Opening Ceremonies: Parade of Nations

I'm not sure how long this seemed to those sitting at home, but it seemed to go by so quickly for us in the stadium, much like everything else.

Don took out his binoculars to watch the athletes as they entered and he says it was quite fascinating to watch their faces as they walked in and saw the spectacle laid out before them. Of course most of them had cameras taking pictures of us as we were taking pictures of them.

We solemnly stood for the Republic of Georgia as they came in wearing black arm bands, having lost an athlete on the luge track that morning. Cheers were loud for all the teams, but especially for Great Britain, Jamaica and USA. However, as you can imagine, none was loader than than the roar when Clara Hughes walked in Team Canada.

Opening Ceremonies: Before the Athletes

More photos have now been posted, these ones from the Opening Ceremonies before the athletes walked in to BC Place.

We were there in plenty of time for our audience participation practice and when we saw the ramp set up behind and below the Olympic rings we knew there would be some kind of aerial component. However, we learned what that component would be the same time everyone at home did - right when the snowboarder jumped through those rings.

We were more than happy to don our white ponchos and shine our flashlights on cue even though all the props at our feet left little room for our toes.

Pre-Opening Ceremonies

All of our photos from before we attended the Opening Ceremonies have been posted on the Picasa site now. We spent the day wondering around Stanley Park and downtown as well as paying a visit to Yaletown and our old condo building as we made our way to BC Place. It's odd to think about how close we were to the kids calling Vancouver home instead of Toronto. Two more months and Ainsley would have been born there.

We got to Stanley Park after the torch had been through that morning and crews were still busy taking down the barricades. It was a dreary morning, as Vancouver can tend to be in the winter but the site of crocuses beginning to bloom made me wonder why we ever left.

This was the day that we realized Ainsley had no idea Vancouver was in Canada when she asked why there were so many people wearing Canada shirts but she knows now that she has been 'from sea to shining sea.'

Amazing Photos by Los Angeles Times

These are amazing Olympic photos by photographers for the Los Angeles Times. Just thought I would share.

LA Times Olympic Photos

Photos

I've started posting some photos for your viewing pleasure. The most recent can be seen at the top of this blog and clicking on one of them will take you to the Picassa Photo site I have set up for the photos. Picassa will allow you to comment and see a map of where the photos were taken. There is also a slideshow of the photos in the right sidebar of this blog.

I will be posting more over the next few days so check back often.

All About Ski Jumping

On Friday we entered the Long Hill Ski Jumping Qualifications at Whistler Olympic Park. This is located about a half hour south of Whistler meaning we had to get on one of the many Olympic buses to get to the venue. Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon are also located at this venue.

The event was scheduled for 10am and we were advised to get to the buses for 7:30. We thought this was crazy so aimed for 8:30 which was not an issue at all and were at the venue shortly after 9am.

However, the buses do not drop you off at the bottom of the ski jump - you have to walk about a km and a half uphill to get to the viewing area and it takes about 20 minutes plus you still have to go through security. We did accomplish this in plenty of time and found a great viewing spot with about 20 minutes to go until the first jump. The Canadians were all within the first 10 jumpers so we didn't want to miss the beginning - in qualifications you only get one jump, not two like in the actual event (or on the Wii). These 20 minutes were just enough time for Don to try to go to get something to eat from the concession stands (he had seen the sign for poutine!). Unfortunately they didn't anticipate so many hungry people at 10am so they had completely run out of muffins and were waiting for more fries to arrive before the event had even begun. We did get some really good chili though.

The event was quite short, lasting about an an hour and fifteen minutes. The Canadians did their best but are completely overwhelmed by the Europeans and we only managed to have Stefan Reed (nephew of Ken Reed for you Olympic junkies) qualified for the final. It is quite amazing to see how far the can fly off the jump even for me who is not new to watching the sport. It brought back memories of watching World Cup events at Big Thunder when the ski jump was operating in Thunder Bay, but that was a very long time ago in the days of Horst Bulau and Steve Collins.

Jumps in the range of 130m were not uncommon even when they moved down the start gate because of speed concerns for those that had been pre-qualified from the Normal Hill. Conditions were about as perfect as you could get - beautiful sunny day, very little wind. The crowd was very excitable, but none more so than the Polish who seemed to have a huge contingent at the hill. Swiss jumping superstar, Simon Ammann jumped last and then it was time to go.

Unfortunately leaving the venue did not go as smoothly as getting to the venue. We had delusions of getting back to Whistler and perhaps skiing in the afternoon. Unfortunately it took an hour and a half to get on a bus back to Whistler (an amount of time which exceeded the length of the actual event) and by the time we got back to the Village all we wanted to do was grab a beer and eat lunch with the window for skiing closed.

Regardless, it was still a great chance for us to see another venue.

Luge Impressions

I have already posted photos of our time at the luge. Unfortunately for us, there were no Canadians in contention for the final runs (runs 3 and 4) as we had hoped there would be. They blamed a change in the start position due to the fatal accident last week which moved the track 900 feet downhill, significantly altering the track and eliminating any home track advantage.

We took the gondola up Blackcomb mountain where the track is located and made our way through security and then on to our grandstand seats. We watched the race from this vantage point for run 3 but realized the more dramatic view would be track side so we moved down there for run 4.

Luge is fast and it becomes quite a competition among the spectators as to who 'got the shot'. Immediately after an athlete races by you can see the track side crowd check their cameras in unison.

We learned a few things from luge:

• The track is the same for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton (the only difference is the start position for the luge due to the accident)
• Spectators can stand right next to the track. So close you feel like you could touch them as they scream by.
• When the sun comes out they shut curtains to shade the track between racers.
• The kids prefer playing in the snowbanks at the venue more than watching the race.

Daily Schedule - Saturday

On our way home. I will still be updating with posts I haven't quite got to yet as well as adding better quality photos so keep checking back.

Ski Jumping Venue at Whistler Olympic Park

Daily schedule - Friday

For our last day here we are headed to the Whistler Olympic Park for long hill Ski Jumping qualifications. This will involve walking to the transportation centre, taking a bus for half and hour and apparently walking anothe twenty minutes into the park.

This event is unlikely to be televisied as it is only a qualifying round and Canada is not expected to even come close to a medal in this sport.

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You too can dress like the Russians

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The Downhills

Although we did not have tickets to any alpine events we did have something just as good - lift tickets and skis. This let us visit the on mountain viewing areas set up along the course.

The mens downhill was definitely a popular event and there was quite a line up to get across to Whistler on the Peak 2 Peak where the event is held.

We watched the mens event from a couple of different locations, getting to our first spot just before Manuel Osbourne-Paradis skiied. We missed our best racer of the day, Erik Guay but we had a chance to see a lot of racers from different vantage points. This event wa eventually one by the Swiss.
The womens downhill course is not as long as the mens and the viewing areas were not as good but I still managed to stay in one of these areas for over two hours to watch the race. What the womens downhill lacked in length it made up for in drama with numerous crashes throughout the race. I did not see any of these as my position was very close to the beginning of the course.

When you watch from a viewing area on the course you do not have any TV monitors or information screens of any kind to know who is in the start gate, why there is a delay in the race or who is in the lead. This is where a blackberry is handy combined with hard core fans with start list print outs or a sister watching at home sending me email updates. However I still had to wait to get back to the condo to see the horrific replays of the women craging after getting too much air in the bottom portion of the course.

There were many Americans in the viewing areas for the downhill all there to see their superstar, Lindsay Vonn. She didn't disappoint them and won the race. After Vonn skiied in position 15 the crowds thinned considerably allowing me to get right up to the snow fence ......

With my cowbell of course!

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Whistler welcomes the world

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Kids have reached the top of the world

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Daily Schedule - Thursday

No event tickets today and we have decided to take the kids skiing ourselves today. This should be interesting.

The womans super combined runs today but we probably will not watch from the mountain viewing areas with the kids. These areas tend to be high traffic spots pretty much guarenteeing Alex will smash into someone. In addition this event is lower on the mountain making it difficult to get back up the mountain with some of the lifts being closed for the athletes.

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Womens Downhill Start Area

This is what the start area of an Olympic downhill looks like
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Heading over here today

Just enjoying a hot chocolate before catching the gondola across to whistler to watch the ladies downhill.

This is what they call a 'bluebird' day.

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Daily schedule - Wednesday

We have no event tickets for today however if the womens downhill runs this morning, my cowbell and I will head up the mountain to watch the race just like 4on and I did for the mens downhill.

The kids are in ski school again today and Don is ditching my conservative skiing style and will tackle places on the mountain that I will not go.

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I think we wore them out!

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Luger on turn 9

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Luge track at turn 11

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Daily schedule Tuesday

At womans luge today - start time time 1pm (3pm EST)
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Travelling Back to Blackcomb on the Peak 2 Peak

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Mens downhill

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At the Mens Downhill

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Daily Schedule - Monday

Ainsley and Alex will be strapping on their skis and spending the day in ski school today. This will be their first taste of this mountain.

Don and will be skiing too and we will try to catch pieces of the mens downhill. There are on mountain viewing areas set up for skiers and all you need is your lift ticket!

Wonder how busy those areas will be.

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Broadcasting Live

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Victory Ceremony

Medals are awarded each evening simultaneously at BC Place and Whistler Medals Plaza. The medal presentations are followed in both locations by a concert with a different artist performing each evening.

Tickets were sold for the event in Vancouver but in Whistler these tickets were only made available to locals. This is partly due to transportation issues getting to Whistler but also because the town of Whistler (its taxpayers) were the ones to fund it. They were not going to have this celebration in Whistler until the town stepped in and demanded it - and agreed to fund the festivities.

Although we can appreciate the logic behind this decision, it was not a good one for us as it made the Victory Ceremonies unattainable for us. That is until the great people we are renting the condo from contacted us and offered four tickets to the ceremony on Feb 13. We quickly accepted the tickets and changed our bus transportation from Vancouver so that we could get here in time.

So last night we had the opportunity to watch the very first medal of these Olympics be awarded to a Swiss ski jumper (there were no ceremonies in Vancouver last night due to the deconstruction of the Opening Ceremonies set). Before they even began we saw veteran Canadian Alpine skier, Rob Boyd, carry in the flame and light the Whistler Cauldron. I don't think many people can say they were there for both cauldrons being lit but we can!

The medal presentations for ski jumping and biathalon were short but great with RCMP in full dress uniform performing the flag raisings. The athletes seemed to be rushed off the podium and stage quickly but you could tell the they were reluctant to leave their shining moment so quickly.

There is no seating in the Medals Plaza and it was raining making it not an ideal event for the kids so we left right after the medal presentation and didn't stay for the entertainment of the evening which was the All American Rejects - a band we are not all that familiar with anyway.

It was a great opportunity for us thanks to the generosity of total strangers.

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Daily Schedule - Sunday

People seem to be interested in what our plans for each day are so I will try to keep you in the loop.

Today is an off day for us so to speak. We have been running around since Thursday and are using today to just relax and explore. Just taking the day as it comes before the kids explode from Olympic fatigue.

I think the hot tubs will be explored before the day is through.

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Our Home Away from Home

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Whistler

We've made it to Whistler. Our home for the next week is a condo on Blackcomb
Mtn. This is a short walk to everything that is going on here and we watch the Wizard Express chairlift from our window.

Don and I have been Whistler many times and love this place but it is the first time for the kids. Unfortunately they haven't really had a chance to understand the size of the mountain as it has been shrouded in cloud since we arrived yesterday. In fact, right now it is pouring rain - we usually come here in November and I haven't seen such weather then never mind in February.

When you are watching your Olympic coverage on TV and see them broadcasting from Whistler, we will probably pass by there at least two or three times a day. Just down from them is the Swiss broadcasting booth and there was some excitment around there last night after the medal presentation when the Swiss received the first medal of these games.

Although we were sad to leave Vancouver, particularly as our time there was so short, we are thrilled to be here. There are performances going on constantly (you can check it out by googling Whistler Live) and screens everywhere so you can watch events. Whistler is much more compact and intimate and you can change parties and experiences by simply by walking a few feet.

Now if the rain would just stop.
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Headed to Whistler

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Opening ceremonies

We hope you enjoyed the show last night. We put a lot of work into banging on our drums, shining our flashlights and lighting our candles. And we even wore white ponchos for you!

The security line was long and airport style - xray machines and metal detectors. This seems to the case at all the venues. We were able to get into a shorter line because of the kids but it still took us st least 45 min to get into the stadium.

Once we were in our seats things seemed to be busy right away. We went through the audience rehearsal and were treated to Jully Black and the Canadian Tenors while we waited. We must have practiced the countdown at least 5 times - we were number 2 by the way.

You saw the show so I don't need to tell you every detail. I asked the kids what their favourite part was and the both said "all of it". Of course Alex was at a little bit of a disadvantage because he fell asleep during the speeches but he woke up in time to see the lighting of the cauldron.

My favourite part was the orcas swimming but every part was spectacular. Even the parade of athletes which seems long on TV was exciting. We all stood up when the Georgian team walked in and they were obviously in a sombre mood with the black armbands on and carrying their flag very still. Very sad day for them especially being such a small team.

We were in the first row of the upper deck which had a great view of everything. When the Canadian team walked in you could litterally feel the whole deck shake. I have been on the upper deck of BC Place before for a Grey Cup game and never felt the whole building shake like that.

It was great to see Rick Hansen carry in the torch and although and any reported glitches with the lighting of the torch were not that obvious from the stands partly I am sure because of the intensity of the moment.

Then it was time to leave. This was no small feat as there seemed to be only one way out for 60000 people. We made it back to our Bed & Breakfast by 1030 in time to watch some of the clips and we can't wait to watch the whole thing again when we get home. Rumour has it we were spotted on TV about an hour in but that has been unconfirmed.

Spectacular ! We will share photos when we get home.

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Please bear with me

Things have been so hectic that I haven't had any time update.

But here is where we are right now. Figure skating practice - just saw Patrick Chan's long program.

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Audience practice starting in 10 min.

Each seat has been assignrd a special kit with all sorts of goodies in it to use during the show and each kit is seat specfic.

Now I am supposed to get my flashlight ready.

Enjoy the show! We will do our best.

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Sneak Preview

I know more but I won't spoil it for you!

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Starting the Security Line

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The Russians are here

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Counting down

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Stanley Park

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First Impressions

We are here. Flight left a little late but the pilot made up a lot of time in the air. As we were flying in we could clearly see the snow making efforts ongoing on Cypress Mountain. Their struggles with snow conditions have been making the news for a few weeks now. Ainsley put it best when we exited the airport: "it feels like spring and smells like Orlando"

The airport was very busy as was expected but extremely well organized. Volunteers were holding up a sign looking for a "Sir" and a "Lady" from our flight and further into the airport other volunteers were holding up signs to greet people from NBC and the Today show. As we were getting our luggage the kids were happy to see the volunteer whose sole job it seemed was to give out lollipops to arriving visitors. Alex immediately dropped his lollipop on the luggage carousel and we had to wait out the revolution so he could get it back.

Ainsley and Alex both stayed up until 1030 which would be 130 am normally to them. Alex had taken a short nap during the car ride to our bed and breakfast and was ready to get to bed while Ainsley seemed like she could have stayed up longer - but after writing in her journal we tucked her in to dream of the day ahead.


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Correction

I thought we 'were off' but apparently we are waiting for some Olympians from a connecting flight from Frankfurt.

Let the games begin!

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And we are off!

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Preemptive Apologies

While we are away, my sole source for updating this blog will be my Blackberry Pearl. As it does not have a full keyboard, typing on this device often produces strange and interesting results. In addition, I am terrible at being able to edit my own typing... I read what I think I typed, not necessarily what I did type.

So, if a sentence or two does not make sense, or a word is obviously misspelled, please forgive me and think of me typing away on a tiny keyboard on which the "t" and the "y" share the same key and my fingertips are about to freeze off.

If a photo is not clear, do not forgive me but instead forgive my 1 mega pixel camera on my Blackberry. I will post better ones taken with a real camera when I get home.

Packed and Not So Ready to Go

The night has been spent in a packing frenzy, but the end is in site. Tomorrow will be a crazy day and there will no doubt be a sense of relief when we finally get on that plane. The master plan, 17 months in the making, will be put into motion tomorrow.

This may Beat Alex's Inukshuks

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Alex's Inukshuks

Alex seems to be getting into the spirit by using DVD cases to build Inukshuks throughout the basement at the cottage.

Cool Runnings

Cool Runnings, the movie based on the Jamaican Bobsled team is playing on CTV tonight (Feb 6) at 8pm. Great blast from the past with the late John Candy.

One Week

One week from today the Opening Ceremonies will begin the spectacle that is the Olympics. When we wake up next Friday morning (goodness, I hope the kids sleep in a little bit) I am sure we will feel the excitement in the whole City. I am not sure how we will spend that first full day or what time we will have to get to BC Place to get through the strict security. I do know we are supposed to arrive early to go through the 'Audience Participation Rehersal' so if you see the audience spell something wrong then we probably didn't arrive early enough.