With the excitement of the Olympic torch relay, there is a lot of preparation that has to go into the festivities before the flame arrives, according to city officials.
City of Calgary event services spokesperson Trish Neufeld said a lot of work had to go into preparing the city for the torch relay far before the announcement was made this week.
“I don’t know how many hours of preparation exactly, but we had to start at least 90 days before the event. It’s a lot of work,” she said.
Neufeld said the city’s event services acts as the communication hub for the preparation.
“It’s really a co-ordinated effort with a lot of the business units and they all have a significant role and all support one another.”
Neufeld said transportation, roads, parks, bylaw and the police all play significant roles in closing down roads and providing security. She said the city will also be working closely with the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC).
The Calgary International Airport has already seen Olympic athletes coming into the city carrying their own Olympic torches from different countries, according to a screening officer, and says security will be heightened at the airport during the Olympic ceremonies.
The Calgary police couldn’t be reached for comment on security measures, but will play a large role during the torch relay.
