(Clearwisdom.net) On April 23, 2010, to celebrate the excellent performance of Canadian athletes in the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Canadian Olympic Committee organized the "Celebrating Excellence 2010 Parade" in Montreal. The Divine Land Marching Band, composed entirely of Falun Gong practitioners, was invited to perform in the parade.
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Medalists across Canada attended the celebration. During the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, Canadian athletes won a record of 26 medals, including 14 gold.
The Canadian Olympic Committee invited about ten civic groups, including Falun Dafa, to participate in the parade. According to the parade organizers, about 175,000 people, including many prominent political leaders, participated in the parade. Canadian National TV CTV broadcast the parade live.
In an invitation letter, the parade organizing committee said that since the Falun Dafa Divine Land Marching Band is the largest band in Montreal, the committee hoped that the band would be part of this grand parade.
The leader of the Montreal Divine Land Marching Band told the reporter: "Because the parade is on a Friday, it's hard for many band members to take part. We contacted our fellow band members in Toronto and Ottawa for help, and were able to accept the invitation in a short time."
It was heard that the Chinese Communist regime again tried to sabotage the band's participation in the parade. According to the band leader, "Two days before the parade, the organizing committee told us that we could not display a Falun Dafa banner. We immediately told the committee that the banner is an integral part of the band. Not being allowed to display the banner would be considered discrimination, and if forced to drop the banner we would not participate. We also told them that we will meanwhile reserve the right to protect our rights using legal means. In the end, the organizing committee told us that we could display our Falun Dafa banner."
A band member said, "I am very glad to be part of this parade. The Canadian Olympic Committee upheld the Olympic Spirit, and the Chinese Communist regime's sabotage failed."
Olympic medalists rode in about ten vehicles which were scattered throughout the parade procession. The Divine Land Marching Band was positioned right before the gold medalists.
The parade started at Du Fort Street and ended at Phillips Square. The procession was met with thunderous applause and cheers throughout the entire parade route.
