Roxroy McLean, Gleaner Writer

A flag vendor (right) conducting business in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew recently. - File

A day after the fireworks and celebrations in Beijing have ended, Jamaicans are still reminiscing about 'the Great Haul of China'.

Eleven medals - six gold, three silver and two bronze. The highest medal tally in our country's history.

And, for many Jamaicans, the athletes' achievements in the Olympics Games have made them very proud.

Benefit from sales

The national colours - black, green and gold - are all over: on car bonnets, on buses, draped on buildings, rings, caps, shirts and, of course, flags. And, some enterprising individuals are reaping the benefits of this opportunity: the most visible of these, the flag vendors.

For Nadine Baker, a 39-year-old street vendor on King Street, downtown Kingston, the Olympics has been great and she is elated with the way Jamaicans have been celebrating.

"I can't tell you how mi love to see the flags dem a wave all round the place," she said displaying wares of Jamaican headbands, scarves and whistles.

The vendor said while she benefits from the sales, she feels good to see the national colours everywhere.

Dave Ellis, a shoe vendor now turned flag salesman, said he had to shift from his regular wares to seize the newly-presented opportunity.

"Right now every two days I buy flags ... people just want a Jamaican flag," said Ellis.

"The people not even mind the price, them just want a flag," he added.

Attached to flag

Millicent Grant has grown so attached to her flag and goes nowhere without it.

"I never leave my flag. I bought my flag for $250 cause mi couldn't see dem [the athletes] perform and don't have one," said the Denham Town resident. "Dem really make me proud."

Ellis, however, is bracing for a hike in demand on the return of the athletes and has stockpiled on flags.

"This week, a big thing because the athletes dem a come back, and people a go want dem flag," he said.