Owen Sound has Olympic Spirit.
That was quite evident last night as more than three thousand people braved the minus 22 windchill to watch the lighting of the cauldron outside City Hall.
That was in addition to the hundreds of people who lined City streets as the Olympic flame made its way to City Hall from the Sunset Strip.
Owen Sound Paralympian Jason Crone got to light the cauldron and says the experience was more than he could have dreamed of.
Crone says the adrenaline started pumping when it was his turn to take the Olympic torch for last night’s final leg.
Crone and the other torch bearers rode into the City on a bus and Crone says he was so proud to be an Owen Sound resident when he saw hundreds of people along 10th Street to cheer on the Olympic flame.
Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners says she was moved to see thousands of people cheer on Jason Crone as he came to the stage to light the cauldron.
She says Owen Sound has shown the world what community spirit is all about.
Owen Sound Olympic Committee Media Chair John Prettie says the huge crowd at last night’s ceremony was astounding in the frigid temperatures.
Owen Sound skier Larisa Yurkiw was on crutches at last night’s ceremony after a knee injury ended her chance of competing at the Vancouver Olympics.
Yurkiw says it was incredible to be around the energy of the night but also sad that she could not use that hometown energy at the Olympics.
Owen Sound resident Marilyn Corliss says the experience was amazing and more impressive than what she thought it would be.
Another local resident Tim Post says it is amazing that Owen Sound could experience something of this magnitude.
This morning — there will be a sunrise ceremony at 6:30 AM near the Chi Cheemaun.
The Olympic torch will then hit the road at 7 AM and travel along 10th Street East, 9th Avenue East and then 16th Street East before stopping at Canadian Tire.
The flame will then make its way to Meaford, Thornbury, Blue Mountain, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach and Barrie.
