Educating Risa

The boys and I headed over first thing this morning to watch a segment of the Olympic Torch relay. How can you not go when they are coming a matter of blocks from your home!?! We walked up the street about 8:15am, getting there in plenty of time for the expected runner at 8:44. There was already a good crowd waiting at the corner, and folks handing out flags and noisemakers. Here’s the pics:

 

The boys bundled up and waiting, a little before 8:30 am (i.e., just after sunrise here in winter). The temperature was not as warm as its been, but still pretty mild for a January morning in Calgary. About –3C (27F).

 

There were several folks there in Olympic gear, Team Canada hockey shirts and so on handing out various items (flags and noisemakers) to the crowd. The boys are getting tambourines.

The last few cars, buses and pedestrians zipping through the intersection before the police blocked off traffic—you could hear the sirens clearly now. Those delayed by the torch seemed to take it in stride though, with several of them tooting horns later when the torch ran by, and others getting out of their vehicles all together to cheer along. And for my friend Alicia—that sign in the background says “Westbrook Mall”. 

The police have now blocked the traffic. Being polite Canadians, though, we all stay on the sidewalk.

There was a fair crowd waiting in the same area we were. Daegan and Gareth are just to the left of the Canadian flag. It was great to see so many kids there, and while we did bump into our homeschooling friends that live in our neighbourhood, I am sure that most kids there were pulled from school (or are going to be late today). Good on ya, Moms and Dads. If you’ve heard that Canadians have no sense of national pride or identity, don’t believe it!

The first Vancouver 2010 van. (Sorry about the lighting—as I said, the sun had just come up).

More vehicles. We’ve got a police van, the Coke truck, another Olympic bus//van and the RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) truck in back. Coke and RBC are major sponsors of the Canadian Olympic teams, I believe. There were people on both trucks that interacted with the crowd.

The Coke truck, with the fellow with the mike asking us to wave our flags, cheer and generally make noise. We obliged. It was getting LOUD.

 

Our first glimpse of the Olympic flame. (Just before I saw two flames, so I think that was a relay point). The flame is visible just above the baby stroller to the right of the police car.

The second Vancouver 2010 van and the runner. Woot!

Here she comes! She looked soooo happy and folks were cheering like crazy now.

She was flanked by extra runners through the intersection, something I think that had more to do with ensuring the flame’s safety (as you’ll see later, they do not let it go out) than the runner’s. There were lots of folks who ran along behind her as well.

This was the closest she ran to us, less than 10 feet away I’d say. The pic is slightly blurring (I was getting jostled by other folks with cameras now) but the expression on her face comes through clearly. Pure joy. Lots of cheering and car horns honking. Go Canada go!

This leg of the run ended just around the corner of the intersection. They were soon off to C.O.P. (Canada Olympic Park, one of the host sites for Calgary’s 1988 Olympics—about a 10 minute drive away) for the next leg. But first…

Someone inside the Vancouver 2010 van held a little stick into the flame (I am assuming to keep the flame alive) before they turned off the torch.

With the torch now safely out, she posed for some very quick pics before the police opened up the road to traffic again. (VERY quick. This street—Bow Trail—is a major road in Calgary, and it was still rush hour!)

That’s Daegan to the right of the torchbearer (your left).

That’s Gareth in the yellow jacket approaching the torch (and Daegan hiding behind). Unfortunately, they had to go (note the police car in the background). But my kids got to see the Olympic Torch up close. Awesome!

One last pic of the boys and their tambourines, at Gareth’s request. We then walked back home. I think that’s the most excitement we’ve ever had before 9am!