Torch Lights It Up At City Hall

Posted by Cynical Sarah on February 11, 2010

The Olympic flame is spending a couple days winding it’s way around Vancouver. I missed seeing it in my own neighborhood this morning because I had plans to go to lunch with a friend.

As it turns out though, the route later in the day was going near where we had lunch. I wasn’t sure when exactly the torch would be going through so I didn’t have definite plans to catch it today.

But once we finished up, I walked a couple blocks to see if it had gone by or not. City Hall was right there, and there were booths set up for Olympic medalists signing autographs, the Fireman’s Band playing, and hot cocoa and maple leaf cookies for people waiting to see the torch.

There was still about 40 minutes to go to torch time when I got there, so the crowd wasn’t too bad yet. I had a spot right along the route leading up to the steps of City Hall where the torch bearer would light the torch for the next runner. At least there was music to keep us all entertained as the crowd grew and the sidewalk got more crowded.

The other entertainment included some stilt-walkers and a person dressed as a dog/clown.

It’s pretty amazing how many people will tolerate the  drizzle and the slightly cooler weather to see the Olympic Torch make it’s way through the city. People were lined up along the entire route around the City Hall Building, and as I waited, I could see the street filling as well.

The crowd erupted at the first sign of the torch motorcade – a couple of big Coca Cola parade trucks blaring music – and there was still another 5-10 minutes before the torch followed being carried by a Vancouver Fireman, Brian Bogdanovich.

When he finally did make his way around City Hall, the band was playing the Rocky theme, the crowd was going nuts and everyone with a camera was doing their best to get a good shot of the torch going by (including me).

I would compare it to going to see a sporting event live. I may not have been the most interested in the event, but it’s very easy to get caught up in the atmosphere and the excitement of others around you.

The band played the national anthem while Bogdanovich lit Vancouver Police Constable Tanya McLachlan’s torch so she could continue the run, and then it was on it’s way again.

Some of the star torch bearers from today were Michael Buble, Trevor Linden and Steven Nash.

Tomorrow the torch will make another circuit through areas of Vancouver before it makes it’s way to BC Place Stadium for the opening ceremonies. I’m tempted to go downtown again to see it and be a part of that atmosphere again – this time wearing red to support Canada and the spirit of the games.

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Tags: 2010 Olympics, torch run

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