An enthusiastic crowd turned out on a chilly Saturday night to welcome the Olympic torch and cheer on a local torchbearer.

R.C.M.P. estimate that over 2500 people turned out to Voght Park to witness the arrival of the Olympic flame and to support local torchbearer Rusty Brewer.

"I am so impressed with all of the people that came out tonight," said Brewer.

"The emotion is unbelievable."

"It just comes right up from your feet."

Helping Merritt celebrate were local musicians Stuart Emslie and Tammy Weymouth, Cameron Snee, the Bench Elementary School choir as well as out of town guest Aaron Pritchett.

Also on hand were about fifty Native protesters airing their grievances over land claim issues, who kept up a steady back drop of drumming throughout, in an effort to counter the festivities.

"Merritt has been very lucky. We also had the torch in 1988 as well," said Mayor Susan Roline.

The Olympic torch passed through Merritt as part of the relay for the 1988 Olympic games held in Calgary.

The first modern Olympic Torch Relay was staged for the 1936 Berlin Games where the torch was carried through Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, finally arriving in Germany after eleven days.

The torch will arrive in Vancouver on Friday for the opening ceremonies, after traveling through more than 1000 communities and a distance of 40,000 km.

Once the final torchbearer has carried the flame to the city limits in their respective communities, a small lantern is lit and the flame is transported to its next destination.