Olympic fever has lit the city on fire.
Although the 2010 Olympic Games are in Vancouver, over 20,000 Calgarians celebrated the Olympic torch relay at Olympic Plaza as if it were 1988 again.
Sporting her ’88 Calgary Olympic Games volunteer jacket, Muriel Lacoste was swept up in the excitement and the emotion of the torch celebrations last night.
“It’s so exciting to look around and see so many people proud to be Canadian. It brings back a lot of memories of the games in Calgary,” Lacoste said.
“I think it’s great so many young people who were only three or four are older now and get to experience something like this. It’s amazing.”
Former Olympian Karyn Garossino reminisced about ’88 while celebrating with her children and husband.
“This is really nostalgic, and it’s exciting to see so many people who were involved with the ’88 Olympics here today. It brings back a lot of great memories,” she said.
Dragons’ Den host and torchbearer Brett Wilson said he was overcome with emotion as he ran the torch down Macleod Trail.
“I was surprised at how many people lined the streets, and I was surprised at how emotional it was — especially when I took the torch in my hands,” he said.
Coca-Cola officials who have been with the torch in every city said there was something special about Calgary.
“You can really feel the passion and the Olympic spirit here. It’s great to see such enthusiasm,” Leigha Cotton said.
With the cauldron’s ignition by a grown-up Robyn Perry, who lit the original Calgary Winter Olympic cauldron and now bears the surname Ainsworth, and O Canada echoing in the air, the roar of thousands of Calgarians brought Kim Mandel to tears.
“I wasn’t alive for the ’88 Olympics, but I can just imagine it was even more amazing. I’m so proud of our city, and our country,” she said.
