VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Walter Gretzky strolled into the Hamilton, Ont., airport

at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday and was his usual friendly, grandfatherly self. He was cracking

jokes and holding court with other passengers as he stood 50 deep in line for a 7:15 a.m.

flight headed for Calgary and eventually Vancouver.

It doesn't take a super sleuth to add Walter Gretzky's arriving at the 2010 Olympics the

day before Opening Ceremonies to his son's global popularity and wind up with a plausible

answer to this question: Who will be the final torch bearer responsible for lighting the

cauldron tonight when the Winter Games officially begin?

Umm ... Wayne Gretzky?

The Great One is the natural choice. Don't be surprised if his father is involved in one of

the best-kept secrets heading into the celebration this evening. Speculation on Thursday had

the mother of late Canadian running hero Terry Fox also being part of the festivities, with

Wayne Gretzky taking the honors as a national icon.

Wayne has been carrying Canada's torch for years. He's the most recognizable figure in a

land where hockey rules above all other sports. The National Hockey League's all-time leading

scorer is widely regarded as the greatest player in history. He was the general manager of the

gold-medal team in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

He also has been stick-handling around the question all week. One of the most cooperative

sports superstars in the world, he refused interviews Wednesday. Perhaps it was because he

didn't want to address the only question that mattered.

"Wayne Gretzky is the obvious choice," said American Ted Ligety, who won a gold medal in

skiing in the 2008 Winter Games in Turin, Italy. "Hey, wait, isn't Pamela Anderson Canadian?"

Good point.

Regardless of who carries Canada's torch, Vancouver is prepared to showcase itself to the

world. This postcard-pretty city of 2.2 million people was gaining momentum Thursday afternoon

along the bustling streets downtown and with large murals welcoming some 800,000 athletes,

visitors and media.

More than 90 countries will compete in some 330 events between today and Feb. 28. A record

1.6 million tickets have been purchased. It's a good thing considering some $1.75 billion has

been spent getting Vancouver ready, plus another $900 million for security. The final tab

could be more than $5 billion.

Canada can spend all the money in the world, but it's not going to stop people protesting

about the Olympics. Many have whined about local and provincial governments spending so much

dough on sports when Vancouver is littered with drug- and prostitute-infested neighborhoods

and homeless across the city.

Money also can't buy ideal weather conditions. Mother Nature unkindly dropped one of

Vancouver's warmest winters on record with steady rain and temperatures in the 50s. An

expected storm was welcomed Thursday night. It should help snow doctors who have been working

for weeks on Cypress Mountain, site of the freestyle skiing events.

"I've seen better, but we were expecting this," Canadian moguls skier Vincent Marquis said

after training Thursday. "We all wish it was sunny and blue skies. This is not a surprise."

Vancouver's organizing committee has taken pride in going green, but green mountains were

not what it had in mind. The medals, no two of which are the same, were made from electronic

waste from cell phones and computers along with other products in an Olympic commitment to the

environment.

The past three Winter Olympics arrived with vastly different tones. The 2002 Games were

staged five months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and Americans were joined in patriotism,

sport and emotion. Helicopters flying over Salt Lake City and military stationed in the

mountains provided daily reminders.

Four years later, it seemed as if the world woke up Turin from a deep sleep and reminded

the Italians they were hosting the Olympics. By the time they rubbed their eyes and rolled out

of bed, the Games were over. Venues that were barely completed on time were half-empty for

numerous events. The country that prided itself on passion, proved to be passive.

It will not be an issue with Vancouver.

The location of these Games cannot be much better. NBC worked wonders to bring out the

beauty in Salt Lake City, which wasn't nearly as pretty on the ground as it was shown on

television. Turin is an industrial city that's largely ignored when tourists are visiting Rome

or Venice. Vancouver is almost certain to get it right.

Figure skater Johnny Weir — Johnny Weird — wasted no time complaining about the

conditions in Turin despite feeling all "princessy" four years ago. He was satisfied with his

Olympic Village living arrangements this time around and was thinking about adding a few extra

touches.

"I am getting everything ready," Weir said Thursday. "I'm going to buy pink bath mats for

the rooms for us. I am very impressed with the village this time. — If we didn't know

this, I'm a bit of a diva when it comes to living situations."

Lovely.

The Olympics, as always, will come with its share of story lines and drama, and there's no

telling who will become national heroes. It's a thrilling yet terrifying ride over 18 days.

Athletes now are going faster, higher and farther than ever.

American skier Lindsey Vonn was expected to contend for three gold medals before suffering

a bruised shin last week. Vonn became a target for criticism after some thought her cover on

Sports Illustrated was demeaning to women. Good heavens, lighten up. She was merely showing

off her assets while posing in skiing's tuck position.

Shaun White will be the favorite in the halfpipe with his dangerous McTwister 1260. It

sounds like a sandwich off the dollar menu, but he's lucky to be alive after crashing during a

training run a few weeks ago. Ski cross was added this year after snowboard cross was such a

big hit four years ago.

Suggestion: Scrap the two-man luge for mixed luge.

For Buffalo-style flavor, West Side native Steve Mesler will be back for one last crack at

a medal in four-man bobsled after winning the world championships on their "Night Train" sled.

Hamburg native Matt DePeters will be flipping and flying, and hopefully landing, in his debut

in aerials skiing.

"It's more exciting than any other Olympics I've been to so far," Mesler said Thursday

night. "The goal is always the same. We walk into every race trying to win. I'm soaking

everything in more than I ever have been."

You know how you could be deep-sea fishing in Australia and meet someone from Cheektowaga

— you know, that Buffalo thing? Mesler and DePeters met last week in a chance encounter

in a Park City, Utah, grocery store. Their mothers — Lois Mesler and Nancy DePeters

— are in the same yoga class every Tuesday night.

East Amherst-raised Brooks Orpik and South Buffalo's Patrick Kane are playing with Sabres

goalie Ryan Miller on the U.S. hockey team. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will be serving as an

assistant for Canada, which will be favored to win the gold.

Heck, Canada could send a "B" team and still be among the best.

And they wouldn't need Gretzky to light the fire.