So Vancouver’s Olympic party is almost over, but this afternoon Vancouver and Canada celebrates a successful Winter Games.  The closing ceremonies are about to start, but the whole Country came to a halt as Canada played the US for the last Gold to be awarded in Men’s Hockey.

By now, you will all know the result – Sidney Crosby scored an overtime winner for Canada to take the Gold, and a nation breathed a sigh of relief.  For those of you who may not understand the place of hockey in this country – this was like a European or South American country winning football’s World Cup.

Canada wins gold – Sidney Crosby and Scott Niedermayer celebrate

Now, with the games winding down its time to reflect on the last two weeks, and what it has meant for Canada and Vancouver, in particular.

At the beginning of the Games there was quite a bit of criticism from the world (especially British) press about the tragic death of the Georgian Luger, as well as transit and weather issues, but over the last two weeks the view has changed dramatically as everyone has enjoyed the party in this city.  The BBC even asked the question today if this wasn’t the “Best Winter Games Ever?”

It certainly was Canada’s best Winter Games.  By the reckoning of most of the world, Canada sits at the top of the medal table, with 14 gold – an Olympic record.  Even when counting on the basis of total medals as is the tradition in North America, we placed third with our highest medal haul - 26 (including both summer and winter Games).

For two glorious weeks the spotlight was on my city – Vancouver – and it makes me proud to be a Vancouverite and Canadian.

Last weekend when the sun was out and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky the whole world got to see why we think this is the best place on earth, and why after living here for over 30 yrs since emigrating from England, I wouldn’t live anywhere else.

You Gotta Be Here !!!

On Saturday we all went into Vancouver to soak up the Olympic Spirit and to watch a women’s hockey game.  Notice the lack of the word “ice” – for Canadian’s “Ice Hockey” is just plain Hockey.

The West Coast Express is running special trains for the Olympics.  Normally its just a commuter rush-hour service, but there are 4 trains a day each way every day of the Olympics, so we drove across the new Golden Ears bridge to Maple Meadows station to catch the 12:53 train into Vancouver.

Figure 1 – The Olympic Cauldron, next to the Broadcast Centre

Our first stop was the Olympic Cauldron.  The area is surrounded by a chain link fence, but I was able to get up to the fence and poke my camera through to take the picture above.

Next stop, and the main reason for the trip, we headed to Canada Hockey Place (known to Vancouverites as GM Place, but Olympic rules don’t allow the use of sponsors in the names of venues), home of the hometown NHL team – Vancouver Canucks, for the opening game for Canada’s women’s hockey team.  We were told to arrive 2 hrs before the scheduled start to ensure everybody could get through the airport style security.

Figure 2 – Canada v Slovakia - Pre Game Skate

The game was a rout, 18-0 to Canada, an Olympic Record, but it was still fun to soak up the atmosphere, and everybody was having a great time.

Figure 3 – Canada v Slovakia – Canada Scores

After the game we headed back to the West Coast Express for our train home. 

All told an experience that we will never forget – an opportunity to go to the Olympic Games in our home town.  This was the only event we had tickets for, but next weekend we will probably go into Vancouver again and visit some of the country “Houses”.