NEWS - Performance Printing

NEWSConnected to your communityOttawa Race Weekend opens with marathon torch relayBlair Edwardsblair.edwards@metroland.comEMC news - It was a meeting oftwo Marathons.Marathon, a tiny village in WestCarleton, played host to an eventwith Olympic overtones on Thursday,May 23.Eleftherios Anghelopoulos, theGreek ambassador to Canada andIordanis Louizos, mayor of Marathon,Greece, were on hand to lightthe ceremonial torch during TamarackOttawa Race Weekend’s firstever marathon torch relay run.Louizos carried a flame in a speciallantern, along with two torchesbrought from Marathon, Greece.More than 60 runners chosen bythe race committee were selected tocarry the torch 42.2-kilometres -- coincidentallythe distance of a marathon-- from Marathon to Ottawa cityhall, a route that travelled throughWest Carleton, Kanata, Nepean andwest Ottawa.“I was amazed and I was excitedto see that there was a place 42km away from city hall here calledMarathon,” said Louizos. “It’s anexcellent area. People are very, veryfriendly and I can see they love participatingin marathon races.”The idea was suggested to the racecommittee by Anghelopoulos, whosaid the torch-relay was a success inBLAIR EDWARDS/METROLANDLordanis Louizos, mayor of Marathon, Greece, left, watches as Eleftherios Anghelopoulos, the Greekambassador to Canada, centre, and Evangelos Papapostolou race director of Athens Classic Marathon, lightthe ceremonial torch to mark the start of the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend torch relay from Marathon toOttawa city hall on May 23.other major North American cities,such as Toronto and Chicago.“It was my initiative,” he said.“I suggested to them they have theflame of Marathon here and theywere thrilled with the idea and theyaccepted the suggestion.”West Carleton-March Coun. EliEl-Chantiry was the first runner tocarry the ceremonial torch, sprintingdown a 200-metre stretch of JohnShaw Road, before handing it off toanother participant.The torch relay team travelled ina yellow school bus, and the runnerswere escorted by police cars acrossa route that included Carp Road,Second Line Road, Terry Fox Drive,Carling Avenue, Richmond Road,Wellington Street and SomersetStreet.When the torch reached city hall,Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson wasscheduled to light a cauldron providedby the Hellenic Community ofOttawa, officially signaling the startof Ottawa Race Weekend, an eventon May 25 and 26, that attracts morethan 40,000 runners who competein the marathon, 2K-, 5K- and 10Kraces.“It’s a fun way to sort of kick offthe overall race weekend with somethingthat symbolizes marathon, marathonrunning,” said John Halverson,president of Ottawa Race Weekend.”The concept of a marathon honoursthe courage of Pheidippides, aGreek soldier who in 490 BC ran 40kilometres across rocky ground fromMarathon to Athens, where he announcedthe Greek’s victory over thePersians before falling to the grounddead. Dimitri Koutris, 13, and hissister Katherine, 15, two Barrhavenyouth, participated in the torch-lightingceremony, arriving in traditionalGreek clothing.“It’s an honour to be here, to representthe youth of the Hellenic peoplesof Ottawa on this historic day,”said Katherine.T: 613-440-7653 • F: 613-440-7593 • www.kevincoady.comExecutive 1 bedroomcondo with den.Upgraded hardwood inthe main living area.Kitchen with glassmosaic backsplashand stainless steelappliances. Upgradedmain bath. Largebalcony for patio set& BBQ. Single cargarage.Excellent opportunityfor first time buyeror investor. This 3bedroom END unitcondo backs ontoa wooded area forprivacy. This unit hasmulti-level interiorspace and a convenientsingle car garage.Flexible possessionavailable.90A STonehAven DriveoPen hoUSe SUnDAY 2-4Pm1 PeArY WAYoPen hoUSe SUnDAY 2-4Pm46 Kanata Kourier-Standard EMC - Thursday, May 30, 2013