Olympic Torch arrives in Whitehorse this afternoon

After years of planning and anticipation the Olympic flame has finally arrived in Canada,

After years of planning and anticipation the Olympic flame has finally arrived in Canada, and this afternoon it will make a stop in Whitehorse as it begins the longest Olympic torch relay in history.

The flame is expected to arrive in Whitehorse this afternoon at 2:15 p.m., with the relay beginning shortly afterwards at 3:20 p.m. at the Yukon Beringia Centre.

Most of the names of the torch bearers have remained secret, but it was announced yesterday that Ramesh Ferris will be Whitehorse’s community torch bearer.

Also carrying the torch will be the Kwanlin Koyotes Ski Club and Tom Fairman.

Fairman was selected by RBC to help bring the flame to Whitehorse. At 69, this is his second run with the torch, the first being in 1988 at the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary.

“When I was selected by RBC to carry the torch for the 2010 Olympic Relay, I thought, what an honour to get to do this again,” said Fairman.

He will join 12,000 lucky Canadians across the country who will carry the flame 45,000 kilometres over 106 days.

The flame will make its final stop in Vancouver at B.C. Place, where the final torch bearer will run the flame into the stadium signaling the beginning of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games on Feb. 12.

The flame will wind its way through Whitehorse this afternoon, ending at Shipyards Park at 6 p.m. for a community celebration.

The flame will continue its journey to Vancouver tomorrow in Dawson.

See more on the relay onpage three,  and see tomorrow’s Whitehorse Star for coverage of the Olympic Torch’s stop in Whitehorse.