The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic games are starting soon. This Friday actually. And although I’m in Ontario and they are taking place on the opposite side on the country in British Columbia, it’s still in MY country nevertheless. And I’ll tell you, we’re all full of pride and excitement. And hope.
Hope that we win lots of medals. Hope that we kick ass in hockey. Hope that there’s enough snow on the ski slopes (which is proving to be a very valid concern). Hope that something disastrous doesn’t happen. Hope that – for God’s sake – Canada doesn’t screw it up. Because as capable as we Canadians are, we do suffer from a certain lack of self-confidence.
But this Friday, once that Olympic cauldron is lit, there will be no looking back. The event we’ve been planning for so long, will finally be here.
In preparation, the Olympic Torch Relay has been underway since October 30/09 when it arrived in Victoria, BC. Since then, it has been all over the country. Literally. By the time the Opening Ceremonies begin;
- the relay will have spanned 106 days
- 90 per cent of Canada’s population was within a one-hour drive of experiencing the Olympic Flame
- it will have traveled over 45,000 kilometers (28,000 miles)
- 12,000 people will have had the honour of being an Olympic Torchbearer
The torch did pass directly through The Only Girl’s town back in mid-December. Unfortunately at about 6am. And oddly enough I was fast asleep at the time and failed to catch a glimpse.
But this Friday I will don my red Olympic mittens (which are the hottest trend in Canadian fashion right now because almost everyone is wearing them around here) sit in front of the TV, and watch as my country puts on it’s fanciest party dress and plays host to the World.
With my fingers crossed.
I hope you’ll join us.
Are you planning on watching The Games? If so, which events are you interested in seeing?
16 Responses to “We’re Throwing The World a Party!”
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February 10th, 2010 at 4:39 am
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!! I am a Canadian citizen now as of June 2009, so I will definitely be cheering on the Canadian teams!!! Not that Scotland has ever done well at the winter games any-way!!!! Go Canada Go…… Oh and Cheers to all!!!!!
February 10th, 2010 at 5:24 am
I’m not big sports fan in general but I love the opening ceremony of the olympics – does that count? I might watch a bit of curling depending on when it’s on!
Jade
February 10th, 2010 at 8:31 am
I should be flogged for my lack of national pride.
My sister in law almost fell down yesterday when I said I probably won’t watch any of it.
After reading your post and your enthusiasm I must go buy red mittens and at least watch the opening ceremonies.
Cher
Replied:
February 10th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
You must! I actually love my red mittens. Very warm and snugly. Although I assume they will be sadly outdated by the end of this month.
February 10th, 2010 at 11:44 am
We have been collecting the free Canada paraphernalia from the 24′s of Canadian (Cher, you might need to translate for some of you devoted blogees). Needless to say we have amassed quite an array of jerseys, hats….. and empties.
Can’t wait for Friday.
Just IMAGINE!!!!!!!
Cher
Replied:
February 10th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
What Jooles means here my bloggies, is that her household has consumed many cases of beer, Molson Canadian beer in particular, in which Molson’s are giving away free stuff, like Team Canada jerseys and toques (i.e. winter hats), and whatnot. That’s what we like to wear up here – beer clothing.
February 10th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Bring on snowboarding and speed skating! I would kill to see the Games in person; maybe a few down the road…
February 10th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
i am so glad you came by and said hello! i just added you to my reader! i do see that pink boa pop up at a lot of the same blogs i follow!
i am jealous the torch was so close for you guys- but i would not have gotten out of bed for it either!! haha i will definitely be tuning in here and there…i get sucked into that event where they slide the hockey puck with the handle thingy down the ice (i am clearly an expert and very technically knowledgeable about it…)
Cher
Replied:
February 10th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
That would be curling.
February 10th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
We will probalby watch a few things. My household tends to be more about the extreme sports though, so snowboarding is a definate and maybe speed skating.
February 10th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Absolutely I’ll be watching!! And I may just have an Olympic inspired video ready to post…
February 10th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
And obvs I should be drinking some Molson for the occasion. Eh?
February 10th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
First of all, how did you and Jess not know each other already? Shocking and unacceptable on my part.
Second, refresh my memory on how you guys did in hockey last time? Silver, right? I totally root for you guys since US hockey isn’t all that fab.
February 10th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
I’m very ‘meh’ about the Olympics. However, my 10 yr old and my husband are Olympics fuh-reeks. They will be watching much of it live and dvr’ing the rest.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:10 am
You Canadian bastards tried to make us take down our boxing kangaroo.
Seriously, that made huge news over here and it probably didn’t even make the papers over there.
But we got to keep the kangaroo up. We won’t win a medal at the games, but at least we had a victory in the courts. At least I think it went to court. Whatever, it was a victory.
Cher
Replied:
February 11th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Honestly, I had no idea what you were talking about. But thanks to my good friend Google – I’m now up to speed. Sorry about all that. But just because I’m Canadian does not necessarily mean I’m on the Olympic Committee. Or maybe it does. I’ll never tell.