Canadians back Vancouver torch run, poll says

by ROD MICKLEBURGH — May 2, 2008

VANCOUVER -- Protest threats from native leaders and high-profile disruptions besetting Beijing's Olympic torch relay have done nothing to dampen Canadian enthusiasm for this country's ceremonial run to the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, a new poll shows.

According to the Ipsos Reid survey, 86 per cent of respondents agreed that the 2010 torch relay is a way for the Games to "touch and inspire all Canadians in a personal way."

Similar numbers also agreed that it was a "tremendous opportunity" to unify Canadians, an important part of the Winter Olympics and should proceed as planned, regardless of events swirling around the Beijing flame.

The poll was commissioned by local Olympic organizers and conducted two weeks ago at the height of controversy over the Olympic flame's troubled passage to China for the Summer Games in August.

Nearly 90 per cent of those surveyed said they were aware of the recent torch protests over the host country's lack of human rights and its policies toward Tibet, but believed they had nothing to do with Canada's relay.

Only 20 per cent said the torch turmoil might prompt them not to watch the 2010 Olympic flame pass through their area.

Jim Richards, director of torch relays for the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC), said such strong national support so far ahead of the Games is virtually unprecedented.

"Our numbers are significantly higher than those of previous Games and are at exactly the same level as those of Torino [Italian host of the last Winter Olympics] on the very eve of their Games," Mr. Richards said yesterday.

"It's an absolute delight for us to see this support, in spite of what's going on around the world. It shows we still have that confidence from the Canadian public. They can trust us through thick and thin."

VANOC boss John Furlong, who confessed earlier to feeling sick with apprehension while watching the torturous, mishap-strewn journey of the Beijing flame, echoed Mr. Richards's pleasure at the poll results.

"Considering that we are just starting to build our relationships with communities across Canada regarding the torch relay, these figures are very high," Mr. Furlong said. "In fact, they are stratospherically positive."

During the flame's trek outside China, protesters and security cops have played out fierce versions of hide-'n'-seek and tackle football.

Despite the large majority of Canadians who want the 2010 relay to go ahead, 31 per cent said fears stemming from the Beijing disruptions would make them less likely to participate as a torchbearer if selected.

VANOC has stressed from the beginning that, unlike China, it does not plan to parade the torch outside Canada. Instead, organizers have billed its 35,000-kilometre journey as the longest torch relay in a single country in Olympic history.

The relay will take place over 100 days, with 12,000 torchbearers chosen to run individual legs of 300 metres, while passing through more than a thousand communities. Highly anticipated details of the route are scheduled to be announced this fall.

More than half of the 1,004 Canadians who took part in the poll said they are likely to watch the torch relay if it passes through their community, 40 per cent said they would follow the journey online and 21 per cent said they would actually want to carry the torch.

Mr. Richards said the low number of eager torchbearers is not all that surprising. "It's interesting, but I think it's because people don't really believe they could participate."

He agreed that many may still think they must run a fair distance.

"But the concept of running a mile with the torch has really passed," Mr. Richards said. "It's been 300 metres for a while, and that allows a much greater number to take part. I think the number will increase as we start our promotion across Canada."

Interest in and support for the 2010 torch relay is highest in Alberta, which experienced the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary. The lowest percentage of those likely to watch, follow or participate in the relay came from Quebec.

Interestingly, residents of British Columbia were the least likely to agree that the Olympic torch run was a great opportunity to inspire and unify Canadians, although the percentage that agreed was still in the low 80s.

Mr. Furlong said VANOC's goal is to make the 2010 torch relay all about peace, sport and Canadian values. "The poll shows a very clear desire by Canadians to make the relay a unifying event across the country.

Results of the Ipsos Reid survey are considered accurate, plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Source:The Globe and Mail