Olympic torch welcomed at B.C. fort

The torch relay ahead of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics was on Vancouver Island for its second day Saturday, part of a 106-day relay across Canada that will pass through more than 1,000 communities.

Members of the Royal Canadian Legion, the Royal Canadian Artillery brass band and spectators dressed in military period attire welcomed Olympic torchbearers to Fort Rodd Hill, a Parks Canada national historic site.

Jeff Hollands, one of 120 war veterans carrying the torch, rode his wheelchair to Fort Rodd Hill, the site of a 19th-century artillery fort.

"What an honour to represent my country," said Hollands. "It was just an unbelievable experience."

Annie Ewart, 16, and an aspiring Olympic road racer, was one of several cyclists to carry the torch.

"It was really cool. It was awesome to be able to take the torch while riding my bike."

In Duncan, about 60 kilometres north of Victoria, hundreds of people lined both sides of a street near the community's historic downtown train station to cheer on the Olympic torchbearers.

Lori Robb-Szabo, whose son Jared Szabo carried the torch past the crowd, said he could barely contain his emotions.

"Hyped. Absolutely hyped," she said.

Saturday was the first full day of the Olympic torch relay, with the flame making its way from Victoria to Nanaimo.

The Olympic torch will be hoisted high above torchbearers' heads through 20 communities on Vancouver Island.

Relay detoured

About 12,000 people will carry the torch across Canada and back in the lead-up to the Games on Feb. 12.

Protesters forced the relay to change course Friday on what was supposed to be its triumphant first day.

As the torch moved through Victoria, organizers decided a route change was needed to avoid confrontation with hundreds of protesters who blocked several streets.

About 10 torchbearers missed running their scheduled 300 metres each.

The protesters say the billions of dollars being spent on the Games should go to housing and health care.