February 11, 2010
Source: Jewish Exponent
http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/20590/
Shmuel Birnham's road from Vancouver rabbi to official Jewish clergyman of the 2010 Winter Olympics began, in all places, at an interfaith service with the Dalai Lama.
During the Tibetan leader's 2004 visit to Vancouver, Hong Chian, a local Buddhist doctor, invited Birnham to be one of the Jewish representatives at the service. When the Olympics rolled around, Chian, who serves on the multifaith committee for the Olympics, called on Birnham again -- this time to head up the team of Jewish clergy providing spiritual support services to visiting athletes.
It has made Birnham the semi-official rabbinic leader of the 2010 Winter Games.