Own the Podium a HUGE Success!

Before the 2010 Winter Olympic Games were even over the Canadian Olympic Committee declared that the “Own the Podium” program would fall short. I think their view was far too narrow-minded. “Own the Podium” was a HUGE success!

Not only did Canada finish a strong 3^rd in the medal standings, we went from the only host nation to never win a gold medal to the nation with the most gold medals at a single games in history!

Plus, technically the IOC considers the leader in gold medals to indeed be in first place. “You have done it, you have won!” declared IOC President Jacques Rogge. So Canada did own the podium, just not in the way we originally envisioned.

We came ever so close to the COC’s goal of 30 medals, only 4 short. That’s only a 10^th of a second or a few points here and there. In fact Canada could have easily achieved 4 more gold medals in events like men’s short track, women’s long track pursuit, women’s curling and luge. Catching the Americans was probably out of the question, but the potential was there to catch Germany and blow the gold medal record away.

The pros and cons of the name “Own the Podium” can be debated, but I think it’s clear the program needs to be continued. I encourage all Canadians to write their Member of Parliament and voice their support for funding sport in Canada!

Jacques Rogge is full of crap.

Jacques Rogge, the esteemed president of the International Olympic Committee, is full of it. When I refer to “it” I of course mean crap, not to mention arrogance, snobbery, hypocrisy and chauvinism.

The man could not come off as a bigger stiff if he were dead. He sits in his ivory tower, looking down on the world through Eurocentric glasses as he criticizes the athletes who make the IOC and himself millions of dollars.

Awesome video essay - What these games mean to Canada.

The Globe and Mail’s Stephen Brunt on what the 2010 Winter Olympic Games mean to Canada, and how they may have redefined what it means to be Canadian.

Vancouver is Awesome!

I love being a tourist in my home town in such beautiful weather! Russia House, Robson Street, A Peter Forsberg sighting, Canada beats Switzerland in hockey, ice skating at Robson square, Ignite the Dream fireworks & lazer show, Olympic cauldron, street hockey on Granville street, Live City Yaletown fireworks, people spontaneously singing I Believe and Slovakia defeating Russia in men’s hockey. My feet are blistered, but it was so worth it.

Vancouver is an amazing city, if you’re not here you’re missing out!