And the Gold medal goes to...

 
VANCOUVER CANADA

 a world class, clean and safe city just a plane and train ride away

AND

The thousands of athletes (Approximately 2,600 athletes from 82 nations participated in 86 events in fifteen disciplines.)

The thousands of volunteers (There were 18,500 volunteers at this year's Olympics  helping ticket holders find their seats at venues, giving directions to confused guests wandering the streets, driving around dignitaries and printing out stat sheets for cranky, sleep-deprived journalists. Some 95% of them were Canadian)

The thousand of spectators (upward of 150,000 people surged on downtown Vancouver streets after the men's hockey team won the Olympic gold on Sunday afternoon),

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/03/01/bc-vancouver-post-olympic-exodus.html#ixzz0gycBxPVW

Without a doubt, the Canadians put on a great show, one that was humbling to this U.S. citizen who shares the continent with them. The Olympics were not without their problems and protests( which I didn't see), and the impact of the games on the city's poor is yet to be seen. Yet, on the whole, I experienced a welcoming and a boisterous pride that sent me pondering: What does it mean that so many were willing to wear a T-shirt, a sweater, a scarf, a goofy hat with the words, "I'm proud to be a Canadian? From where I sit in a liberal progressive neighborhood, there isn't anyone in my circles who would wear a shirt that said "I'm proud to be an American". It's not that we aren't, but it has taken on a different tone here-negative nationalism, xenophobia,  militarism, even a bit  hokey. The closest I saw to any overt pride was during the last presidential election.

So, I was happy, for a week, to bask in  Canadian boosterism, to jump to my feet with the other 1000s of glowing hearts as  I witnessed Canadians winning gold medals (Ski Cross and Ice Dancing) or winning a Curling match. Even more moving, being brought to tears watching the Canadian ladie's figure skating champion  as she came onto the ice after  the death of her mother just 3 days earlier.



Congratulations .

Thanks from Team USA

http://support.teamusa.org/site/TellAFriend?msgId=2641.0&devId=6521

Portraits of people I met

Standing in line waiting for the bus after the hockey game I ask my usual question, "Tell me, what events have you seen?" The answer: " None, I'm one of the 75 hockey game timers out of 350 who applied"  A three year application  process that included mock games, rules testing, interviews. 10 hour days. "A privilege", he says.
He was from Arizona.

6:30 am. Arriving at the bus depot  to wait for transportation to Cypress mountain, I encounter another one of the many Salvation Army volunteers seen at all the venues handing out hot chocolate and coffee. She was from Mississippi

It is raining as I enter the Ladies' figure skating competition. A man offers to let me stand under his umbrella. He works for Korean Airlines and is on loan to the Korean Olympic committee putting together a bid for 2018. He is about to witness a Korean skater steal the show and our hearts with the first of two of the most magnificent performances since Michelle Kwan.
He was from Seoul

A young man sits down on the bleachers to watch the ladie's ski cross. He is carrying a blown up kangaroo. 
He was from Australia

A family of four wrapped in Canadian flags, flauting red and white clown wigs and face paint give me pointers about curling strategies. " Go Cheryl, go" they chant. Cheryl is the goddess captain of the Canadian women's curling team, the team from Edmonton that wins the silver medal later in the same tournament against the same team of Swedes.
The family was  from Edmonton.

Five men get on the Skytrain and see someone with a country flag that plays their anthem. I encourage them to sing it. Once they start, the Canadians start singing-"Oh Canada" Its a duel. 
The Croatians win.

Some young people, college aged are on the Skytrain as we make our way to the hockey game between Slovakia and Russia. One of them says " The only Russian I know how to say is, 'You skate like a girl' Wanna hear it?" She speaks the phrase in Russian, we all laugh. Ironic, since we are going to a women's hockey match.
She was from Canada.


We are packed into the Richmond Oval Speed Skating venue. "Is there a Canadian skater?", I ask.
The man next to me looks  rather dumbfounded that I don't know Carla Hughes. She won the 5000 meter gold 4 years ago and is attempting to medal again.  She gets the bronze.
He, of course, was from Canada!