The Torch is a Must-See
With less than four hours left to catch the torch we recommend that everyone in downtown Vancouver get out to see it! We woke up at 6am this morning to get a great location at the corner of Denman and Georgia streets to see the torch as it came out of Stanley Park. The crowd on the corner was amazing for 7am! Next we ran to Davie Street at Nicola to catch it again and finally went onto Georgia Street a block from the Vancouver Art Gallery. We did not know who any of the three torch bearers that we saw were but it did not matter. The energy of the crowd and of the relay itself made it worth while.
Huge Crowds
The crowd became larger as the flame approached Robson Street but grew to what I would call almost unbelievable on Georgia Street at Hornby just before the Gallery. The crowd was blocking all lanes of Georgia with almost not enough room for the convoy to get through. It was a great moment! It was at this point that we headed home to grab some breakfast. I was saddened to hear that the relay did get stopped just at it was to enter the Downtown Eastside by protesters. But it was rerouted and is now continuing along it’s planned route.
Final Celebration
The torch will finish today at the Aboriginal Pavilion at the corner of Georgia and Homer Streets at 1:45 today for a final celebration before tonight’s Opening Ceremonies. Rumors abound as to who will light the Olympic Cauldron, but no matter who it is it will be a great Canadian moment.
I can only imagine what it is like with so many people…
Our experience in Nanoose Bay and Parksville was very emotional and only a few hundred people to cheer and encourage.
I stood next to a proud father of a young torch bearer, a real hard looking blue collar worker, he was visibly moved as his daughter ran the 300 or so metres. I don't think he thought it was going to be that special…it catches everyone off guard.
Nice piece you guys!