CANADIAN RUGBY LEGEND GARETH REES TO RUN WITH OLYMPIC TORCH
The former Canadian captain will receive the torch at 11:51 local time (19:51 GMT) to run one of the final legs before the flame enters the BC Place Stadium for the Opening Ceremony.
Rees said of the invitation: “I am thoroughly delighted to have been asked and I’m more excited about this than I have been for a long time!! "[Vancouver Olympic Committee head] John Furlong called me and that was quite an honour in itself . . . it was totally unexpected," he said.
“I am very happy rugby has been included, it is a tribute to the great game we have, and the incredible global popularity the game is currently enjoying. For a kid from Victoria who chose rugby, it is amazing to think I will be running with the torch minutes before it enters BC Place. It is equally inspiring to know that today’s kids who choose rugby will have the opportunity to represent Canada, playing rugby in the Olympics now that we are an Olympic sport.”
Coverage of Rees carrying the torch can be seen via a live feed on the Vancouver 2010 website at www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/follow-torch/index.html
This will be Rees's second appearance at an opening ceremony, as he was one of 16 rugby world greats who took part in the opening ceremony of the 2007 Rugby World Cup at Stade de France, Paris.
A deadly goal kicking fly half/full back, Rees first made his name playing for Wasps in the then John Player Cup Final at Twickenham in 1986, when he was still just 18 years of age. Following two Varsity Blues with Oxford, he went on to collect a league title with Wasps in 1996. As Canada’s best-known player during the nineties, Rees collected 55 caps for Canada, 25 as captain, leading the Canucks during the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cup tournaments.
In 1999, the UK Rugby Union Writers Club awarded him its Special Award, and in 2008 he was inducted into the prestigious British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame.
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