Olympic spirit rekindled in Vancouver as thousands re-live 'magic' people, happy, rain

tiffiant

Olympic spirit rekindled in Vancouver as thousands re-live 'magic'


Torrential rain couldn’t douse the Olympic flame as more than 2,000 people braved the downpour to watch the cauldron being re-lit.

They did the wave with their umbrellas and sang ‘O Canada’ while they waited in Jack Poole Plaza Saturday.

“It’s very special to see this and to see people so happy,” Vancouver 2010 CEO John Furlong told The Province. “And the crowd that came out — it just shows you how much the success of this meant to the city and the people.”

Furlong, Premier Gordon Campbell and Jack Poole’s widow Darlene Poole led the countdown.

The rain stopped and the crowd cheered when the flames from the cauldron leapt into the sky.

“When we wanted to get these Games, there were some people that said we shouldn’t even try,” Campbell told the crowd. “Fortunately, there were a lot more people that said we should try, they got to work, they rolled up their sleeves and brought the most incredible Winter Olympic Games in the history of those sports right here to Vancouver.”

Hundreds of volunteers, dressed in their blue jackets, came to re-live the magic.

“It feels really cool to see the flame again,” said Mary Spencer, of Vancouver, who helped groom the landing area for ski jumpers in the Callaghan Valley. “There’s a good energy in the crowd. It was good to see so many people out on such a horrible day and it was pretty emotional.”

Band leader Dal Richards, 93, was in the crowd, carrying his torch and wearing his relay outfit.

“That was the thrill of a lifetime,” he said. “That run from coast to coast awakened a feeling of pride in Canada that people didn’t know they had. It’s good to carry on the tradition. “

Craig Allen, 19, of Coquitlam was draped in a Canadian flag which he wore whenever he came downtown during the Games.

“It feels like it was yesterday,” he said. “It was great seeing the cauldron again. I hope they do it every year when Feb. 12 comes around.”

Captain and Mrs. Canada, aka Jack Hetherington and Christine Harper were dressed up like they’d just stepped off an Edwardian ocean liner.

“It’s wonderful today but that experience a year ago can never be repeated in our psyches,” said Hetherington, “67 going on 38.” “It was so wonderful, so magic. The anniversary is nice, and the weather was kinda iffy but the spirit of people here was great.”

tiffiant

Earlier, hundreds of people crowded the ice arena at Robson Square Saturday morning to enjoy free skating and the official opening ceremony.

Campbell told them the Games “inspired a generation,” while Furlong received a standing ovation.

“When the Games ended and Sidney Crosby got that goal ... the reason why it was so special is because every Canadian was living it with [him],” said Furlong. “Forevermore, you can feel you contributed.”

For Lynn Legris and her two sons, the day was bittersweet.

“We’ve been looking forward to this a long time. As soon as we heard about it, it was game on,” she said moments after getting a Canada flag signed by a group of Olympic athletes.

Two weeks ago, Legris’ husband died. The family decided to attend the celebrations without him.

“But he’s here with us now,” Legris said with tears in her eyes.

The Surrey mom said her favourite Olympic memory came in the moments after the men’s gold medal hockey game, when the family joined a street hockey game on the Mount Seymour Parkway.

“Everyone was screaming and yelling. It was just great,” she said, with sons Deacon, 13, and Zach, 16, nodding agreement.

Paralympic skiing gold medallist Lauren Woolstencroft was one of a group of athletes signing autographs.

“It’s great to see the spirit back today and to have so many people come out,” she said as she signed.

Her best memories of the Games included winning her medals as her family cheered her on.

Herman Hui was the lucky winner of four tickets to the Vancouver Canucks versus Calgary Flames “Olympic Memories” game Saturday night.

Hui said he’d be taking his wife Daphne and possibly his two kids to the game.

His favourite Olympic memory was the men’s gold medal hockey game.

“After the game, I was out walking, and Robson was packed with people. It was a wonderful moment,” he said.

tiffiant

Hundreds of people surround the Olympic cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza Saturday after it was lit to mark the one-year anniversary since the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC.



2010 Winter Paralympian Lauren Woolstencroft (L) signs Lynn Legris's (R) Canadian flag Saturday during the 2010 Winter Olympic one year anniversary celebrations in downtown Vancouver.



2010 Winter Olympian Mercedes Nicoll is greeted by an enthusiastic crowd Saturday during the 2010 Winter Olympic one year anniversary celebrations in downtown Vancouver.