For the first time in Olympic Games history, fans can celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay and follow every runner and every moment in real time with live video streaming on CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca, the official websites of Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. Over the next 86 days, every second of the Olympic Torch Relay will be captured live via the Olympic Torch cam, as the flame makes it way across Canada to BC Place in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Games Opening Ceremony on February 12, 2010.

The Olympic Torch cam uses innovative technology that allows a video signal to be transmitted from wherever there is an available cell phone or Wi-Fi connection. The technology that provides the continuous video feed uses multiple signal sources to deliver video images from a web cam travelling aboard the Olympic Torch Relay pace vehicle. Viewers can also watch the Torch Convoy as it travels between relays of runners and moves to the next town or community.

This marks the first time in Olympic Games history that this technology has been used to follow the Olympic Torch Relay and deliver live real-time coverage to fans.

“The Olympic Torch cam is yet another example of the leading-edge technology we are employing to deliver the stories of the Olympic Games to Canadians like never before,” said Alon Marcovici, Vice President, Digital Media and Research, Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. “We are consistently looking at unique and creative opportunities to engage Canadians and bring them as close to the action as possible. We are giving Canadians all the tools and vehicles they need to experience the Games and share in the pride and emotion of the Olympic Torch Relay as it crosses the country.”

From small towns to big cities, the Olympic Torch Relay is currently in Nova Scotia. Today’s coverage includes Canadian NHL superstar and Nova Scotia native Sidney Crosby, as he carries the Torch in Halifax at approximately 5:54 p.m. ET.

The Olympic Torch cam complements the existing Torch Relay microsites on CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca, where users can upload their Torch stories, view Torch photo galleries and videos from across the country, and follow the Torch on an interactive map.

CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca, already home to more than 1,000 Olympic-themed videos, represent the most comprehensive web offering ever by an Olympic rights-holder. The digital hubs will host more than 2,300 hours of coverage in English and French from Vancouver 2010, including every second of Games competition live in High Definition. During the Games, up to 14 concurrent live streams will be available in HD, including live feeds from five Consortium networks (CTV, V, Rogers Sportsnet, TSN, RDS) and live streams of every single event. The websites will also stream exclusive live pre- and post-game coverage of Team Canada men’s Olympic hockey.