VANCOUVER–Protesters forced the Olympic torch relay to change course as the flame ventured into the host city's troubled downtown east side on Friday, the last day of the relay and the first official day of the Olympic Games.
About 150 protesters gathered on the street amid hundreds of fans who were waiting for a glimpse of the flame.
A dozen mounted police stopped the placard-carrying protesters from surging ahead and confronting the relay, while the convoy quickly changed its route and continued.
Less than an hour later, the torch was rerouted again as protesters tried to disrupt the final day of the relay as it went through east Vancouver.
Earlier in the day, thousands of spectators, some draped in Canadian flags, lined the Stanley Park Seawall to catch a glimpse of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as he ran in the last day of the relay.
"I thought I had a great picture," said an excited Yoko Tsutsumi, who got up at 5 a.m. to stake a spot along the barricade. The crowd chanted the theme of the Terminator movie as Schwarzenegger ran past. "He was right by me, so close."
Tsutsumi later realized that her picture was out of focus but said her brief glimpse of the movie- star-turned-politician was worth getting jostled by the crowd.
Schwarzenegger started out walking and halfway along into the 300-metre distance went into a slow trot with B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, his friend, alongside.
The timing and placement of the governor's run was impeccable, beginning in darkness and proceeding into the rising sun to hand off the torch.
Security personnel, including the RCMP, Vancouver police, the governor's bodyguards and people protecting the torch had trouble containing the hundreds of swarming fans who rushed toward Schwarzenegger as he handed off the torch to Olympian Sebastian Coe.
Campbell said the journey with Schwarzenegger was exhilarating.
"Its amazing to see everybody so excited about it," said Campbell.
The torch relay finished its last leg Friday night, proceeding to the opening ceremonies, completing its 106-day journey that began last October in Victoria.
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