The last day of the 21st Winter Olympic Games brought 14th gold medal to the Olympic Team Canada. In this way Canada set up a new world record in gold medals ever won by a single country in the history of all Winter Olympic Games. In recent days, after the Canadian Team’s fantastic performance and a shower of medals, it turned out that the Canada Owns the Podium program outlined before can actually work.
Another reason to the party was a traditional and long-standing rivalry in ice hockey between Canada and the United States teams. The Canadians lost the preliminary game against the US team and the atmosphere of showing the true Canadian colours was hanging in the air. Last but not least factor that contributed to the outdoor party was quite a significant change of weather after several days of showers.
All these set up perfect conditions for local people to party.
Those who couldn’t secure a spot in a sport bar or wherever it was possible to watch the game in public, showed up in the centre of Vancouver that has been a stage for many cultural events associated to the Games. Crowd of people came to the intersection of Robson and Howe streets trying to get a spot either in Chapters or in neighbouring Urban Barn store. The ones less fortunate stuck their noses close to the window to watch the game from the outside. Local traffic of cars on Howe Street west was hard but still possible when directed by flag people and traffic authority.
Sid Crosby’s sudden death goal gave a spark to all people on the streets to party. All of the sudden the white and red colours shaped in maple leafs, started to dominate the streets. People cheered loudly when high-fiving, hugging each other, making friends and setting up quick stages for short dances right on the street. Before the main crowd moving from BC Place along Robson Street reached the intersection with Howe Street, “O, Canada” was sung several times in different locations of the area. Painted faces with maple leafs motifs, waving flags, “Go Canada Go” banners, custom designed outfits, Canadian and other Olympic memorabilia dominated the street, mostly in red and white colours. There were very convincing signs, “Hockey is a Canadian game”. Some drum beating people, moving slowly through throngs of people, were bringing a lot of positive energy to everyone.
All the visitors from other countries were watching with amazement when taking pictures and videotaping partying people. Not only the visitors but the Canadians were watching with surprise. A young man of Oriental descent said, “I was born in Toronto and came to Vancouver for the first time, but I’ve never seen anything like that. It looks like Brazilian fiesta in Rio after winning the World Cup in football”.
The crowd was in great mood and was partying responsibly. The police were watching people and had almost nothing to do except in a few cases when had to stop bringing some cans of beer to the area. Almost at the time the game was over, the traffic had to be stopped and redirected to other routes. Traditionally busy intersection in downtown Vancouver was set up for big Canadian fiesta that extended to last for several hours.
