First Visit Downtown Since Opening Ceremonies

Today I managed to make it downtown to try to get a sense of the Olympic experience. First impressions - loads of people, very many of whom were wearing Canada gear, lots of security, and lots of visitors, too.

Parking near Science World, my son and I took the Skytrain to Granville and then bused down Richards to Davie St, where we stopped in the Granville and Davie Blenz. I set up my laptop and started streaming the snowboard cross event from Cypress while I ate lunch. Although I was too late to see her first run, managed to pick up the fact that Maëlle Ricker must have fallen or hit a bad patch on her run. Bad news, I thought...

The Blenz was pretty quiet (although the music was loud enough to drown out the laptop's speakers), so we walked down Davie to Pacific and along the Seawall towards Science World. Again, the walk was characterized by busy crowds, lots in red, heading in both directions. We passed  a couple of police officers by the casino and I noticed that one had the uniform and badge of the Sudbury, Ont., police force - so there's obviously more than just buses from across Canada in the city.

Heading through past Quebec House and the Saskatchewan pavilion, the general mood was one of a friendly city welcoming people from all across this wonderful country and abroad. People chatting on the Seawall; quiet lineups at the entrances to the pavilions; friendly "Smurfs" and visible, but laid-back, security. We who live here are truly fortunate to be in one of the most beautiful cities on Earth.

When I got back to my office, I cranked up CTV's video stream and among the wonderful views of Vancouver from Cypress realized that Maëlle Ricker was still in contention. A quick check told me that she'd had a second opportunity to qualify, and boy! did she take it.

We watched as she qualified for the semi-final, heart in mouth as her American rival almost took her out, then, delaying our departure for my son's homework appointment, we watched as she totally blew away the field in the final. Amazing! A second home gold and from a local, too! Way to go, Maëlle!

I know a certain coffee-chain President who'll be grinning from ear to ear over this victory!

Originally posted February 16, 2010.