Immediately after the opening ceremony people began to run.  They hoofed it to the International Broadcast Centre to see the after party.  Wayne Gretzky rode in a flatebed truck with the Olympic torch aloft to light an external flame outside the building.  The crowd went wild, shouting “Gretzky, Gretzky, Gretzky.”  Amazing to see how Canadians adore The Great One.  A Shaun White look alike and his sidekicks led the crowd in the rousing anthem “O Canada” while another man in a red maple leaf jacket got the crowd cheering “we want gold!”  This Olympics Canadians believe they can win.  The flame was framed by spectacular fireworks over the harbor.  Afterward, I walked in the light rain back to my hotel on Granville Street.  The crowd was rowdy, cheering, festive.  A little wet weather is not going to dampen the Olympic spirit tonight.

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