By Norm Park

of The Mercury

 

She'll have to drive hundreds of kilometres just to run slowly for 300 metres, but what she'll be delivering will make it all worthwhile.

Mary Renard, a 17-year-old senior student at the Estevan Comprehensive School, has won a place in the Olympic torch carrying schedule thanks to her entry into the Coca-Cola sponsored contest this past summer.

The opportunity to carry the official Olympic flame, the one that began a slow journey from Greece earlier this year, is now hers to enjoy.

"I saw the ad on a Coke can in July and I thought it would just be a real cool opportunity and a nice thing to do," said Mary.

She won't be doing any special training for her 300 metre trot since she is already an accomplished athlete and a member of the ECS cheerleading team and an avid gymnastics student and soccer player.

Mary gets to carry the official Olympic flame and torch through the Main Street of Blaine Lake on January 12 which is exactly one-month before the Games opening ceremonies in Vancouver.

"All I know right now is that Blaine Lake is somewhere between Prince Albert and Lloydminster," she said with a grin, still unable to suppress her good fortune.

She'll be driving up to Blaine Lake with her parents Colleen and Dean and her grandparents the night before since it is a long haul and she will have to be at the torch carrying marshalling area by 10:15 on the morning of the 12th. She gets to run with the torch at around 11:30. She's also been told the torch weighs three pounds, but the weight doesn't concern her.

"I just don't want to drop it, or trip or something like that," she said.

Mary, along with all torch bearers, will receive an official Olympic outfit to wear that will contain nothing but officially recognized Olympic logos. It includes a winter jacket, toque, the red mitts and pants.

"I was very surprised to learn I had been selected because the ad on the can said that winners of the draw would be notified by August. I didn't hear anything until I got a call on October 9 from a Coca-Cola representative. He phoned to let me know I was on the short list. I then had to write an essay about either being involved in an active lifestyle or something to do with the environment. I choose the active lifestyle. From there I was chosen.

Some torch bearers will be walking their 300 metres, but not Mary. In the finest of Olympic traditions, she'll be running, or at least jogging to make the precious moments last a bit longer. She said she'll be well prepared for any type of weather.

"I knew a few others from Estevan applied, but I think I'm the only one from the city who was chosen through the random selection," she said. "I know a friend of mine from Regina was selected," she said.

Mary and her family had to remain a bit close mouthed about her good fortune for awhile, awaiting official clearance from Coke and the Olympic organization who probably had to do their own background checks and vetting of each participant.

Mary said she won't be allowed to take any personal effects such as a camera or a cell phone with her during the run, so the photos will have to come from those on the sidelines.

"My parents will have to take the photos and make the calls," she said with a laugh. "Actually there is a pretty long list of do's and don'ts, but it is the Olympics so you have to expect that," she added.

An added touch for each torch bearer is that they get the opportunity to purchase their torch after they have delivered the flame to the next torch runner. Mary said her family has decided to take advantage of the opportunity and will be doing just that. The money goes to the Olympic movement. No doubt the torch will hold a special place in the Renard household for many years to come and in the memory bank of a young woman for decades hereafter.