Olympic Games in Vancouver end, but homelessness goes on

Filip Bondy
New York Daily News
Tuesday, March 2nd 2010, 4:00 AM

VANCOUVER - The cars were passing along Hastings Street on Sunday night, drivers still honking horns, waving flags and screaming out windows to celebrate Sidney Crosby's overtime goal. A few blocks away, Olympic organizers were handing out brown moose hats to spectators at the Closing Ceremony, which was just getting started.

Harsha Walia heard none of it. She hadn't watched a minute of the big hockey game between Canada and the U.S., or the earlier Alpine events, or the figure skating, or the ceremonies. The Vancouver community organizer was dishing out rice, beans and lettuce to the homeless at the self-proclaimed Olympic Tent City between Abbott and Carroll Sts., where the hungry were lined up for something very different than medals.

"Does it look like people care here?" Walia said. "People here have way bigger issues than hockey games."

It is always the case with the Olympic Games. They come and go and raise a great, ephemeral tide of pride and nationalism among local residents who demand to be called the best Olympic hosts ever. The local hotels and restaurants rip off tourists for two weeks, a hefty bonus.

Then the Games are gone, the adrenaline fades, the bills come home to roost, and everyone wonders whether it was really worth it.

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