Being at the Olympics (And Yes, I’m a Fan!)

Okay, yes, I’m an Olympic fan in the midst of the two-week event that brings the world together. Despite the worries, financial concerns, protests, and naysayers, I’m having a great time.

Vancouver just now is like a citywide Expo, with the festive feel of Mardi Gras. Huge crowds are everywhere, many lining up patiently (up to seven hours or more) for the downtown zipline, or to hold a gold medal in their hands and have their pictures taken at the Mint, or to get into some of the popular pavilions (I hear the Russian one is excellent).

When we wandered around Vancouver this week, with the goal of seeing that controversial torch site firsthand, the city was dazzling….soaked in sunshine, cherry blossoms fragilely framing the scene, music floating across city blocks near the live sites.

We made it to the torch, where the fence around it has been modified a couple of times after people’s loud protests that it was visible only at a distance through chicken wire. Now, the bottom section of the fence barrier is glass you can see through and a narrow open gap is perfect for photos. Much better.

After seeing figure skating and hockey last week, we made a trip up to the Callaghan Valley yesterday for the women’s biathlon and the Nordic combined (jumping and cross country skiing) events.

Even the bus ride up to Callaghan was smooth and quite festive…the Sally Ann was handing out free hot chocolate, and other volunteers gave people free newspapers and snacks.

Twenty-two years ago in Calgary, women were fighting to have their biathlon event included in the Olympics. I remember seeing a female biathlete being interviewed at the men’s event in Calgary, rifle over her shoulder, passionately insisting women should be part of the biathlon event. I wondered then why it wasn’t included, since women were already participating in an array of dangerous (often formerly male-only) events like ski racing, aerials, and luge.

So, it was a treat to be able to see the women’s biathlon in action. I knew the Canadian team had worked hard to raise money, even producing yet another tasteful “nudie” calendar, and our women ended up a respectable fifteenth. (Now I wonder if women’s ski jumping will ever be approved, after their battle to get it in this time failed).

At the Nordic combined cross country finale, it started to snow. Very wintry and appropriate, and we perched on a hillside to watch the event (an exciting race to the finish by the Austrians and US, with the Austrians managing to win!), watching kids slide gleefully down the spectators’ slope, and later following their example ourselves (easier than picking your way down.)

Russ and I took our two young daughters Holly and Kristi to the Calgary Olympics in 1988, and we all learned firsthand what “being there” was like. We watched Eddie the Eagle soar, or rather, hop in ski jumping, we cheered on the gutsy Jamaican bobsled team, and we watched Karen Percy get a bronze medal in alpine skiing.

Until you’ve stood beside the bobsleigh run, you just cannot quite imagine the sensual experience: the vibrating earth, overwhelming noise, and breathtaking speed as the sled comes racing down the run towards you. Nor can you know the many moments when you’re suddenly talking to a proud Finn at the ski hill, or to a German at cross country skiing (Russ was wishing he traded his big Canadian flag for a Russian one at the biathlon). Russians were there in force, and their team won the event.

And this time, more than ever, the displays of Canadian pride are everywhere: flags and face tattoos, red and white CANADA hoodies en masse! Yes, we are finally showing our nationalistic streak joyfully.

To my delight, the Calgary introduction to the fun and spirit of the Games made a big impression on my daughters, and they remain keen Olympic fans as adults. (For further proof, see the Vancouver Sun article published about Kristi last week,  “Glitches don’t dampen super-fan experience”).

It was well worth it to go and cheer on our team, or, any athletes. As my granddaughter Sophie put it, “Go Everyone Go!”

Photo Credit

All photos © 2010 Star Weiss

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