Three Queen’s students have the honour of carrying the Olympic torch as it makes its way from Athens to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Games.

Third-year medical student Daniel Abramowitz, Electrical and Computer Engineering grad student Siavash Khallaghi, and Queen’s Student Alumni Association President Colin McLeod (ArtSci '10) are all participating as torch bearers in the Eastern Ontario portion of the Olympic relay on December 15.

“I entered a carry-the-torch contest through Coke and wrote an essay on how I motivate others to live active,” says Mr. Abramowitz who will carry the torch in Napanee. “As someone who is really passionate about sports in my own life, it is very exciting to be taking part in an Olympic event.”
   
Mr. Khallaghi is equally excited to take his turn with the torch. He won the honour after entering a contest through RBC last fall, just months after moving to Canada from Iran. “Two years ago, I never could have dreamed of being here, participating in something like this,” he says.

Mr. Khallaghi will carry the torch as it goes through Trenton, cheered on by his fellow students, who have organized carpools to see him run.

Mr. McLeod is also expecting a contingent of Queen’s supporters to be watching as he completes his leg of the relay through Deseronto. “There’s a group from the (Office of Advancement) Student and Branches Unit coming out and lots of friends and family too,” he says.

For Mr. McLeod, who also entered the carry-the-torch contest through RBC, the chance to run with the Olympic torch is a great honour.

“I’ve been a huge fan of the Olympics ever since watching the Lillehammer Games in 1994,” he says. “It’s a tremendous honour to carry the torch and take part in the Olympic celebration – it’s kind of like being an ambassador for Queen’s and Canada.”