Yesterday, Students on Ice Alumnus Bilaal Rajan (Arctic ’09) carried the Olympic Flame though downtown Toronto. Congratulations Bilaal!
Bilaal will be joining Students on Ice on our upcoming SOI Antarctic Youth Expedition 2009.
(Photo: Susan Armstrong)
Carrying the Olympic Flame in Toronto!
by Bilaal Rajan
makingchangenow.com (December 17, 2009) — What an incredible day! I was both humbled and honoured to carry the Olympic Flame through the streets of Toronto this evening. It felt fantastic jogging out of the entrance of Sick Kids Hospital, holding the torch high to help raise awareness of child poverty in the developing world.
I want to thank all those who came out in great numbers to support me today. I was really touched by your attendance. You really made a difference in my life. Thank you again.
I also want to thank a friend of mine, Jamie Buisman, who came all the way from Flamborough, Ontario. She is the official photographer with Youth in Motion and when she heard I was carrying the torch, she decided to offer her services pro bono and take all the pictures for me throughout this special day.
The Olympic flame is a true symbol of international peace, unity and friendship. And much like the Games, Canada’s success in her diversity of cultures and of her people exemplifies the need for all of us to work together to end global poverty and reduce climate change for ourselves and generations to come.
Through cooperation and unity, we can rise above ourselves and make the world a better place. That’s what the Olympic spirit is all about.
Carrying the Olympic Flame
by Bilaal Rajan
makingchangenow.com (December 14, 2009) — The Winter Olympics are just a few weeks away and Vancouver is preparing to organize a remarkable cultural and physical phenomenon that has become an international symbol for the betterment of humankind in winter sports.
I am honoured to tell you all that I have been given a unique opportunity to participate in this upcoming Olympics. On December 17th, I will be carrying the Olympic Flame through the streets of downtown Toronto. One of the sponsors, the Royal Bank of Canada, asked me and I was overwhelmed and humbled to be one of the 12,000 torchbearers chosen.
I ask for all your support to attend this celebration with me when I carry the torch. My Olympic torchbearer number is OTR049-254 and my segment of the relay will start at approximately 6:25 pm at the back of Sick Kids Hospital on Elizabeth Avenue (a block south of College Street, just east of University Avenue) and turn right along Elm Street, then turning right on University Avenue to the staff entrance of Sick Kids Hospital.
The Olympic Games are really one of the few international events where people from throughout the world can come together in the spirit of good sportsmanship and citizenship and just have fun. I hope to honour and celebrate this spirit with all of you on December 17th in Toronto when I carry the Flame and again, thank you for all your support.
For more information about Bilaal Rajan, visit http://www.makingchangenow.com