S. Worthen | Weblog

The Olympic Flame was passing within half-a-mile of where I live, so we wandered down to have a glimpse of it. It was fleeting - the runner was walking down the stairs with a tumult of security, and then paused for a moment before the ramp down to the pier. There were masses of police in diving suits. The flame was nearing the end of its day's journey, bound for what was once the country's greatest white elephant - the Dome - now a commercial entertainment venue.

I wanted to be a part of it, a sliver of intersection with a global ceremony. If it had only had more pomp...