About 200 people showed up for Vancouver’s illumination of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic flag ceremony Monday, but according to CP most were there to demonstrate against the event. Two arrests were made for breach of the peace.
All were confined to a fenced-in area and were searched before entering.
Focusing on homelessness and native rights, protesters tried to drown out the speeches by chanting slogans and using noisemakers. About 30 mounted and foot police guarded the area and some videotaped the crowd.
Earlier an Olympic stone and wood countdown clock was vandalized despite 24-hour security. It was spray-painted with the words “Free Betty” following the jailing of environmental activist Betty Krawczyk who was charged for protesting last May against highway upgrades for the 2010 Games.
John Furlong, chief executive officer of Vancouver 2010, said that despite the controversy that surrounds most Games-related ceremonies the event will carry on. He said, “some people would rather that there weren’t any Games but we’re going to go ahead and do our job”.
