Prince Edward may attend 2010 Paralympics

From The Canadian Press. In the picture, Prince Edward shakes hands with Todd Nicholson, a member of the Canadian Sledge Hockey Team, at the Thunderbird Arena June 4.

VANCOUVER, B.C. — His mother is still mulling over her Olympic invitation, but Prince Edward says he's hoping to attend to the 2010 Paralympics in Vancouver.

Edward, the Queen's third son and seventh in line for the British throne, met with Canadian sledgehockey players Thursday at an arena that has been completely rebuilt for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Queen hasn't said whether she'll accept an invitation from Ottawa to open the 2010 Winter Games, but members of Canada's sledgehockey extended their own invitation to her 45-year-old son.

"We did," Todd Nicholson, who's been competing for two decades, said when asked if he invited the prince back to Vancouver for 2010.

"They're hoping to come back actually for the Paralympics to watch some of the sledgehockey and stuff. He was hoping to be able to make an appearance."

The Vancouver Olympic organizing committee asked the Canadian government to invite the Queen, who opened the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal.

If she declines, that job will likely fall to Governor General Michaelle Jean. In 1988, then-governor general Jeanne Sauve opened the Calgary Winter Olympics.

On Thursday, Edward toured the University of British Columbia's Thunderbird Arena with B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee, and Gary Lunn, federal minister of state for sport.

The prince walked onto the ice and watched the Canadian sledgehockey team and other younger players practise, before waving them over to chat.

The players gave the prince, who is the Earl of Wessex, three jerseys - one for him and each of his two children. The red-and-white jerseys had the word "Wessex" emblazoned on the back.

Kurtis Williams, a 13-year-old sledgehockey player from Surrey, B.C., said at first he was nervous to meet a member of the royal family, but not for long.

"Inside, I was very nervous to meet him, but when I went up to him and met him, I was like, 'I'm fine with that,"' said Williams.

"It was cool to meet somebody that's really famous. He was a nice guy."

Before visiting the arena, Edward handed out the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards at a downtown Vancouver hotel.

The awards were started in the 1950s by Edward's father, Prince Philip, and Edward often visits Canada to hand them out.

Recipients pass through bronze, silver and gold levels by completing public service, personal and physical achievements and going on expeditions.

Edward spent nearly an hour chatting with more than 100 recipients and their families.

One of those award winners, 21-year-old Brandon Lewis, said the visit brought the royal family closer to home.

"We don't get to see the royal family in Canada," he said after the ceremony. "So to have him come over and present it, it's quite the honour."

On Friday, Edward was scheduled to hand out more awards at the provincial legislature in Victoria before attending a naval mast dedication ceremony in Vancouver's Stanley Park to launch celebrations to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this country's navy.