By Kiev Chesney
Most of the capital city and its outskirts got a chance to the get into the Olympic fever when the Coca Cola Caravan/torch relay passed their way early yesterday morning ushering in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games in Guyana.
The torch relay covered just over 15 miles and sport fraternities took turns carrying the torch over the duration of the course.
The procession, led by a team of runners from various sports fraternities carrying the symbolic Olympic torch, was followed by the entertainment band complete with steel orchestra, two the Banks DIH distribution trucks and buses for the athletes after they would have completed their leg.
Some drizzles of rain extinguished the torch for a few seconds but it was quickly reignited and the athletes continued on their way.
The first leg featured members of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) started at the National Stadium, Providence and drew much attention in the Eccles/Bagotstown area.
The procession affected the smooth flow of traffic on the East Bank Highway especially near the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
But most of the drivers did not seem to mind as they too benefited from the paraphernalia that was distributed along the way.
Some of the items that were given away during the route included Coca Cola Beijing bandanas as well as t-shirts and 20-ounce Coca Cola drinks.
Public interest was noticeably heavier along Mandela Avenue when the Caravan passed areas such as East and West Ruimveldt which saw children attempting to join the caravan even though some of them were dressed only in their undergarments.
Older folks, curious, and excited to be a part of the festivities leading up to the world biggest sporting event in the world also turned out to witness the Caravan on its way.
Some onlookers recognized and shouted out for some of the top athletes such as Alika Morgan who ran many legs, while others asked for Olympians Aliann Pompey and Marian Burnett.
The Caravan spread the Olympic fever in the Campbellville/Kitty area and generated much interest from the business community on Regent Street. The anchor leg the torch was carried by the lone locally-based Olympian Niall Roberts who will be participating in the men’s 50m freestyle at the Beijing Games next month.
Roberts was accompanied by nearly all of the representatives of the sports fraternities who had already completed their leg, for the finish at the Main Street Quik Serv outlet.
Roberts will be departing local shores early next week to travel to the United States of America en-route to Beijing.
