Linda Pauls still recalls the buzz and atmosphere generated during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games when she lived in Calgary.

And while she was a spectator that time around, when the Olympic torch comes to 91原创 on Feb. 8, the 62-year-old will be front and centre as one of the torchbearers.

鈥淚t is pretty exciting,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am just dreaming; I can鈥檛 wait.鈥�

Pauls鈥� stretch of route is along 200 Street, between 85 and 83 Avenues.

Back in 1988, Pauls recalled watching the torch relay come through town and how excited the torchbearers were to be part of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

That was part of the reasoning behind Pauls and her husband, Werner, applying to be torchbearers.

鈥淚t is the Olympics; how could you not want to do that?鈥� she asked. 鈥淲hat an honour. I just had to put my name in.鈥�

Pauls鈥� husband was not selected, but two of the couple鈥檚 very good friends were.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how we lucked out that much,鈥� said Doug Jensen. 鈥淚t was big to get one of us, let alone two of us.鈥�

Both the Jensens are running in 91原创 City, with Doug carrying the torch from the corner of 56 Avenue and Production Way to 196 Street. His wife Nancy has a much more glamorous route, as she is scheduled to carry the torch into City Hall.

鈥淲e are just excited that (the Olympics) are coming to British Columbia,鈥� said Doug, 60. 鈥淎nd we are just excited to be part of it.

鈥淚t is a huge opportunity that doesn鈥檛 come along very often.鈥�

Nancy says she is excited and very nervous.

鈥淚 just feel so, so fortunate and appreciate that I was chosen,鈥� the 62-year-old said.

She said after hearing the stories the Pauls鈥� had about the 1988 Olympics, it nudged her and her husband into wanting to get involved with the 2010 Games.

鈥淲e were already thinking about it,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I think with them and all their enthusiasm from being there and witnessing the Olympics (in 1988), the fire was lit under the four of us to get in there and volunteer and put our names forth to be torchbearers.鈥�

Pauls said it is an honour to be involved with the Games.

鈥淭his makes you feel like an Olympian; it is amazing, it just means so much,鈥� Pauls said.

鈥淭he way they have done the torch relay has really pulled together ordinary people from around the country,鈥� she added. 鈥淚t is just so much of an honour to be a part of that.鈥�

In anticipation of her big day, Pauls鈥� children and grandchildren, some of them coming from Calgary and Vernon for the event, will be staking out spots along her route to cheer her on. The Jensens will also have family and friends witnessing their run.

Asked what her emotions are as the event nears, Pauls said she was displaying a wide range of feelings.

鈥淚 am everything: I am nervous, I am excited, I am emotional about it,鈥� she said.

With the big day looming closer and closer, the anticipation is building.

鈥淣ow that we have our uniforms at home and all the stuff is here, you can really feel the excitement picking up for sure,鈥� Doug said.