B.C.

VANOC officials say the route has been set up so that as many Canadians as possible will be able to see the torch.

Local residents interested in carrying the torch through the community can apply on the Internet at www.icoke.ca or www.rbc.com/carrythetorch. Coca-Cola and RBC have the exclusive rights for the torch-carrying program.

"This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some very lucky Clearview residents," Paterson said in a statement last week. "I know that the individuals who get the chance to run with the flame will forever cherish the moment and the memory of being a very real part of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games."

The municipality noted in a news release last week that each of the 12,000 torchbearers selected for the relay across Canada will receive a new torch to carry the Olympic flame for their part of the journey.

The individual torches have been manufactured by Bombardier and can be purchased by the torchbearer after the run, the township said.

Torchbearers will also receive a complete uniform, designed by Hudson's Bay Company.

The uniform consists of a jacket, pants, toque and knitted red mittens.

Readers can find more information about the games at www.vancouver2010.com.

To reach the local committee, call the township's communications coordinator, Julie Ellis, at 428-6230, ext. 264 or e-mail jellis@clearview.ca.