November 26, 2003 – The organizing committee of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens (ATHOC) announced earlier today the list of cities taking part in the first universal Olympic Torch relay. As part of a journey that will include 34 cities in 27 countries, the Olympic torch will pass through Montreal on June 20, 2004.The city of Montreal and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), in partnership with ATHOC, have initiated the preparations for the coming of the Olympic Torch in Montreal.

For Mr. Cosmo Maciocia, member of the executive committee, responsible for sports, leisure, parks and green spaces: “It is an honour for Montreal to host the Olympic Flame. The 1976 Olympic Games was a key moment in the history of our city, which benefited greatly from the exceptional international exposure. This event also allowed amateur sport to experience an expansion that yields benefits even to this day. The passing of the Olympic Torch through Montreal will allow many Montrealers, especially our athletes, to recall fond moments.”

The City of Montreal mandated the organization TOHU, la Cite des arts du cirque, establish in the Saint-Michel District, to organize the ceremonies surrounding the Montreal stage of the Olympic Torch relay.

The executive vice-president and general manager of TOHU, Charles-Mathieu Brunelle, was delighted by the confidence shown towards the organization by the City. “We are thrilled that the City administration has left the welcoming of the Olympic Torch up to TOHU. In the summer of 2004, TOHU will be in its first season of programming. The passing of the Flame coordinates perfectly with our launch events, since it carries the same values that our organization promotes. The Flame is a very fitting illustration of the pride developing in the community, where common interests transcend differences.”

For the first time, the Torch will pass through the five continents represented by the Olympic rings (Oceania, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas) and all of the cities that have hosted the Olympic Summer Games. “This is an exciting moment for our country to see the Olympic flame pass on our grounds and an exemplary initiative that the founders of the Olympic Games are taking to spread the Olympic spirit across the world,” according to the COC Executive Committee member Gilles Chatel. “We look forward to the day that the Olympic Flame will come back to our country in just over six years at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

An organizing committee, composed by representatives of the city of Montreal, TOHU and the COC, was also struck in order to ensure the setting up of the route, the selection of the runners, some of whom will be well-known Olympic athletes, and the smooth progress of the festivities surrounding the relay. As of the beginning of 2004, the committee should be in a position to announce the course of the relay, which will cross through several of the city's boroughs.

Coca-Cola and Samsung are the presenting sponsors of this event.