This afternoon we went to downtown Vancouver to see the Olympic flame and to take part in some of the activities down there. All I can say isOh ...
My ...
Gawd ...
According to the news reports, there were over 2 million people in downtown Vancouver today. The lineups to get into pavilions were up to seven hours long. I have never experienced anything quite like this. It really is a once-in-a-lifetime event. It's wonderful to see everyone having fun and enjoying themselves, and getting into the spirit of the games. I took a little video of the Olympic flame to share with you. I tried to capture some of the feeling of the crowd as well, but it was rather difficult to do. Wherever you are, I hope you are enjoying the Olympic games as much as we are here in Vancouver. Tomorrow is the men's hockey, Canada versus the United States. Good luck to them both, and may the best team win.
Cheers,
27 comments:
Exciting, Jo!!!!!
Aloha, Friend
Comfort Spiral
What fun!! I think the flame is so cool looking! Love that design.
Is there women's hockey?
I'm loving watching the games every night and seeing your beautiful city, its just magnificent! Do you think they'll leave the flame sculpture in place after the games? I remember going to the Worlds Fair in Flushing Meadows, NY and seeing the huge globe and its still there surrounded by a park.
I love the Olympics. And the announcers are good with explanations. Within five minutes I can become an expert, critically judging and enjoying people I've never heard of participating in sports I've never heard of.
World class city hosts a world class event.
Oh thank you for that little video Jo. It does bring the excitement of the street into my little room here as I sip my morning coffee! And I'm so glad to see that the weather is sunny and the Vancouver rains have stayed away. How I would love to walk around Vancouver again during these days and see it for myself!
I also am impressed with the design of the Olympic flame. Do you know the name of the creator?
Cheers, Sharon.
Beautiful ! Very beautiful the Olympic flame !! As I'm a Korean, I wish to build it here in Korea soon....2018 in "Pyeong Chang", Korea...
This is so lovely! Being just an hour south of you across the border, I'm staying away from the city, but I've heard that it's almost a ZOO. I am hoping so much that Canada wins against the US in that hockey game today (Sunday).
We've been enjoying all the broadcasts from the Olympics and it's been great. Lots of specials on the news. This morning The Today Show did a special on the use of the word 'eh'. Wayne Gretzky said that wherever he is in the world, if he hears someone say 'eh' at the end of a sentence, he knows they are from Canada.
So exciting!!!!! My son and husband are going to watch hockey tonight.
How cool to see it through your camera! Thanks!
Yes, Mia there is women's hockey. I think it was added to the Olympic games back in the 90s.
Wow, Jo! That's a lot of excitement and thanks for sharing it. I'm not fond of crowds, personally, so seeing it from a distance is perfect for me.
All modesty for Canadians aside, I'm going to drop from shock if Canada doesn't beat the U.S. in hockey :-) Which is absolutely fine. One cool thing about the Olympics is the spirit in which we celebrate everyone's wins.
I cheered like a fool when the French skier put on a super human effort at the end of Nordic Combined, passing Spillaine from the U.S. I cheered like a maniac when Aksel bested Bode in Apline.
Hey, it's great when we get to see moments like Shaun White playing air guitar to the national anthem, but the coolest thing about the Olympics is that we get to see the excellence of the world, and celebrate it.
Having said that, I actually teared up when the first Canadian athlete broke-the- gold at home barrier :-) So lovely to see.
So much of this has just been such a treat to see!
How very cool. You know the Olymics may be the closest thing we have to the Worlds Fair in this day in age. How fun to be able to host the world in your backyard.
Lucky you ! Have a great week !
All those complaints you were talking about from the people who wanted snow...I'm sure they would not be saying that if they had to stand in lines for 7 hours in a blizzard!
I've been meaning to get over here since the Olympics started but have been so busy that I've hardly had time for my own blog.
I did write a post about the US and Russian Men's Free Skate...Evan grew up near my home (his family lives very very close to us--walking distance) and went to the same high school with my daughter. Actually, he was a year younger and his sister was in my daughter's class. So, it was not only fun watching him compete and win, but it was wonderful to see how he handled himself after wards...very professional and a great sport. Too bad Plushenko couldn't have afforded the same courtesy to Evan.
Most impressive! The torch looks much more inspiring when you see it in a video like this as opposed to seeing it in a photo.
I did not realize it is so BIG! Thanks for sharing this and I hope you will post some more!
Are you attending the game. I plan to watch WW III on TV. USA!!
Hi Jo,
I was thinking about what I'd want the world to know about our great city... and besides the scenery, people, the multi-cultural diversity & acceptance, I know what it is - UBC Pondersoa Cake - (chocolate chip banana cake that's great with tea or coffee). Yum. Now that is world class :)
Cheers,
Jo
We lived in Utah when the Olympics were held there. It's hard to describe such an amazing event. My favorite event was actually the security line manned by the U.S. Marines, they frisked me ;-)
Cloudia, yes it is!!! :-)
Teri, and it's huge in "peson"!
Mia, yes, and Canada's women won the gold medal one year.
Carol, yes, they are going to leave it there, but it won't be lit.
B & B, *Heh* Yes! Just like the rest of us "experts". That's my favorite part too.
Mark, yes! And you've been to Vancouver too, haven't you?
Sharon, that's a very good question, and thank you for asking. I'm going to find out for you.
Nomore, good luck! You will have a wonderful time.
Djan, it's waaaaaay beyond a zoo. *heh*
Kate, LOL. I did a whole post once on the use of they word "eh", or "hey". That's funny, hey? ;-)
Brenda, as you can see the USA beat Canada in the hockey. :-(
Pauline, it was cool to see it in person too. :-)
Alane, it's strange, but Canadians are actually happy to see the USA winning so many medals. Weird, hey? And I hope you didn't drop from shock, because USA beat Canada in hockey. ;-(
Katy, it has been amazing...!!
Elise, thank you...! You too. ;-)
Mary Ellen, wow! He lives that close to you??? And yes, the Russian was a very bad sport about it. But Even won fair and square!
Russell, yes, it is very impressive looking, and even much larger than it looks in the video. It's like a building!
Tom, USA won...!!! Omigoodness...!!!
Jo, UBC Ponderosa cake, yes!!! Omigosh...! Now I feel like some. :-)
Charlene, omigoodness, all we have here are Mounties, and most of them are women now. :-(
I almost did drop from shock, Jo. Seriously, that was astonishing! Well done U.S. Men!
So it was shocking, but I couldn't help but be pleased for the U.S. Team. Hehe, considering some of the interviews afterward, I think they were almost as surprised as I was.
Of course we did! ;-)
It must be embarrasing to lose a hockey game to people who don't even speak French, eh. What's that all aboot?
Once in a lifetime! I'd be soaking it in - great photo of the cauldron - it's not the malfunctioning one?
I have watched some of the events on tv, but haven't seen any Vancouver scenes. Pity, I would love to have seen more of the city.
Oh! Thanks for the video Jo!
Post a Comment