The Hook

Olympics organizers held several technical briefings before Victoria’s torch relay kick-off to optimize media coverage of the event. Anti-Games activists also courted reporters Friday afternoon.

“Just to let you folks know, we will be leaving on the zombie march at four-thirty,” no2010 Victoria spokesperson Tamara Herman told a crowd of journalists at Centennial Square.

“So for those of you with cameras we know that things are setting up at the Leg at five-thirty, but if you do want some visuals of the march, four-thirty to five-thirty is really a good time to be there.”

An estimated 200 or so students, first nations, activists, seniors and homeless people gathered to protest the Olympic torch relay.

With plans to march on the official celebrations in the early evening, they held a raucous event with squealing saxophones and colourful masks. It was the grassroots flipside to festivities at the B.C. Government Parliament buildings down the road.

About 20 police officers in bright yellow jackets watched from the sidelines.

“I just want to make sure if people want to express their views they do that in a peaceful way,” Inspector Jamie Pearce said. As long there’s no property damage or violence, he said he’s fine with the protest.

But Pearce was concerned some activists had draped their faces in masks and handkerchiefs. “That to me senses there could be issues,” he said.

Long-time activist Zoe Blunt applauded police for their “hands-off” approach to protesters. “We have won a victory here in terms of free speech,” she said.

Blunt demurred when asked whether anti-Games protesters covet media attention just as much as Games organizers.

“We don’t have any control over the media,” she said. “We’re not a multinational conglomerate. We’re just providing some balance here.”

Geoff Dembicki reports for the Tyee.