Feb 18, 2010

Winter Olympic Souvenirs Sell Out FastBy David ByrdVOANews.com

In downtown Vancouver, one of the biggest attractions is not an Olympic venue – it’s a department store. The Hudson’s Bay company store is the only official Vancouver Olympic store, and fans are willing to spend hours in line to take home a piece of Olympic history.

The word ‘souvenir’ comes from a Latin word that mean’s to bring to mind. Souvenirs are usually small items, or trinkets that remind people of an experience. But souvenirs have become a major business as well, and at the 2010 Winter Games, souvenirs require almost as much strategy and patience as winning a medal.

Outside the Hudson’s Bay company store in downtown Vancouver, a line of people stretches down the block.

In a huge double-pane window stands a phalanx of mannequins wearing official Canada shirts and exercise pants, hoodies, scarves, hats and mittens. Store employee Brian McLelland snaps the arm off one faceless figure and rearranges its black t-shirt.

At the head of the line outside, an employee wearing a Vancouver 2010 fleece jacket greets visitors, making sure to thank them for their patience.

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