We are more

[elly427]

For the flist that is unaware, I live in Vancouver. We have a little sporting event happening here. IT IS AWESOME.

It's been a crazy few days. This is the first night since Thursday I've been home and not down town taking in the festivities. Vancouver is alive like I've never experienced it.

I was one of the fools running after Wayne Gretzky in his truck with the Olympic flame. Who knew the games could inspire me to such heights of athleticism?







The Olympics always make me cry, but never so much as I have the past few days. From the beat poet at the opening ceremonies to cheering Slovakia after their 18-0 defeat at women's hockey to the Canadian team, to Alex Bilodeau standing on the podium as O Canada played while the crowd went crazy, I've just been one big sobbing, goosebumped emotional mess. I've got red and white lights on my balcony and all I want to do is stay home and watch the coverage.

I've been to three events - pairs figure skating practice where the women are even tinier than they appear on tv. The guys were lifting them like they weighed nothing. I've also caught two womens hockey games - Sweden vs Switzerland, or Ikea vs Chocolate (Sweden won 3-0) and Canada vs Slovakia (which ended up 18-0, but Slovakia beat Bulgaria 84-0 in qualifying, which made me feel less bad for them. Also, the crowd gave them a bigger cheer than Canada, so I hope that cusioned the blow). My other set of tickets is for the men's bronze medal curling match. Yay!

Things you should maybe know:
1. Of course there is no snow. It's February in Vancouver. The crocuses have been up for weeks. There is a reason we live here. (It's the early spring, FYI.)

2. If Canada doesn't win gold in men's hockey, I believe they (we?) will burn the city down.
3. The montage they play in the venues before each event will make you cry. I wish I could find it on YouTube because it is everything brilliant about sport.
4. The city really looks beautiful. Everything is clean and sparkly and the wrap on the fences you're seeing on tv really is awesome.
5. I don't mean to be flippant, but the Olympic cauldron sort of looks like it is in a concentration camp. It's surrounded by concrete barriers and chain link fence. It's not a good look.
6. I don't understand how I am expected to go to work and concentrate for the next two weeks.



God, I love the olympics, in my city or not.

Comments

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

.... they don't give you guys a city holiday for two weeks!? WHERE IS THE JUSTICE???

Oh, I am so full of love for Canada right now! The Olympics always make me feel like Canada is home, even though I have lived in the States for actually 2/3rds of my life now (I just did that math for the first time, SCARY YO). O CANADAAAAA... gold! GOLD! :-D

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

*waves Olympic flag* Us Aussies are backing you Canadians because we fucking suck man! *waves Canadian flag*

[indigo419.livejournal.com]

Miss Thing, you are adorable. I wish I could celebrate in Vancouver with you right now!! I will just have to imagine I see you in the crowd at every event. (And who was that amazing beat poet, by the way???)

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

We were at the pairs skating practice (one of them, anyway) and you're right - the women are so tiny. And they just get tossed in the air like dolls.

[sarmoti.livejournal.com]

What an amazing experience! I would feel the same way if the Olympics were right here, with my city, my home, as the back drop.

[jadengreen36.livejournal.com]

You lucky duck you! I thought you were in Calgary.

I AM CANADIAN and I have loved the winter Olympics since I was old enough to know what curling was (3!) and it is WONDERFUL. I remember how wonderful Calgary was, and this is awesomesauce. Just wish there was more snow, but it's not exactly VANOC and Vancouver's fault they are experiencing the warmest winter in 100 years. Heck, anything above 2C in Montreal in February is a frakking heat wave.

Thank goodness for Brian Williams jumping to CTV; the studio coverage is otherwise unwatchable. I miss CBC.

Have a heap of fun for me, darlin! {{Elly}}

[elly427.livejournal.com]

OMG RED. All the MPs and school children and university students are off but the rest of us are expected to carry on like nothing happening! A tragedy, really.

Also: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOLDDDDDDDDDDD. Whoever said Canadians weren't nationalistic or full of pride has not been in Vancouver lately. Everyone has a Hockey Canada jersey or a maple leaf on something! It is excellent!

[elly427.livejournal.com]

Did you hear about the giant boxing kangaroo flag the Aussie athletes put up at the Olympic village? CANADA LOVES IT. Also, Dale Begg-Smith is getting the twirling-mustache villian treatment in the media here. It's hilarious.

[elly427.livejournal.com]

I am having such a good time! *twirls you* It's so fun!

The beat poet (and trust me, I groaned when they said "beat poet" at the opening ceremonies) is a guy named Shane Koyczan. I've seen him live a few times at our Folk Fest and in some local cafes - he's quite well know locally. The whole poem was just so Canada- he got an awesome standing ovation in the coffee shop I ended up watching the games in.

[elly427.livejournal.com]

It was kind of like "hmm, I don't like where you're standing, so I will pick you up like a doll and set you over here." It's shocking to me more of the ladies don't get tossed over the boards.

[elly427.livejournal.com]

IT IS AWESOME. The city was sort of ambivalent before the games started, but now that they're here everyone is excited and enthusiastic.

[elly427.livejournal.com]

I was in Calgary - I was 5, granted, but I still remember seeing the torch and one of the medal ceremonies, which is awesome.

Everything VANOC can control has been great. They're taking some heat locally for things like cancelling general admissin at Cypress, but really what can they do?

I miss the CBC too, but what can you do? And I will have as much fun as I can!

[http://users.livejournal.com/wisteria_/]

Aww, your excitement is so much fun to watch! I'm really thrilled that you're having such a great time, dearie. :)

[elly427.livejournal.com]

I was totally afraid the city was going to be a downer, but everyone is so excited, it's awesome.