Daniel Igali To Light The Cauldron At Holland Park Torch Relay Celebration February 8th

Surrey, BC (February 3, 2010): When the Olympic Flame arrives at its destination in Holland Park on Monday, February 8th, it will be proudly carried by gold-medal wrestler Daniel Igali, nominated as Surrey’s torchbearer to light the celebration cauldron during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.
A long-time Surrey resident, Daniel is best known as the gold medal champion for Canada in freestyle wrestling at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.  Since winning his gold medal – and finishing in sixth place at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, he has realized another dream – the construction and opening of a new school in his home village of Eniwari, Nigeria through the Daniel Igali Foundation.  The foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing youth with scholastic, athletic and personal development opportunities.
“Daniel has become Surrey’s Olympic hero and we’re proud that he will be lighting our celebration cauldron here in Surrey on Monday night,” said Mayor Dianne Watts.  “Not only did he win Olympic gold for Canada, but he has been working hard on many humanitarian efforts, including building a school in his home village in Nigeria, and helping Surrey’s children through Surrey’s Right To Play program. It’s fitting that he was given the honour of being Surrey’s final torch bearer because he has been such a great ambassador for our city.”
In addition, Daniel has served as a Canadian athlete ambassador for the City of Surrey and the Right to Play initiative, and continues to promote the benefits of sport and a positive lifestyle among youth. He is also a recent inductee into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. “I was so proud to wear the Canadian flag and win Gold for Canada at the Sydney Games, and my love for Canada is as strong today as it was a decade ago,” Igali said. “This time, I am able to share my pride with everyone in Surrey, and I’m proud to have been selected for this honour.”
“The Torch arrives in Surrey after a 102 day journey and just  four days prior to the start of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games”, said Councillor Hepner, Chair of Surrey’s 2010 Task Force. “Daniel has the honour of leading Surrey’s Torch Bearer team and one of 12,000 Canadians chosen to carry the Olympic Flame on the longest torch relay in Olympic history!
When the Olympic Flame arrives in Surrey on February 8th, Daniel will be joined by several on the torch relay by a number of other familiar faces:

Adam Loewen
Chief Superintendent Fraser MacRae, Surrey RCMP
Mark Madryga
Monty Raisinghani
Brittany Reimer
The Torch Relay visit through Surrey will include a massive Community Celebration on the evening of February 8th at Holland Park beginning at 5:30pm. The event will include performances from the 2010 Celebration Dance Team, Surrey Children’s Choir and the Francophone Association of Surrey and including the unveiling of a special Surrey produced Torch Relay song and a fireworks finale.
For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, visit www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay

Media contact:
Laurie A. Cavan, General Manager Surrey Parks, Recreation and Culture 604-598-5760 lacavan@surrey.ca