Dawson City is ready to shine in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay with the announcement that Kevin Mendelsohn will be the community torchbearer.

In just 21 days, the eyes of the world will turn to Dawson as the Olympic flame arrives there as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada.

"The excitement is building for the arrival of the Olympic Flame and everyone is invited to come out and cheer it on its journey to Vancouver,” said Mayor John Steins. "On November 4, we hope to see hundreds of people turn out for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Olympic Flame in person right here in our community.”

The torch relay will arrive in Dawson at approximately 9 a.m. as part of a convoy of vehicles, which will include torchbearer shuttles, media vehicles, relay support vehicles and police cruisers.

Temporary rolling road closures will ensure the safety of the torchbearers and spectators lining the relay route. The crowd will see a new torchbearer carry the flame every 300 metres through the community as it travels on its 45,000-kilometre-long journey across Canada — the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history.

The torch relay begins at Robert Service School. Three torchbearers will carry the flame through the streets of Dawson to the celebration site on Front at York Street, right next to Dänojà Zho, where the community cauldron will be lit.

To celebrate the arrival of the flame, Dawson City is hosting a special community event following the torch-lighting ceremonies. Join us for a bonfire, live music at the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Hall, a free lunch with stew and bannock and a Firefighter's barbecue, plus Dawson-style Olympic games and more. This event will run until 1 p.m.

As part of our community celebration, Kevin Mendelsohn has been named as Dawson City's community torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. He will have the honour of lighting the community cauldron during the show.

Dawson-born Mendelsohn, 21, most recently worked as an equipment operator at a Klondike gold mine. He is known for his dedication to his volunteer work with the Dawson City Ambulance and Fire Department, and is an avid kick-boxer.

"The Trondëk Hwëch'in are pleased to welcome the Olympic Torch and its message of unity, peace and good sportsmanship to our traditional territory. It is an honour to host such a prestigious symbol,” said Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Chief Eddie Taylor. "I also extend my hearty congratulations to TH citizen Kevin Mendelsohn.

He is a great role model for our youth and a worthy candidate to carry the Torch and all that it symbolizes through our community.”

"Our goal with these celebrations has always been to bring the magic and excitement of the Olympic Spirit home to millions of Canadians no matter where they live and truly make these Canada's Games,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

The 106-day Olympic Torch Relay will visit more than 1,030 communities and places of interest in every province and territory. On February 12, 2010, the Olympic Flame will make its way to downtown Vancouver to light the Olympic Cauldron in a magical and awe-inspiring moment before a television audience of three billion people worldwide, signalling the kick off to the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay visit www.vancover2010.com/torch relay. Detailed street-level route details will be available on the website approximately two weeks before the Olympic Flame arrives in the community.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com for more information.

Submitted