The pride of Vancouver

February 26, 2006 · By Peter Rempel

LA Times:

“Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan, a quadriplegic, accepted the Olympic flag from Turin Mayor Sergio Chiamparino — and, in a demonstration of can-do spirit, spun his mechanized wheelchair to make the giant 16-foot flag flutter.”

Boston Globe:

“Sometime between the Felliniesque Clowns and Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne in tonight’s closing ceremonies of the Winter Games, Sam Sullivan will spin about the stage in a mechanized wheelchair, trying the best a quadriplegic can to wave the Olympic flag. He will embody the spirit of the Olympics and its future.

Comments

3 Responses to “The pride of Vancouver”

  1. From Cork to Toronto on February 27th, 2006 6:30 am [#]

    built into his wheelchair so he could wave the (huge) Olympic flag as is traditional – apparently he practiced in deserted parking lots at night. (I still think a Canadarm would have been cool though). Boy did he ever wave it and the crowd went nuts.The Politic has some media reaction. The Governor-General (hot, as always) seemed to be enjoying herself immensely – was sceptical at first but she certainly beats her predecessor for public appeal (and looks and dress sense). I wonder if VANOC will be worried about

  2. Lord Kitchener's Own on February 27th, 2006 10:51 am [#]

    That ROCKED so hard!

    I bet you the paralympic athletes watching were duly inspired as they get ready to compete in Torino.

    Great job Mayor Sullivan!

  3. Osama Bin Native on April 16th, 2007 4:58 pm [#]

    Should have been a Warrior Flag

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