Music Legends to Close

Neil Young, Alanis Morrissette, Avril Lavigne, Michael Buble, Simple Plan and Hedley all helped to close the Games.

In an entertaining finish, the Olympic flag was passed to Sochi, the flame was extinguished and Jacques Rogge called the Games "excellent and friendly".

What a party for the past 17 days. What a finish - from Alex Bilodeau to Team Canada (hockey), we were mezmorized with our flag and nation.

Canada! Vancouver! Atta boy!



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Location:BC Place

Closing Ceremonies

We are midway through the closing ceremonies and the Greek national anthem us being sung.

The Canadian dancers, O' Canada, parade of nations and the awarding of the mens 50km cross-country skiing medals kicked off the agenda.

More later.


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Location:BC Place

G14

Fourteen golds. G14 for short.

The most gold medals of any country at the Vancouver Games. Not bad for a country and a program (Own the Podium) that many people left for dead last week.

In week two, Canadian athletes showed their mettle. Today's hockey game was emblematic of the drive and tenacity needed to succeed.

The atmosphere is crazy. I have never seen as many flags and Canadian hockey jerseys as I have seen today. I have never seen patriotism like this. A spontaneous version of O' Canada erupted at the street corner as we waited for the lights to change.

I watched the game from the Olympic Village. Funny, but it went quiet as of 12 noon. Everyone was inside watching the game.

Great work Team Canada. Great work Sidney Crosby on the overtime goal.

G14.

I'm standing in line at the concession at BC Place, ready to buy 4 beers at $9 per and I'm happy. Really happy.

I'll write more after the closing ceremonies. I think I'm going to pee myself I'm so excited.


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Location:BC Place

My Last Shift

It is 5:30 am on Sunday February 28, 2010.  I am arising and getting ready to go to the Olympic Village one last time.  Today is the Closing Ceremonies.  Tomorrow athletes, coaches and officials will go home ending one big 17 day party that took 50 years to plan.

It was after the Squaw Valley Olympics in 1960 that some Vancouver leaders thought that the Games were possible.  This was the inspiration behind the creation of Whistler Mountain.  It was a long journey, as 3 separate bids failed.....until the announcement in 2003 that Vancouver had won the right to host in 2010.

Seven years, sounded so far away.  Yet now, we are on the final day of those Games.

What have these Games meant to Vancouver, to Whistler, to British Columbia?  What have they meant for the athletes?  For Canada?  For you or I?

It is expected that most of the athletes will be in the Vancouver Village as the Whistler athletes come down for the Closing Ceremonies.  I think the answer is here.  It will be apparent today and tonight.  I hope the Village is rocking.  I hope Canada celebrates this awakening of pride that have been the result of these Games.

But, before that answer is delivered, there is the matter of a hockey game.  One little game with the final gold medal on the line.

Go Canada!

Whistler and the Olympics

We had a great visit to Whistler to see the village and the womens 30 km cross-country skiing race at Whistler Olympic Park.  Before going there, we had dinner at the Whistler Brew House and watched the Slovakia vs Canada semi-final hockey game.  Close....too close for comfort.

As well, we saw the womens curling.  Rats.

In the photo, I was so glad to have my sons, Tait and Blaine, visit so they too could experience a bit of the Games.  Here we are, just outside of the Whistler Awards Venue, where the Olympic flame burns.

Tomorrow, I work my last shift at the Polyclinic and Olympic Village.  More on this later.

Whistler and Hockey

Whistler is a world-class ski resort, so what does it have to do with hockey?

Not much except I'm sitting in the Whistler Brew House eagerly anticipating the start of the Canada - Slovakia semi-finals.

I saw Slovakia play earlier in the round robin. They have almost a full squad of NHL'ers and will pose a major obstacle to Canada's gold medal dreams.

Go Canada go.

Just a short note about Cheryl Bernard. Disapponting that she lost. She had the chance in the 10th end to win. Bad shot that led to the extra end. Rats.


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Bronze into Gold

The Canadian Womens Hockey team won gold last night but it was Joannie Rochette's bronze that was golden.

With a courageous and focused effort Rochette put the loss of her mother in the back of her mind for four minutes, as she concentrated on her free skate. Competing against one of the best skaters ever, Rochette did her mother proud. Congrats Joannie.

I caught the womens hockey game in the airports. Second period in Victoria and the third at YVR. Great play from both teams but with a solid win for the Canucks.

Thanks Jacques Rogge for raining on the womens parade last night. His talk about the state of womens ice hockey was ill timed and not very appropriate.

Funny how the IOC is sour on hockey while other sports that are only popular in Europe (like Skeleton) are not discussed.

I think it might be a negotiating tactic with the NHL regarding it's ongoing participation. Just a hunch.

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Vancouver 2010 Day 14: Off to Victoria

Today I'm off duty at the Olympic Games and am traveling to Victoria to meet with our Vancouver Island CMC members for lunch.

But I hope I don't miss the womens gold medal hockey game or Joannie Rochette's courageous skate tonight.

Team Canada was pummeled by the media and fickle citizens last week. The "Own the Podium" program has been questioned but I do recall OTP CEO, Roger Jackson, saying before the Games that the second week will be much stronger for our athletes. How right he was.

Yesterday tied the record for the most medals won by Canadians in any Olympic Games. Outsanding performances were had in speed skating, short track, bobsleigh and hockey.

Speaking of hockey - what a display of power and domination by the mens Team Canada. It is hard to believe that we tied the Swiss in regulation, last week.

I watched the game at the sports bar, Sin Bin, with a plethora of Canucks fans. Exciting. "Lou!!!!"

Finally, I'm pumped because my sons arrive tonight for a short visit to the Games. I want them to be able to say, "I was there."

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Location:YVR

An Outstanding Show

I could be talking about the Canada / Russia hockey game, which was a great game. Instead, today I had the opportunity to see a display of endurance and athleticism up close, and that was truly inspirational.

I was at the mens' 4 x 10 km Cross-Country Relay Race at Whistler Olympic Park.

Canada skied a gritty, tenacious race.  The race was two legs of classic skiing and the final two legs of skating style. Our men had their best finish in history with a 7th place showing. This was no embarassment - it was a true accomplishment. Our anchor, George Grey, outkicked Russia and Italy at the end, in front of a loud and boisterous crowd.

Truly athletic efforts were made by Marcus Hellner, of Sweden, for the gold, and by Petter Northug, of Denmark, for the silver.

Hellner took off on a climb with 3 km left and created a 15 gap from the other two skiers in his pack.  Talk about gutsy....breaking free on the uphill.  This was the margin of victory.

Northug wasn't one of those left behind by Hellner. Instead, he was in the second group, made up 37 seconds on his leg and caught the first group by the final 500 m.  He then outkicked the Czech and the Frenchman for the silver.  Truly inspirational.

But what made this event even better was the fact that I was right at the finish line, in the front row. I saw the desire and determination on the faces of those who won the race for the finish and also, the faces of those who were beat.  Giving up was not an option for the Swede or the Norwegian.  Grey of Canada refused to let the Russian and Italian beat him to the finish, once they reached the stadium.  His determination broke their spirit.

There is no doubt that I loved Canada's hockey win over Russia today, or Clara Hughes' gutsy bronze in the 5,000 m speed skating, or the womens' 3,000 m short track relay silver, or the one-two gold and silver finish in womens' bobsleigh, but to me, this Cross-Country race demonstrated Olympic competition at it's best.


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Gold!

Gold for Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir!  

I'm going to work the graveyard shift at the Olympic Village right now and I am sure the Village will be abuzz with excitement.

Congrats to Tessa and Scott.

More Ontario Pride

Normally, I am not a figure skating fan.  But I do respect and honour greatness and after watching Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir skate a perfect dance last night, I am a fan.  Raving fan.  Both Virtue and Moir are from Southwestern Ontario and that makes me even more proud.

I'm waving my Canadian flag tonight as they skate their free program.  Go Tessa and Scott!

BC's Interior: Meeting our Members

Last Thursday, on one of my days off from the Olympics, I had the distinct privilege of meeting a number of Certified Management Consultants in Kelowna, British Columbia.  Led by Chapter Chair, Deb Bourne and supported by Marty Playford and Paul Burgener, the Interior BC chapter is not large in numbers, but they are big on passion.  I met some wonderful consultants who truly enjoy what they are doing and where they are living (I too love where they are living).

We had a terrific chat and update on CMC-Canada and on what these members are doing in the business community.  The Interior Chapter comprises of consultants in Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon and the rest of the interior.  In fact, it was a pleasure to have members from Terrace and North Vancouver join us via teleconference.

We were fortunate that the Daily Courier printed a great article about the Association in their business section.  Great work Deb on making this connection.

Later this week, I have the great opportunity to meet with Lower Mainland CMCs and Vancouver Island CMCs.  I am looking forward to getting to know as many CMCs as I can.