Patricia: An Ideal Olympic Torchbearer
Feb 10, 2009 -
It started out as an ordinary day for Patricia Moreno. She was volunteering at Ray-Cam Community Centre and performing her usual responsibilities. Then a team of representatives from Coca-Cola Canada appeared at the information counter. Patricia knew them from an event where weeks earlier she'd given a speech about how she wanted to be a torchbearer for the 2010 Olympics, but she didn't know why they were there.
They were there because they wanted to talk to Patricia. Ray-Cam staff teased her, saying she wasn't allowed to talk to them because she was working. The mood was light with an air of mystery to the moment. Patricia was handed a box that when opened had an empty Coca-Cola bottle with a message rolled up within it.
"The note had only a few short sentences in it, but the last line said I was the first Olympic torchbearer chosen. I said, ‘Oh wow' and smiled just this really big smile. I was excited and started shaking. There was a photographer there. It felt so nice being at Ray-Cam when they told me because I know everyone and it just felt so special to have this happen while I was with them."
Coca-Cola, according to its January 19th news release headlined "Coca-Cola Unveils Red Ribbon Panel to Help Recommend Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torchbearers: Vancouver Teenager Named First Olympic Torchbearer by Coca-Cola," chose Patricia because "her leadership role in the community through programs such as MoreSports, a youth sports program, and her commitment to an active lifestyle clearly represent the Olympic values, making her an ideal Olympic Torchbearer."
Patricia and her leadership qualities, community centres such as Ray-Cam, and programs such as MoreSports in which she's involved encourage healthy values, attributes and pursuits that make people and our communities so much stronger, connected, and better. Patricia appreciates Coca-Cola's recognition of that, and Ray-Cam and MoreSports are swollen with pride for Patricia.
"I couldn't be happier or prouder," says Dick Woldring MoreSports Coordinator."
"This is what it's all about for us, seeing these kids excel and realizing the potential we know they have to be great citizens, role models and leaders. Our partners and sponsors such as the Vancouver Parks Board, Vancouver School Board, Ray-Cam, and others are over the top delighted for her. So many of our kids are winning recognition or awards for their contributions to society. This type of opportunity and inspiration is what support from partners and supporters can result in. It's a beautiful, moving thing to see our kids be successful and we're grateful. Patricia's story isn't over yet either."
Patricia's is a story that keeps on giving. She's been profiled on the MoreSports website (www.moresports.org) and has appeared in various local news publications. And, Coca-Cola flew Patricia and her mother to Toronto where they "stayed in a nice hotel downtown near the Eaton's Centre."
"They sent a car to pick us up and I did Canada AM. The Coca-Cola announcement was at a rock climbing place and I had to make another little speech about how it feels now to have this opportunity and that was really scary. Doing TV wasn't that scary because I just had to answer questions but speeches are scarier. I got to hold the torch and that was really exciting."
Peers are watching Patricia with interest as her opportunities expand and take her to new experiences and places.
"My friends keep teasing me about falling with the torch. Some of them didn't even believe me until they saw the news stories and then they were like ‘WOW!' It's all so exciting."
Patricia says, "MoreSports brings lots of opportunities to kids. They expose us to all kinds of things and opportunities, programs that can make our lives better and not just ones to do with sports. They care about our lives and help us any way they can."
MoreSports and its YELL coaching program is supported by the City of Vancouver through the Parks Board and many of its community centres, by a litany of local organizations and businesses, and their programs support the Province's ActNow BC's healthy-living goals.
"It's a good idea for the city, Premier (Gordon Campbell) and businesses like Coca Cola to support kids this way because it gives us a lot of opportunity, and it opens more doors for us and makes life better. For example, it keeps us away from other things we could be doing like being lazy or doing worse things. It helps us feel more successful when someone like the Premier and the people at Coca Cola support us in our activities and it makes us feel more excited to do them too."
Patricia says it's important for kids to know that if they get involved in MoreSports, YELL and volunteering "they could feel like I do. It's exciting. It makes me feel more motivated. Everyone is happy for me. You see a lot of smiles and see more opportunities for yourself."
She hopes her peers become more involved in healthy pursuits when they see what that lifestyle and the people she meets because of it bring to her life.
"I want to thank MoreSports, Dolphin (Coordinator, InnerCity MoreSports), and the people at Ray-Cam for their support, and thanks to Coca Cola," Patricia says. "I want to do the best job for all of them."
"I'm not sure what part of the torch relay I'm running in. All Coca-Cola told me is that I'm running 400 metres and probably in Vancouver, but I'm not sure so stay tuned."
Indeed. Stay tuned. This story is just beginning.
