Ah, the Olympic Torch-  let me say this; She is a thing of beauty.

Passing the flame

Morgane and I had the privelege of enjoying time with the Olympic Torch earlier today. We skated alongside the Olympic Torch caravan for about 5km’s as it wound through the streets of Mississauga, on its long and impressively inspiring journey to the 2010 Winter Olympic in Vancouver.

I didn’t know what, if anything, I would feel when I would first see the Olympic Torch.

My feelings and emotions ended up being something that I’ll have a difficult time articulating. Here’s what I was thinking of and feeling;

• I was thinking of, as an amateur athlete, all the things I have done and experienced, and wondering what will be next
• There was a strange tickle in my stomach, but I felt incredibly calm as I was skating alongside
• I felt connected to the Olympic movement
• I felt as an outsider, yet I felt as an insider
• I looked at the places I train and I thought about what inspiration I’ll gather from this and what thoughts I’ll think when I train there in the future, knowing that the Olympics are physically connected to the ground I suffer on
• I felt a wish to be at the Olympics, and so proud to have represented my country in sport at the World Championships and Pan American Games
• I felt angry at my past mistakes, yet despite these mistakes, I felt all the things I’d done and choices I made have been worth living
• I wondered what it feels like to carry the Olympic Torch
• I felt a deep solidarity, a togetherness, a unity with everyone along the route- to those at the start and to those at the end
• I hoped that I would have the opportunity to be at and watch, enjoy, and report the 2010 Winter Olympics
• I felt proud, not only to be a Canadian, but to be involved in sport

If you look at the bottom right of the picture, the condominium that’s under construction is where I purchased a condo. I have this picture in high-resolution; When I move into the condo, I will print the picture, mount it,  and put it on the wall in the den

Here are a few things I noticed about the Olympic Torch Relay:

• During the entire 5km’s that I skated alongside the torch, rolling road closures were in effect. Traffic was at a stand-still at every intersection. Every car that was stopped and stuck in traffic- once they realized what was approaching,  started honking and all the passengers were smiling and cheering on the runners. Many got out of their cars to enjoy the moment.
• Just about everyone watching from the side of the road showed incredible joy, pride, support, enthusiasm. I noticed a number of people who were crying of joy and many others who’s eyes were swelling up.
• Everyone who ran with the torch seemed completely exhilarated, shouting, cheering, waving, dancing, and of course running. They pumped their arms in the air, hugged each other, gave high fives, posed for pictures, and soaked in the experience.
• Children were incredibly excited to see the torch, often shouting ‘I can see it! I can see it! There it is! There it is!‘. Many ran alongside to torch bearers.
• Security and police managed to keep the runners and the onlookers safe. The onlookers were able to get very close to the torch, and were very respectful of each runner’s time with the torch.
• Some of the security detail accompany the Olympic Torch for thousands of km’s. They run alongside the Olympic Torch, keeping everyone safe and maintaining a perimeter around the relay runner. There’s a stable or security detail following in a camper, giving them a chance to rotate through. You’ll see the security detail in grey outfits running alongside the torch-bearer

Crowds swelled from from time-to-time, chanting ‘Oh Canada!’

Custom license plates for each vehicle in the Olympic Torch Relay caravan

Not surprisingly, he was smiling and relishing in the moment as he carried the Olympic Torch down Burnhamthorpe Road. He and the girl he handed the flame to did a dance- a jig

Another change of runners, just outside of Square One. Everyone was excited; the man on the left holding on the torch had his entire family cheering him on

Crowds warmly greeted the Olympic Torch Relay caravan

One of the vehicles from the Olympic Torch Relay caravan

Another of the vehicles from the Olympic Torch Relay caravan

The Olympic Torch Relay caravan making its way towards Mississauga’s City Center

This is the vehicle that leads the Olympic Torch, providing a constant live-webcast of the Olympic Torch Relay

The Olympic Torch continues down Burnhamthorpe Road

She’s enjoying her time with the flame