Mangalorean Michelle Among Vancouver Olympic Torchbearer

by Janet D'Souza, Canada

Vancouver, Jan 14: The Olympic Games conjure an image of perfection, victory, friendship and peace.  It is a major international event comprising of summer and winter sports in which athletes from around the world compete in a variety of events.   During the Olympic Games held in Amsterdam in 1982, the Olympic flame first appeared and has since then represented purity, pursuit of perfection, the struggle to triumph, peace and friendship.

The first Olympic Winter Games were held in Chamonix, France in 1924.  On July 2, 2003, Vancouver was selected as the host city for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.  From January 22 to March 21, 2010, the best of the athletes from Canada and around the world will demonstrate their spectacular skills and abilities to attain victory.  The Olympic Flame, an integral part of the games was lit in Olympia, Greece on October 22nd and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay began on October 30th in Victoria, BC.  The flame will travel about 45,000 kilometers on a 106 day journey by land, air and water to more than 1,000 communities across Canada.

A piece of the Winter Olympics history was created in Ontario, Canada by Michelle Fernandes, daughter of Ronald and Clara Fernandes, active and stellar members of  the Mangalorean Association of Canada.  Encouraged by her fencing coach to sign up on the Olympic Torch Relay website sponsored by Coca-Cola and RBC, Michelle Fernandes, a University of Western Ontario student, was selected to be one of the Olympic Torchbearers and her relay segment took place in the community of Bkejwanong on December 24, 2009 at 9.00 am.    Bkejwanong comprises of Walpole Island and the surrounding region and it means "where the waters divide." It has been home to aboriginal people for over six thousand years.  Michelle proudly carried the Olympic flame for a distance of 300 meters starting along the Walpole Island Sports Complex & Community Centre to Guardrail for bridge on Tecumseh Road.

On that frigid day at Bkejwanong, the native elder using a traditional eagle feather performed the “Smudging” ceremony, a ritual way to cleanse negative energies or influences.  Once the blessing of the Olympic flame ceremony was completed, a member of the First Nations community transferred the flame to Michelle Fernandes.  When asked to describe this extraordinary experience, her first thought was that she had to be careful not to drop the Olympic flame while carrying it.  Proud of her achievement and cognizant of her role in the creation of history, Michelle also felt that her experience was surreal and one that will be remembered and cherished by her family and friends.