Roy Hylton adjusts one of the many flags on his truck at The Gleaner this week. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

WHETHER IT is a flag, shirt, blouse or dress, Jamaicans have been proudly donning the national colours to work, parties and just about anywhere they go.

Euphoria swept the commercial district of downtown Kingston, especially King Street, as flags were mounted in shop windows and on car-radio antennae. Those who could not find anywhere to hoist a flag, waved it in the air or wore it on their bodies. Newspaper clippings of Jamaican athletes were also mounted in stores.

Green, gold and black became a standard uniform as it draped buildings, shoppers and workers on Kings Street . Some ladies were attired in spectacular outfits while the men mostly wore Jamaican T-shirts, headbands or bandanas around their heads.

Higglers selling Jamaican buttons, key rings and wrist bands were on every street corner.

Although they want to make a profit, their body language exuded Jamaican pride and excitement.

"This Olympic feels better than Christmas!" one vendor shouted. "My heart goes out ... and when the national anthem was played, I felt proud to be a Jamaican more than ever," said Michelle Grant, a shopper in downtown Kingston.