Winter Olympic Torch Run

[Roger S]

I realize I haven't posted in a while, but thought I would share the fever of the Winter Olympics, Vancouver 2010. Flame hand-off, in Stratford, Ontario, today.

[Cindy Bonish]

I wonder what the Security Guards that walk with the torch think of all the people?

Is the entire route this packed, or just at the hand off locations?

[Roger S]

Surprisingly, the hand off points are kept fairly quiet, until the new runner is in place. Most of the crowd at this point is family and friends of the runner. I made an educated guess at the 300 meter leg of the run, and positioned myself about 100 feet further up, to take advantage of the security pushing people back, right at the switch. I knew the long lens would be just about right from that distance, for a clear shot.

[Bonish Photo]

To get totally off topic here, the torches look like a couple of giant rolled joints

[Roger S]

To get totally off topic here, the torches look like a couple of giant rolled joints

So, that explains why everyone is so happy!

[jaggsenmarten]

Very nice olympic torch run..........When I saw this image so i am very exicting to that..........

[peytoncyras]

There has been an estimated 12,000 torchbearers, including notable Canadian celebrities such as Shania Twain, Simon Whitfield, Silken Lauman, Alexandre Despatie and Catriona Le May Doan and past and present NHL hockey stars including Sidney Crosby, Wayne Gretzky, and Trevor Linden.[3] In fact, many television personalities were selected as torchbearers, mainly from CTV's parent company; CTVglobemedia during the torch relay.

On 22 October 2009 the Olympic Torch was lit during a ceremony held at the Ancient Olympia in Greece. Actress Maria Nafpliotou played the role of the High Priestess and ignited the flame using a parabolic mirror and the sun's ray. The first torch was carried by Olympic skier Vassilis Dimitriadis.