OK, so I'll be the last one on the entire internet to write about our experience during the Vancouver 2010 Games...It all started with the torch run - right down 4th Ave. It was great fun and it definitely started our Olympic excitement! The torch on this stretch was carried by none other than Sarah McLachlan. Of course, everyone was excited to see that but what I found even better was that the next torch bearer got just as many cheers - it really was all about the flame being carried through the city. The torch bearers were an important part in that, but they were definitely not the center of attention, all eyes were on the fire. And that fire caught on with everyone, I had never seen people in Vancouver cheering so happily and enthusiastically on the streets before. (More cheering was on the way of course during the Olympics...)
We didn't go to any events, the tickets were too expensive and I was in the middle of a lot of work... So we did our own celebrations: we watched the opening ceremony with friends:
Liam and Noah kept asking when they were going to start playing hockey....
The Olympic mascots were a huge hit with all kids in Vancouver, I think every kid in the city has at least one of those creatures, either as a stuffy or on a T-shirt, hat, mitten, sticker, sweater, backpack...
Anouk and Liam love their Quatchi (Liam) and Miga (Anouk):
And yes, we bought Liam a T-shirt that says "Canada" - just like everyone else in the city. The one must-have fashion accessory we missed out on were the red mittens with the maple leaf and the Olympic rings. I had seen them in December and didn't like them very much.... If only I had known...
And then the highlight of the two weeks: the gold metal hockey game. It was not just Canadian pride that was on the line, it was Canadian identity!
So, we bought pop (gasp!) for the kids, cider for the adults, monkey food (=junk food: pretzels and chips) and had a quick bread and salami lunch between the first and second period.
Liam loved the monkey food:
Anouk just liked hanging out, munching chips and pressing her nose against the TV screen:
Then Liam really got into the game:
And then finally this:
And this is how Liam helped Team Canada: Every time he saw the American goalie he held up his red sock with monsters on it. The American goalie would get distracted and scared and let the puck in the net. And Canada wins!
After the game we went out to walk down Broadway. Everyone was happy, smiling, wearing red and white, waving flags.
We came to an intersection with police cars and were wondering what was going on.... It was fantastic! An impromptu street hockey game and in order to keep everyone safe, the police just closed off the street. Apparently this was happening all over town, and in many cases the police joined in the game.
For me that shows that the best team won and over two weeks Canadian pride grew and Canadian identity was re-affirmed!
Go Canada!!
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