Why is Schwarzenegger a torchbearer?

VANCOUVER – There are some raised eyebrows about Arnold Schwarzenegger running with the Olympic torch.

Vancouver organizing committee officials were asked today at their news conference, why Arnie? Why in these Canadian games is the California Governor carrying the torch through Vancouver’s Stanley Park on Friday? It’s a premium spot on the relay and a premiere run for the former Hollywood actor and bodybuilder.

John Furlong, VANOC’s chief executive officer, says there is nothing unusual about the Governor’s run.

Rather, he said “we are speaking to the world” and the Governor has a “great connection” with British Columbia. “I think he will help us to focus attention on some of the things we are doing,” Mr. Furlong said.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/why-is-schwarzenegger-a-torchbearer/article1461783/


I'm sure the event will make the LBN.

because I certainly don't. :shrug:

VANCOUVER - Premier Gordon Campbell intervened in the process of selecting torchbearers for the Olympic cross-country relay in order to arrange a spot for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“The Premier asked . . . and I said yes,” John Furlong, chief executive officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee, said Tuesday in an interview.


http://www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/news/newsid=36035.html#vancouver+defends+arnold+invite

It is a surprise to see that connection being played up like this, though. We've come a long way since 1988.

Coca Cola. In order to market the games effectively in the US -- i.e. make its sponsorhip pay properly -- it insisted on having US figures involved in the relay.

... Yeah:

http://www.thepost.on.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2251988

It seemed a little odd that a person from Boston -a sales executive with the Serta (which appears to be associated with Sleep Country, one of the authorized suppliers to the Games) -would get the chance to run with the torch in Collingwood. Or that the Chicago-based president of Wrigley (another "authorized supplier" to the games), Dushan Petrovich, got to carry the torch during the Toronto-to-Brampton leg.

As the torch wended its way through Ottawa, six RBC employees from the States had the honour of holding the flame for their 300-metre legs.

... And of course, the Vancouver Olympic Committee, which allocated torchbearer spots to its 60-plus sponsors and suppliers. Yes, as a news release on VANOC's website states, those sponsors may be "critical to the success of the relay and the 2010 Games," but at the same time it reinforces the notion that one can, quite literally, buy their way into the relay.

I just instinctively thought it would be all Canadians...

This is such a pathetic attempt at pandering....