This fellow to the left is now a successful Montreal investment guy but he was involved in a famous incident in one of the poorest areas of the city while young and less wise. It involoved him setting a fire, many sympathizers not only watched on and some even cheered as he perpetrated the deed. The act set off a series of events which troubled Montrealers for years to come. Can anybody name this man and what he did?Clue 1: He shares a name with someone relatively famous who was supposed to come to Montreal but died in a car crash.
Clue 2: He was wearing white shorts and a white T-shirt at the time and was accompanied by a young woman in similar attire.
We have a correct answer.
Montrealer Stephane Prefontaine co-lit the Olympic flame at the Montreal Olympics. Prefontaine was a promising swimmer whose career was cut short, unlike his hair, which looks like a chia pet mushrooming above a white candle.
The transportation of the flame was done with some panache, it was transformed to a radio signal and then sent to Canada via satellite and triggered a laser which re-lit the flame.
Olympic games opening ceremonies usually make a pretty big event out of the lighting of the cauldron. In Barcelona they shot an arrow, in Atlanta they hired Muhammed Ali, in Sydney they ran through a ring of fire. But in Montreal we just lit that sucker up like a Du Maurier King Size.
The clue #1, btw, refers to Steve Prefontaine, a promising American distance runner who was expected to do well here until he died in a motor vehicle mishap. They made movies about that Steve Prefontaine. Sadly they haven't made a movie based on the life of Montreal's Steve Prefontaine...yet!
Well, to me, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the city, fire and cheering make me think of Victoria Day in the Point. I don't know of a specific incident, though.
ReplyDeleteNo, you're not close.
ReplyDeleteStéphane Préfontaine, one of the two Olympic torch bearers who lit up the flame in the 1976 games. The girl with him was one Sandra Hendreson I believe.
ReplyDeleteWell, if you mention “well known” and “blaze” in the same sentence, I would lean towards the “red week-end” where striking firemen let a whole city block go up in smoke.
ReplyDeleteBut, of course, I could be wrong.
I'd like to know if the 1976 Stephene Prefontaine is still together with his wife and co-cauldron lighter, the former Sandra Henderson? This is for an upcoming book on Olympic Ceremonies that I am writing. You can contact me at razor323@gmail.com with a conformation or not. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMyles Garcia
Also lighting the flame - Gilda Radner! (I'm tired of your supposed look-alikes - Chimples).
ReplyDelete