But whatever the environmental advantages a gold's a gold, and something to be celebrated. After the last Olympics up in Whistler they moved the torch down to the Vancouver waterfront and decreed that it would be lit every day Team Canada gets the big medal, and today it was women's ice hockey and curling that ascended to the top of the podium.
I wandered by, unprepared and without my camera, of course, and the area around the flames was heaving! Cars waving flags drove past beeping their horns, and a spontaneous rendition of "Oh Canada!" took place. It's a popular song. Strange, as I believe "God Save The Queen" is the national anthem.
News less widely reported is that this almost didn't happen - the city deemed it too expensive to light the torch for every gold (more Olympic bravado!) There was the standard public outcry and two anonymous donors came forward with the cash. Could one have been a local petrochemical company that might find the public burning of natural gas positive and beneficial? Hannah couldn't possibly comment.
Huddling around the flame for warmth on a chilly evening.
When Britain wins a medal they burn red, white and blue.
And that's why you should always carry a decent camera.
