Chinese star Olympian Yang Yang carries the flame in Summerside, Prince
Edward Island, on Nov. 22

SUMMERSIDE, PEI, Nov. 19 /CNW/ - With an impressive five Olympic medals, including two gold, Chinese speed skater Yang Yang is one of the most successful Olympians in history.

Islanders share a new Olympic journey with China's heroine in Summerside on Nov. 22 when Yang Yang runs as international torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada .

"I am very proud and honoured to be selected as a torchbearer," says Yang. " Canada is a winter sports country and I hear Canadians are very excited for the coming Olympic Games. I look forward to that moment of holding the torch and running through the crowd."

Yang is China's first ever Olympic Winter Games gold medalist from the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, and has a huge following in her homeland. She won two gold and one silver medal in Salt Lake City , a silver in Nagano and a bronze in Torino . Now a TV sports commentator, Yang will spend some time exploring Montréal's urban experiences before her Maritime adventure.

" Yang Yang is truly a legendary athlete," says Michele McKenzie, CTC president and CEO. "She was the first person to carry the Olympic Flame on mainland China in 2008. I am so delighted that the people of China will experience Canada's gentle island, Prince Edward Island , through her eyes."

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), in collaboration with the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), has selected 15 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 former 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.

Resources

Torchbearer profile

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