Perhaps it was bound to happen in what could be described as a variation of Stockholm Syndrome - Olympic protestors have now themselves succumbed to Olympic fever.
Downtown Vancouver this past weekend had the atmosphere of a giant carnival and the world's greatest block party rolled into one. Despite the crowds and long line-ups for the Sea Bus, West Coast Express and Skytrain most people remained in good spirits, supposedly unpatriotic Canadians were heard breaking into spontaneous renditions of O' Canada, volunteers in their distinctive blue jackets (the Smurf army) were cheered and the flags of visiting nations were given equal respect in the spirit of the Olympics and in keeping with the general mood of good cheer for all.
It certainly helped that the weather cooperated Sunday afternoon relieving the persistent Vancouver overcast and gloom.
Visitors to Vancouver may think the sparkling city on the Pacific Ocean is usually a bustling cosmopolitan metropolis - however as Vancouver advice columnist Alice Archer noted, "this is the Vancouver I always hoped could exist one day. The excitement, the vibe of living in a rich and diverse city with a cultural life that reflects that - that's not really Vancouver and never has been until now."
Despite having voted for the Olympics in 2002 Archer said she remained largely indifferent to the Games until now. "I'm glad they're here, I can't believe people left town to get away from the Games, why? You're never going to experience anything like this in your hometown again."
Which brings us to the Olympic protestors, engaged in running street battles with the police only the previous day, by Sunday they too had succumbed to Olympic fever.
"Everyone's just having too much fun," said one protestor who did not wished to be named. "We were just bumming everyone out and I have to admit now that there this is actually pretty cool...but don't tell anyone I said that."
Antifur protestors in front of the Vancouver did attempt a brief protest Sunday, parading naked along Robson street as Asian men filmed them (apparently they have a thing for overweight women with hairy armpits. But even they were undermined by a a five-year old Australian sheep dog named Buttercup, who amazed the crowd by doing handstands and barking out 'Waltzing Matilda.'
Several bystanders gave Buttercup a perfect '6' except one French tourists who gave her a '1.5.'
