Canada's Olympic Ambassador Nancy Greene Raine hits the slopes to host
Chinese speed skating medallist Ye Qiaobo at Sun Peaks Resort

OSOYOOS, BC, Jan. 21 /CNW/ - She won China's first ever medal at the Olympic Winter Games, making her an instant hero. Now, former speed skater and current Chinese Senator Ye Qiaobo is heading to BC to run in the Olympic Torch Relay.

Ye is an international torchbearer with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada . Senator Ye takes up the flame on Jan. 25 in Osoyoos.

After her relay run, Ye heads to Sun Peaks Resort north of Kamloops to take in some runs with Canadian Olympic champion skier and Senator for British Columbia Nancy Greene Raine.

Senator Greene Raine won gold and silver at the Grenoble 1968 Winter Games and is Canada's Ambassador for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. She is also Director of Skiing at Sun Peaks Resort.

"I'm delighted to host Qiaobo here at Sun Peaks ," says Senator Greene Raine . "We seem to have quite a bit in common! I look forward to a great day of skiing together and encouraging many more Chinese visitors to come to Canada ."

The Canadian Tourism Commission is proud to work in collaboration with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (VANOC) to choose international torchbearers and the CTC is delighted with the program's success globally.

"We're thrilled to bring together two great Olympic heroes who also serve their countries at the highest level," says Michele McKenzie, CTC president and CEO. "After three Olympic medals and 23 world championships, Ye is a true legend and the perfect person to help us share the excitement of the Olympic Torch Relay and the stunning beauty of British Columbia with the people of China ."

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), in collaboration with the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), has selected international torchbearers to participate in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay International Media Program to maximize international media coverage of the relay and spread the excitement and Olympic spirit around the world.

The international torchbearers are from CTC's global markets and include Olympic athletes as well as entertainers and media celebrities. Their journeys through Canada will be broadcast and shared in their home countries during both the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay and the 2010 Winter Games, all to inspire the world to travel to Canada .

About the CTC

The CTC is Canada's national tourism marketing organization. Our vision is inspiring the world to explore Canada . With our partners in the tourism industry and the governments of Canada , the provinces and the territories, we advertise and market Canada in 12 countries around the world, conduct industry research and studies, and promote product and industry development. For daily updates on CTC initiatives, subscribe to CTC News, available through RSS feeds and by e-mail.

    
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For further information: Meaghan Benmore, Hill & Knowlton Vancouver, Tel: [phone], Cell: [phone], [email protected]; Jitka Licenik, Corporate Communications Advisor, Canadian Tourism Commission, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone], [email protected], www.mediacentre.canada.travel