Olympic Torch Relay heads to Vancouver

Olympic Torch Relay heads to Vancouver: "

After departing Athens, Greece on October 30th, the Olympic Flame has been traveling across Canada, now about 1/3 of the way into its 106-day, 26,000 km overland relay (another 18,000 km by air). Over 12,000 torch-bearers will carry the flame along a winding path covering all of Canada, passing through over 1,000 communities total - from Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary to smaller communities such as Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw, Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Moose Jaw and Sheshatshiu. The final destination: Vancouver's BC Place on February 12, 2010, where it will light the Olympic Cauldron and signal the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Expect a follow-up post early next year, covering the rest of the journey. (33 photos total) [Editor's note, Big Picture will be on break until 12/14/09]

Torchbearer Ruth Sadler carries the Olympic Torch into the Pacific Ocean to meet a surfer along the shores of Pacific Rim National Park just outside Tofino, British Columbia November 1, 2009. The torch was carried out to far west coast of Canada on the third day of its 106-day journey leading to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. (REUTERS/Andy Clark)

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