Every night that we head home from wherever our Olympics adventures take us in Vancouver, we seem to keep circling around Robson Square. This is truly becoming the heart of the downtown core in terms of people gathering to celebrate, party, watch, or apparently throw down an impromptu game of street hockey in the middle of the street.
The crowds that we’re experiencing in Vancouver during these games are unlike anything else I’ve previously seen. The only thing comparable for me are the massive amounts of people we see during the Celebration of Lights. The million or so people on each of those four summer nights are often loud and rowdy, if not heavily intoxicated the whole night through.
These crowds have something different to them. Yes, there is plenty of drinking being done around these venues, hospitality houses, and bars, but there is still a common excitement, enthusiasm, and cheerfulness running throughout. I won’t say that the crowds aren’t annoying when trying to get through them, but let’s be honest, it could be worse.
In the thick of last night’s crowd, we ran across the now very popular Boxing Kangaroo, the Australian symbol of pride when it comes to anything athletic related.
Going back to what I’ve been seeing and saying about the sense of Canadian pride during these games is somewhat captured in the two photos above. People stop to watch whatever event is being televised on whatever screen they can find. In fact, while at work yesterday afternoon, the only reason I knew that Maelle Ricker had just won gold in snowboard cross for Canada was the amount of cheers that came from our special lounge we setup in an area of the building.
And you would have thought that Canada had already won the gold medal for men’s hockey the way they celebrated downtown. Just sitting at home, we could hear cars honking and people yelling something that involved the words “Canada” and “wooo!” numerous times, late into the night.
People are jazzed. They want to be out and about to experience this city. Even the now famous Japadog has a long line of people waiting to try their street side, hot dog creations, and I think we can point the finger at Anthony Bourdain for the well deserved hype.
No matter how much you do in one day or how many events you have tickets to, I have this overwhelming sensation of still feeling like your missing something or everything. You’ll never see it all, and I have come to terms with that. I’m just thankful to be seeing everything that I have and what’s yet to come.
I was in those exact same spots last night. It was unlike anything I have ever seen in Vancouver. I find myself compelled to be with the crowd singing Oh Canada…who knew the Olympics would make me feel so patriotic!
Great pictures, John, once again.