Okay, they are over and some lives will get back to normal. But what an event. Canada did very, very well. There are a lot of special moments that will be remembered, starting with the opening and closing ceremonies which were first class, and then of course Canada's record medal haul.
It is nice to see strong performances from so many Canadian athletes. This sets the stage for 2010 in Vancouver, and hopefully the goal there will be to win the medal count. Wouldn't that be something! We didn't win a gold when the Olympics were in Calgary in 1988, and to be in a position to win it all next time the big event is on home turf would be phenomenal.
Even though there was disappointment with the men's hockey team, these games were a success.
Like in Salt Lake in 2002, the media focus on hockey can overshadow other athletes. But that didn't happen this time. And that is a great thing...these unheralded athletes can get their well deserved recognition and time in the spotlight for their accomplishment.
If anything, the 1988 Olympics in Calgary helped set the stage for our success in Turin. Many of the athletes train here, using the facilities left over from those games. The legacy of those games have set the foundation for future success and account for the pride we feel in our athletes' accomplishments.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
The Olympics
Considering how much I time I have spent in front of the TV lately watching the Olympics, I guess it deserves a post. I have to admit I do enjoy watching the games; moreso the Winter Olympics than the summer...just because I know Canada will do well.
My spouse is glued to the tube and she can't miss a bit of the days events. She constantly is switching back and forth between CBC, TSN & NBC, and that's okay. We cheer ever medal win by a Canadian, and mourn every close result. Maybe the Olympics is one of the few instances where us Canadians show our patriotism and wear our emotions on our sleeve.
Especially when it comes to hockey. It was so nice to see the women's hockey team repeat and win the Gold medal for the second consecutive Olympics. In fact, it wasn't even close. Their domination was phenomenal and it was nice to see their hard work pay off. On a side note, perhaps the best thing to happen to women's hockey was Sweden's surprising upset of the U.S. and their Silver medal. This sport needs more competitive teams (to the U.S. & Canada) and good for the Swedes.
Now to the men's hockey. No need to panic yet, but I think we all would like to see the men dominate like the women and it ain't happening. Men's hockey is much more competitive than the women, but we are still near the top. I know that anything less than a Gold medal will be unacceptable, and maybe that is unfair, but that's the way it is.
The men's hockey team traditionally gets better as a tournament plays on and I hope the same pattern transpires this time. Go Canada Go.
My spouse is glued to the tube and she can't miss a bit of the days events. She constantly is switching back and forth between CBC, TSN & NBC, and that's okay. We cheer ever medal win by a Canadian, and mourn every close result. Maybe the Olympics is one of the few instances where us Canadians show our patriotism and wear our emotions on our sleeve.
Especially when it comes to hockey. It was so nice to see the women's hockey team repeat and win the Gold medal for the second consecutive Olympics. In fact, it wasn't even close. Their domination was phenomenal and it was nice to see their hard work pay off. On a side note, perhaps the best thing to happen to women's hockey was Sweden's surprising upset of the U.S. and their Silver medal. This sport needs more competitive teams (to the U.S. & Canada) and good for the Swedes.
Now to the men's hockey. No need to panic yet, but I think we all would like to see the men dominate like the women and it ain't happening. Men's hockey is much more competitive than the women, but we are still near the top. I know that anything less than a Gold medal will be unacceptable, and maybe that is unfair, but that's the way it is.
The men's hockey team traditionally gets better as a tournament plays on and I hope the same pattern transpires this time. Go Canada Go.
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