A week after I carried the Torch, the Olympic Flame arrived in my neighbourhood. Even my dad allowed me to drive to Park & Ride so that I could come home early to catch a glimpse of the parade.

There were a lot more people cheering along the way in Richmond than there were in Prince Rupert.  I guess it’s because we are a lot closer to the Olympic Games as a Venue City!

RBC's emcee on the top middle gave me a shout-out.

Everything was so familiar: the police closing the roads, the Coca-Cola’s and RBC’s trucks following behind.  Because I was wearing the red torchbearer’s T-shirt, the emcees on both the RBC and the Coca-Cola’s truck quickly spotted me and gave me a shout-out.  What’s even more amazing was that the emcee on the Coca-Cola’s Happy Truck not only recognize me as a torchbearer, but also remembered me carrying the Torch in Prince Rupert!

It seemed like nothing else could be able to match that level of excitement.  But something did – the Olympic Flame.  Once again, I saw the Flame burning, travelling, and bringing joy to the cheerful people.  The crowd was so huge in front my high school that I couldn’t even come close to it.  This time, I was one of the many chasing the Flame, and it was almost as exciting as carrying it.

Olympic Flame in Richmond, BC

Two days later, the Flame came to UBC, my university.  Beside the huge crowd, it was protesters.  I don’t understand what they were trying to accomplish, but it shows the freedom of expression this country embraces.  The Flame passed by quickly because of the security concern, but I was still able to take another look at the Flame that I carried, cheered on, before it will light the cauldron on Friday night.

Protesters at UBC

Since I came to Canada four years ago, this has been the greatest display of patriotism by the Canadian I have ever seen.  This is the wonderful magic of the Olympic Movement.