More Olympics ... uh ... pics

With only two days left, I wanted to capture more of what's going on around town, so this morning I bused in and did a lot of roving. I was on my way back by noon, by which time the streets were slowly filling up with crowds again, so I missed most of the congestion.


I started at the waterfront to see the cauldron. There was a bit of local furor earlier because, initially, hardly anyone could see it as the fencing was covered with the same banners that all the other fencing uses. After an outcry, however, the banners were removed, and now there's a few inches of gap, right at head height, between the chain link fencing and a new plexiglass fence above it.


These rings are often green, turning to gold when Canada wins a gold medal.


A street hockey game on Granville Street.


Goal! (You can just make out the bright orange ball in the goal box.)


This was set up on a corner of Robson Street on the way to the stadium.


Artwork inside the Vancouver Public Library, part of the Code arts festival.


Queue barriers and security checkpoints in front of BC Place stadium.


Bicycle police on the Cambie Bridge. Some entry closures have lightened traffic.


The Olympic Village. Wouldn't you know that Canada got the best real estate. In a few weeks these revert to (very expensive) condos.


Posing with Mounties in front of the Quebec pavilion.


Russian fans sing in front of Russia House (the converted Science World).


And here's the countdown clock for the next Winter Olympics.

It was great to walk around and see all the visitors. Most everyone on the street was wearing their country's colours. Of course, most were Canadian, but there were many others. It gave me a big grin. It was like watching a parade.

And to think there's only two days left. Tomorrow is the climax. At 12:15 there's the men's hockey finals, USA vs Canada. What an intense game that will be. The stakes are so high.

If Canada wins, it will be amazing. We've had quite a winning streak and it's been such a boost to our self-effacing citizenry. If we win, it couldn't have been written as a better story. First we lose to USA, then we have a slow comeback, and finally triumph over the team that earlier defeated us. It will be the ultimate underdog story. Ron Howard will make a movie of it. And, being Canadians, we'll be back to our meek selves within a week.

If Canada loses, fans will riot in the streets and burn the city to the ground. As the lone Yank in our office, I'll get beat up. The loss, combined with our dreary weather, and the exodus of everything exciting that's been happening in our city, will create thousands of new alcoholics. No one will go to work Monday.

But then there's the other climax, the closing ceremonies. Afterwards I'll pop outside with some neighbours to watch the fireworks and laser shows (and perhaps the fires set by rioters) from a nearby hilltop park.

And then it will all be over ...