Words - Tess Cook

Traffic comes to a standstill in Vancouver

An unstoppable wave of red and white eddies down the street, impervious to the challenge of traffic or the shrill command of the polceman's whistle - and truth be told, neither those in their cars nor the police ostensibly sent to keep order are concerned. Canada has won the Olympic mens ice hockey gold medal and the nation has utterly and completely ground to a holt.

It is a finale scripted by the fates, an epic clash of titans that represents so much more than a mere gold medal and it has been played out accordingly - a USA equalising goal with just 24 seconds to go forcing Canada to fight seven minutes of overtime before Sidney Crosby, scores the winning goal.

"It doesn't even feel real. It feels like a dream," said Crosby. "Our team worked really hard in regulation time and they got that one by us in the end. But we came out in overtime and this is just an unbelievable feeling."

Fist-pumping in victory

And now Vancouver is awash with a celebration beyond description. It hardly seems possible any resident of the city could be missing from the streets. In shops, where of course reality must continue, retail assistants peer out the windows and cheer to each other. In luxury department store Holt Renfrew the dignified calm of Chanel and Dior has been shattered by the hockey piping through the PA system.

"We're so happy," says one spectator.

"But we'd be this happy if we only won one gold," interjects his friend.

"Yeah, as long as it was in hockey!" adds a third.

From somewhere a drumming band has mustered and marches through streets the police have had no choice but to close, the city-wide celebrations will not be contained by footpaths. On a corner an aspiring DJ has set up his decks. The crowd loves night club atmosphere he's creating, they are dancing on the road.

Victory lap through the Vancouver streets

A transport worker, set up in an umpire's chair beside the entrance to the Sky Train subway with a microphone so he might assist people with their train travel needs, has taken to proclaiming 'gggggooooooooo Caaannaaaddaaa' periodically through his loudspeaker in the thickest Canadian drawl imaginable. The crowd responds with impromptu renditions of the National Anthem. A group of girls perched on a wall by the stately Fairmont Hotel attempt the Olympic Theme Song, I Believe, performed by Celine Dion.

For Canada it is so much more than a mere gold medal. It is a victory in their nation's game, the seizure of a record - most gold medals won by a single country at a winter Olympics - a triumph over their bigger bully of a neighbour and the golden crown on a glorious two weeks. And don't they know it, every ecstatic face, every pumping fist and every high-five between strangers embodies the unbridled joy the nation is feeling at this moment.

A sea of red and white

The Vancouver Games have not sparkled unquestionably, the world's media has been quick to criticise the lengthly list of mishaps; both significant and not, that have marred Canada's moment in the spotlight, but with this gold medal Canada can see only the shining glory of what for them will always be the 'best Games ever.'

tags: olympic, feature, features, ice, hockey, mens, gold, medal, canada, usa, victory

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