In less than 500 days, Vancouver 2010 will welcome the athletes and the world “With Glowing Hearts”. The Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) has announced that these words from the English version of “ÔCanada” (Canadian national anthem) and “Des plus brillants exploits” from the French version will be the official 2010 Winter Games mottos.
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Emotion and pride
These mottos - which will forever be tied to Olympic and Paralympic athletic achievements in 2010 - express the character and personality of Canada’s Games. For John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer, “the mottos describe the pride that results from outstanding achievement; be it an athlete’s performance of a lifetime or the valuable contribution of a dedicated volunteer. There’s a champion in everybody and the mottos invite everyone to step up to their own podium and give their very best through the once-in-a-lifetime experience of the 2010 Winter Games”.
An inspired motto
The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, recalled that “finding the perfect motto for the Olympic Games is one of the great challenges organising committees face. It may be the last inspirational words an athlete reads on the field of play before their performance of a lifetime, or the first celebratory words they see when stepping onto the medal podium. It should both welcome visitors from around the world and motivate an army of volunteers. With Glowing Hearts is an inspired motto choice and we commend VANOC on selecting a motto that delivers on all of these counts and invites the world to share in these time-honoured words from Canada’s national anthem."
Captures the Paralympic spirit
The motto, said Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), “captures the warm and welcoming spirit of the host nation and it promises to the world that the extraordinary achievements of all athletes will be honoured and celebrated. The motto also continues the spirit of the Paralympic values: courage, determination, inspiration and equality.”
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Games motto welcomes the world, inspires excellence
Canadians to welcome the world’s best winter athletes in 2010 “With Glowing Hearts”