We took the kids to Oakville (picking up Nana on the way!) and went to check out the Olympic torch relay. It was pretty exciting... there were about 200 people waiting for the runner at Lakeshore and Maple Grove. Minutes before the convoy got there, RBC people came around handing out sway (flags and tambourines). Finally a convoy of trucks showed up...
The Coke guys showed up trying to link drinking Coke with athleticism no doubt...
Then a giant RBC truck showed up....
Finally, our torch bearer arrived. He was a double amputee who competes in the paralympic games. Runners only actually do a 350 meter segment (the torch weighs 3.5 pounds, so I guess it's a little heavy for some people over a longer distance). Runners can buy torches (they used to have one torch that they would pass - this time they pass the flame instead) for $300, and somebody was saying you could buy them on eBay for $1,500. There are 1,200 runners in total. Honestly, who the hell would sell their Olympic torch??
The "hand-off" ceremony was pretty cool, and according to some in the crowd, this guy handed off to his father.
