Prince George's Olympic spirit was definitely on display Friday evening when the Olympic torch received a warm and enthusiastic welcome as torchbearers carried the flame along the city's streets and on to a celebration that drew thousands.
The carriers' smiles were almost as bright as the blaze itself and each of them had their own group of friends and family at every handoff point to raise a boisterous cheer as they started out on their 300 metres of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The biggest cheer of all was for Alix Well, the 14-year-old national junior alpine ski team member, who carried the flame along a narrow path through a crowd of an estimated 5,000 excited onlookers to the cauldron on stage at Exhibition Park.
And among the biggest cheerleaders was Premier Gordon Campbell.
"I can tell you, when we started this whole endeavour over seven years ago we wanted to be sure that it touched the hearts of people across our province and across our country and you've shown us that it's done exactly that. Thank you, Prince George!" exclaimed Campbell.
The emotion wasn't limited to the dignitaries and the torchbearers. Those who lined the route were given flags and those who attended the celebration were treated to acrobatics, music and fireworks. The experience left many in the mood to take in the Olympic Winter Games when they begin in two weeks.
Even though she doesn't have any tickets, Marion Krafczyk, 62, will be in Vancouver. Indeed, most of her family will converge in the city for the Games.
"We're just going to enjoy the atmosphere and people watch and go to everything that's free down there," she said. "I think they said on the news there's 40 different venues in downtown Vancouver."
Lea Ann Kueng, 53, was given a break from her job as department manager at Wal-Mart to work as a gate judge during the men's alpine skiing at Whistler. An ex-racer herself, Kueng parlayed her experience volunteering for the World Cup events at Lake Louise into winning a spot at Whistler.
"That's what got us going towards the Olympics," she said. "When Vancouver got it, we said O.K. girls, this is what we'll get involved for and now we're going."
A bit more torn was Alison Woolgar, 37. She and her husband took their two children to the celebrations and found them to be good family fun and they'll keep an eye on the TV, especially if Canada makes the final in men's hockey. But there is the matter of the cost -- as high as $7 billion depending on what you include as Olympic-related expenditure.
"We enjoy watching it and we respect all the hard work that the athletes go through. The conflict comes with the cost of it," Woolgar said.
Kevin Stanyer, a 29-year-old engineering technologist, had much the same opinion.
"I'm about the sports, about the hockey," he said. "I'm not about the effect it's going to have on B.C. All the schools closing and my brother's in forestry and might be losing his job because of cutbacks. I don't know if it's directly related to the Olympics but just the timing seems like it is."
About 100 teachers and parents opposed to the pending closure of schools in Prince George lined Ferry Avenue as the caravan passed by the school board office as a way to get the message out to the provincial government (see photo on page 5). Many, like parent Colleen Soares, were quick to stress they had no problem with the Olympics.
"I think the Olympics were a done deal before the economy failed and we have to support our athletes and I don't have any problem with that," she said. "I have a problem with the government cutting services to our schools, to our elderly and to our children. They need to do whatever they can to cut somewhere else, not at the most vulnerable parts of our
society."
The torch is scheduled for a trip around UNBC today, starting from the Northern Sport Centre at 7:30 a.m. From there, it's off to points north and west before arriving in Vancouver for the opening ceremonies on Feb. 12.
