Over but not out…

So…the games are over. Spectacular performances. Beautiful city and venues. New records. All to be expected and all to be celebrated. Less obviously but perhaps more important is the Olympic spirit, which continues on in every city that hosts a games. A spirit that transcends cultures and distances and our daily lives. A spirit that teaches us all, elevates us all, and reminds us of the better angels inside all of us.

Who can forget the brave skater who with her beloved mothers death not a day old, rose to the occasion to perform a personal best and ultimately win a medal?  What lessons could all of us have learned from that athlete at that moment?  To bear witness to the moment of a sea of humanity acknowledging not just the spirit of the athlete but sharing if for only a moment, a transcendent emotional bond felt round the world, is a moment we should all learn from.

Yes we have our problems as individuals, as countries and as humanity. Somehow if our leaders could summon up the emotion of that moment our world would be a better place.  The Olympic games may be over, the spirit will live on.

Joannie Rochette has demonstrated what it means to be taken by the spirit of the games. And uniquely the audience on that night, both in the stadium but far away showed us all our common humanity.

Johnny Weir-fun, fun, fun…’till…

I was thinking about that t-bird daddy might take away the other day when Johnny Weir came to mind.  Johnny Weir is about much fun as there’s been in figure skating in many a year. This all came to mind as I watched the oh so serious pairs long skate. Where did the fun and the passion go? It didn’t seem that long ago that the Scott Hamilton’s, and the Nancy Kerrigan’s were bedazzling us not just with their technical skills, but with their passionate, fun, articulate expression of their sport.

Yes of course the pairs winners were great. Or amazing. Or any of a dozen other words that came to mind. But the one thing they were not, was passionate. If there was fun anywhere to be had in Vancouver that night, it was definitely not in the pairs arena. Such serious music. I was waiting for  ‘Voyage of the Damned’ as the next music.

So Johnny Weir is a ray of sunshine in this otherwise grim sporting tale, as dark and as gray as a Vancouver sky.  And ‘yes’, that quad will make or break him. But my bet is that his will be the most fun, and his will be the most memorable that evening. No one is taking Johnny’s t-bird away.

So tonight  Johnny be good.  Go Johnny go!

Vancouver 2010 Games Open

Of the two thousand or so songs in my library KD Lang appears nowhere. After watching the opening ceremony that will change.  Before this evening I had never heard of Shane Koyczan. Nor slam poetry. Until the opening ceremony I could never put into words what makes me a Canadian. Before the Vancouver opening ceremony I feared that the event would be like so many other Canadian events. Dull, poorly produced, or  irrelevant. Had I not just days ago argued while Canada does many things well, media, and events were not our strong suite? Have I not likened Canadian media and events to iron era Soviet television?

No longer.

The opening of the 2010 games was not just an event nor spectacle both of which it was.  This ceremony signaled Canada’s coming of age. No longer an aspirant to American showmanship. No longer a weak understudy.  This event was not world class, it was beyond world class.

All the usual and more unusual effects from the stadium floor turning into a whale pod swimming in the ocean  to music to cry to, poetry to reflect on and speeches spoken just right. Meaning, celebration and joy all wrapped into an evening of warmth and shared humanity. How an event of this scale could do those things I could not say. That the event did is testimony to everyone involved and the raw resources of the Canadian spirit.

Well done Vancouver. Well done Canada. And thank you Shane Koyczan for putting into words what some of us could not for some 50 years.

Welcome to Canada.

When Injury Happens

It was announced yesterday that one of Team USA’s most hopeful of Olympic hopefuls had injured herself. Lindsey Vonn has sustained a lower leg injury which may take her out of the games. First of all we would like to express our support for Lindsey. It is hard to imagine the frustration of getting injured days before the biggest event in her life.

While we are crossing our fingers that Lindsey will recover in time to compete we hope she will not risk her health to get in the game. She is a tough competitor and will be chomping at the bit to take to the course. hang in there and Best of luck Lindsey!

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Ready for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics?

It’s the biggest sporting event ever, and this time its close to home. We’re talking of course about the Olypic games being held in Vancouver in just a few short weeks. In case you didn’t know, Vancouver is considered one of the worlds best places to live. Not to mention beautiful. And to make things even better, it’s host to the 2010 Olympic games. Of course like any good resource we have information on some of the ‘how to’s’ for the Olympics. Starting with how to get there. Our sister site, is offering some great travel opportunities, so check it out at See America.com. In the mean time, join the conversation. Canada thinks the 2010 Games is going to be its best year ever.

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Superbowl Opinions

We’re going to be taking our annual poll for the best game of the year, the best play of the year, best quarter back and most unrecognized player or team. We want your input so keep an eye out for our polls next month!

As well, with the Superbowl around the corner, we will polling users on their best guess’s, calculated guess’s and just plain old luck as to who will win the 2010 Superbowl. You’re vote counts, but only once. Don’t let you team down!

In the meantime we’ll be making something great for you! We appreciate your patience while we finish making something great for you!