Olympic Day 2011......He Shoots! He Scores!

A more bleak start it couldn't be.

On the first anniversary to the day that the 2010 Winter Olympics kicked off, I looked out at a depressing grey and wet morning. I took some solace in watching CBC's Hockey Day in Canada (HDIC) celebrations from Whitehorse. Attempting to bring such a diverse and wide country that is Canada together - televised events such as this are vital. Seeing how we have so much in common in remote communities is how we remain such a stable and cohesive country. For the last five years or so, I have cajoled and pulled together the motley crew at Aquabus to a local tour of favored taverns on HDIC Day.  While with varying degrees of success, (a temporary ban for the last two years were ordered due to a very unfortunate incident. Enough said!).

But these tours also had a serious motive: to celebrate our national game and hoist the Maple Leaf.

So, HDIC Day falling on the one year Anniversary of the games, was to a good opportunity to miss. But then it rained........

Hello? Anybody here?

Although the bus driver on the 99 side glances in disguised puzzlement, I walk down Granville towards Granville Island  in my full regalia with the Maple Leaf down my back. I did this every day last February during the games (usually an hour late 'I'm coming in hot baby....), with the same smile on my face. Despite no indication that people feel the same, I intend to find those that felt that this was the greatest event in Vancouver and Canadian history. It's not looking good as I take the ferry over to Yaletown as God hits 'torrential' on the rain meter. Way to go! I head up towards Robson and hear thumping beats which is encouraging. While I see my first 'VANOCs' - a couple in those infamous blue volunteer Olympic jackets - it turns out that it's a bangara band playing the Plaza outside of the Library. It's not looking good......

But then I see hopeful signs looking west towards Granville in the distance. There among the maple leafs, is a video crew pointing at a fellow fan with a police light on his head, who I recognize as that infamous fan who was all over the games. It's not long before I have the lens in my face and I give a sound-bite. 'I can't believe it's been a year already...this was one of the greatest events of my life'. Despite the rain, people are actually out and celebrating together. I see an street hockey game and theres a line up to meet Canadian Figure Skater: Patrick Chan. Outside the Bay, are two lovely ladies posing with their Olympic Flame Torches, while their younger Asian sister throws down some beats......the Olympic Podium in front becomes a way station of bags, which incurs the wrath of our funky Asian DJ sister '....you need to move your stuff! People want to take nice pictures!' and then goes back to her deck. Typically, nobody takes any notice......

Andreas Wank 

I move into the Bay, and head over to the Olympic area. They're selling souvenir pieces of the podium for double the price they should go: $40. But it's for a good cause and are very attractively packaged. The unique sticker attached tells me via the website, that I have an actual piece of podium #9, part of the bronze section. This was used during the Team Ski Jumping Victory Ceremony at Whistler on Day 11. It even tells me who stood on this actual piece of Cedar: Team Norway including Anders Bardal. I can also say that Team Germany Silver Medalists stood on the other side including one Andreas Wank! My Brit friends will love that!

As I bought this, I got to try on Sid the Kid`s shirt! They didn't actual say if he wore this when he scored that goal - but I posed next to the net he scored into and the podium he laid upon after the team got their medal. All in all, a very satisfying experience to be that close to one of our modern day olympic heroes.

The Cauldron

I head back out, and walk down towards the Convention Center. The cauldron was re-lit at 4pm and I`m expecting big crowds. I wasn`t disappointed. Gone is that ugly fence that once surrounded the flames. The cauldron is now set in a reflecting pool, making the fittingly renamed `Jack Pool Plaza` in honor of one of the two men who worked so hard behind the scenes to bring these games to Vancouver, before his untimely death.

A wondrous legacy, and meeting place in memory of our games, this is the latest jewel in the crown that is Vancouver. The backdrop of the mountains provide a natural frame which highlight the beauty of the flames, which many were eager to get their digital camera out for. A huge flag is going through the crowd and `Hey! It`s you!`greets me. It`s that grass-root hero I met earlier. Light a flashing upon his head, he holds up his sign `He shoots, he Scores`!` as young and old, and all in between want to get a picture with him. Of course, I do as well, but I wait and just take in the fun. One of the great by products of events like this, is that it throws people together and shows what we really all know inside. We all just want to have fun as we`re really all the same underneath. Such is infectious energy of these games, characters rise to the surface who just enjoy being with people. This lovely man with the police light is David Ash and his card tells me he is President of Dash Tours (dashtours.com) based in Regina. I give him my postcard, and after posing with a few people for pictures as well - a women runs up and asks if she can have one to!

It was poetic to see the rain slowly recede, and the grey give way to blue skies. There was just a wonderful calmness as the multiple crowded the plaza to take pictures. Most were leaving as the dying light gave way to twilight providing given more majesty and spectacle to the crisscross arms of flames. I think Jack Poole would be smiling down from up high.

I hurried back south up Granville, heading along Robson to Yaletown, leaving crowds watching CTV local news on site and games of shinny still playing. As it was, I needn't have rushed. Ironically, my friend Jody, who I 'd planned to meet and end the evening with, watching the mighty Canucks over beers and wings, blew me out and was nowhere to be seen at the Wicklow pub. Once again back on the 99 heading home. Despite being dressed in red and white, you wouldn't even known it was a year on from the games. But, I'm still glad I made the effort. As it was a year ago, it was fitting to be in the company of strangers,. We all had the same idea to celebrate these games together. Having met great characters such as David Ash, only added credence that having the games here was just right despite the naysayers who still moan against them to this day.

I can't believe it was a year ago today...... 

11:07pm. My old mate from the Hammer, is screaming down the phone: '....you're on the news!' It seems that I made CTV NATIONAL News no less. From coast to coast I'm on camera blinking away saying 'I can't believe it was a year ago today....' before the CTV letters swing around and there's Sandie Rinaldo. I even make the prime time anniversary special on Sunday night.........

As me old mate Kipper said long ago: 'Good times, good times, great times, great times'.....

Indeed Kipper. Indeed.

In the meantime:

peeeaaaaaaaccceeeeee out sisters!