Thousands of international tourists have descended upon B.C. for the Vancouver Olympics. Coming from all corners of the globe, these fans have gathered to cheer on their favourite athletes and experience all the province has to offer.

Here's a look at some of the foreigners who have set up camp in Whistler and Vancouver.

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(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Russia/Kyrgyzstan

Zalina Zakirova works in a Whistler clothing store selling official merchandise of the Russian team. Fluent in Russian, and born in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, the University of Toronto business student has been living in Canada for four years.

The 22-year-old moved to Whistler for the winter to be a part of the Games. "There is so much energy in the air, I love it," she says. Although she does not have any tickets to see Olympic events, Zakirova says she is enjoying the nightlife.

Zakirova says she is falling in love with Whistler, and is having trouble deciding if she will stay in Canada after finishing university or return to Kyrgyzstan.

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(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Croatia

Vlasta Brozicevic has been the official doctor of the Croatian ski team for 16 years. Decked out in the "CroSki" official red jacket and pants, the 59-year-old stands out on a grey day in Whistler.

She's a veteran of five Olympics. And while she has found the food and accommodations in B.C. to be fantastic, she has also sensed a seriousness in the air that she did not experience in Salt Lake City or Turin. She chalks it up to the global economic malaise of recent years. "The atmosphere was better at the other Olympics .... When the cameras are on, everyone is smiling, but two seconds later, no smiles."

"In Torino, it was different," she says while being photographed in Whistler. "Whenever people saw our Croatian uniforms, they would come over and cheer."

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(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Czech Republic

Grahame Hamilton and Janette Copp, a Kiwi and a Scot, live in London, England, but are fans of the Czech team. Because they own a business in Prague, they've been invited to the Games as guests of the team. They've been wandering the streets of Whistler in their official Czech clothing.

The pair had been given tickets to see a number of Olympic events, including the ice dance competition on Feb. 22 that saw Canadian skaters Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir win gold. "We were there to cheer on the Czech pair of Kamila Hajkova and David Vincour... but it was amazing to see the Canadians win," Copp says. Hajkova and Vincour placed 21st.

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(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

U.S.

Carl Woods, 40, and his mother Gay Woods, 73, made the three-hour trip from their home in Seattle to Vancouver on the train. They then travelled to Whistler on a bus to take in the sights.

Carl, who works for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration as a baggage inspector at the Seattle International Airport, says he saved for his Olympic trip for four years. "I always said this is something I wanted to do before I died," he says. "So when we learned it would be in Vancouver, practically next door, we jumped."

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(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

U.S.

Frank Biaglia, 65, left, and Angelo Guerra, 50, have been bobsleigh technicians for the U.S. sliding team for 17 years. The two, who are in charge of every aspect of the team's bobsled design, travel with the team to every competition to ensure the sleds are in top order.

They arrived in Whistler from their home state of Connecticut less than an hour before being photographed on their way to the start of the women's two-person bobsled. A U.S. team — Erin Pac and Elana Meyers — went on to win a bronze medal in the event.

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(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Norway

Bjorn and Ammeberit Svindal are the proud parents of 27-year-old Norwegian alpine skier Aksel Lund Svindal, who has won three medals — gold, silver and bronze — at this Winter Olympics. "It's overwhelming, it's like a fairy tale," Ammeberit says of the accomplishments of her son, who overcame injuries and illness to get to the Games.

"This is our first time to Whistler," says Ammeberit. "It's great seeing all these people ... everyone is nice and friendly ... and the skiing is great!" To celebrate their son's victories, the two had a heli-skiing trip planned.

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(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Senegal

Skier Leyti Seck, 29, is the only athlete competing for Senegal at the Games. Photographed in Whistler, Seck, who lives, trains and goes to school in Austria, says he is proud to represent the African nation where his father was born and where his family still lives. Born in Germany, he grew up with Austrian foster parents who taught him how to downhill ski when he was seven years old.

He isn't happy with his first result at the Games: 85th of 89 finishers in the giant slalom on Feb. 23. But he is hopeful for a better result in his favoured event, the slalom, on Saturday.

After the Olympics, he plans to return to Austria to pick up his sports science studies at the university of Salzburg.

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(Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Norway

Agneta Moen, Hanna Kahler and Matilda Kahler, right to left, all traveled to Whistler from Oslo to cheer on the Norwegian nordic skiers. Photographed after watching the Swedish men take gold in the cross-country 4x10 kilometre relay, Moen says she is happy for the Swedes, who edged out the Norwegian team.

"We took silver, so that's not bad," Kahler says.

Dedicated Nordic ski fans, the trio have been travelling by bus from Vancouver to Whistler, a five-hour round trip, every day since the nordic competition began Feb. 15. "We love cross-country skiing," Moen says. "We are cheering for everyone, but mostly Norway."