Whistle-stop tour promotes Olympic spirit

Chantal Sawotin had never ridden a luge but after giving it a try on Saturday. she couldn’t wait to do it again.

Sawotin, 11, was one of hundreds of Winnipeggers who lived their own Olympic dreams when the Canadian Pacific Spirit Train arrived at Sinclair Park Community Centre for the day.

The Spirit Train is on a cross-Canada tour to promote the upcoming 2010 Olympics and Paralympics in Vancouver and Whistler. In addition to a village of tents featuring simulations of various winter sports, the events feature live entertainment on a stage in one of the train’s cars.

CP’s tour manager Breanne Feigel said Sinclair Park was an obvious place to hold the event because of the train tracks that run adjacent to the North End community centre’s field.

“It should be in a community that deals with our trains on a daily basis,” Feigel said. “It’s neat to bring the Games to communities across Canada.”

Many families said they hadn’t heard in advance about the event, but after seeing all the action at the community centre decided to investigate.

“I’m sure glad we checked it out,” said Ken Boyd, as he watched his three children check out the village. “They really have done a great job with this.”

The village gave young people an opportunity to try their hands at luge and sledge hockey while posing for pictures as a ski jumper. It also featured a screen showing what a downhill skier sees as they barrel down a mountain.

“That was really cool,” Sawotin said after her second go-round on the approximately 12-foot-long track that simulates the start of a luge run.

Visitors to the village also had a chance to leave a video message for Canada’s Olympians and enter to win a trip for four to the Games.

“We just said ‘Go, Canada, go,’ ” said Stephanie Parker, 9, as she left the video booth.

Several former Canadian Olympians were on hand to sign autographs —including two-time Olympic swimmer Rhiannon Leier of Winnipeg. Olympic mascots Miga, Quatchi and Sumi made appearances.

An assortment of local acts performed on the stage early in the day, with Colin James and Winnipeg’s own Sierra Noble scheduled to play later.

About 50 fulltime workers are on the tour, which began in Port Moody, B.C., on Sept. 21 and is making 10 stops in total. In each city, community volunteers and local CP employees lend some added support to make things run smoothly.

“It’s been a really positive experience wherever we’ve been,” Feigel said. People are excited to see the Olympians and the mascots, and they’re looking forward to Vancouver.”