Although
a
Canadian
land-preservation
group
tried
to
stop
akshay
kumar"s
Olympian
sprint
in
Toronto
on
Thursday
evening
no
power
on
earth
could
take
away
the
exhilaration
of
the
moment
from
Akshay.
His
joy
at
representing
the
country
with
such
a
singular
honour
has
now
multiplied.
After
Akshay
carried
the
torch
at
one
of
the
most
well
attended
street
events
in
Toronto,
the
Olympics
committee
in
all
their
wisdom,
decided
to
gift
the
Olympian
torch
to
the
Khiladi
star.
Unable
to
contain
his
excitement
at
the
honor
Akshay
on
his
return
to
Mumbai
on
Sunday
morning
said,
“Carrying
the
torch
across
the
longest
street
in
the
world
was
the
greatest
honor
I
could
hope
for.
But
when
after
the
event
the
Olympics
committee
gifted
me
the
torch
I
almost
broke
down.
My
first
thought
was
for
my
son
Aarav
who
would
now
be
able
to
keep
that
precious
torch
with
him
for
a
few
days.
My
second
thought
was,
will
I
carry
it
back
to
Mumbai
safe
and
sound?"
At
the
Toronto
airport
the
authorities
were
excited
by
the
very
unusual
cabin
luggage
that
Akshay
had
brought
with
him.
“They
didn"t
even
check
the
torch!
I
was
just
asked
to
proceed
with
it." Throughout
the
long
trip
from
Toronto
to
Mumbai
Akshay
clutched
the
torch
in
his
hands
as
he
sat
thinking
of
what
to
do
with
the
precious
possession.
“It
was
during
the
long
flight
that
I
decided
what
to
do
with
the
torch.
I"ll
be
auctioning
it
and
use
the
money
to
help
the
children
who
participate
in
the
Special
Olympics."
Reliving
the
golden
moments
when
he
carried
the
torch
in
Toronto
on
Thursday
evening
Akshay
says,
“About
7000-8000
Indians
including
those
who
had
come
from
other
cities
like
Montreal
and
Vancouver
lined
both
the
sides
of
Yonge
Street
which
at
1,178
miles
is
the
longest
street
in
the
world.
I
started
at
7.30.
But
people
had
already
gathered
by
5
pm.
I
covered
about
half
a
mile
in
20
minutes.
I
can
only
tell
you,
it
was
the
most
exciting
and
magical
moment
of
my
existence."
A
group
calling
itself
the
Torch
Extinguishing
Committee
did
not
dampen
Akshay"s
spirits.
Says
Akshay,
“I
don"t
know
whose
torch
they
came
to
extinguish.
It
was
certainly
not
mine.
I
heard
they
were
around
somewhere
on
that
street.
Like
I
told
you
it"s
the
longest
street
in
the
world.
I
completed
my
sprint
without
obstruction.
I
could
hear
people
shouting,
'Spoil-sports,
spoil-sports!"
against
these
protestors.
I"m
sure
they
were
protesting
for
a
worthy
cause.
But
why
dilute
sports
by
bringing
politics
into
it?"