Vancouver 2010 – 1 year ago today

I can’t believe that it has already been a year since the Games began.  As I sit here writing this I think back to thousands of memories, emotions, triumphs and a few sad ones.  A time in my life so filled with excitement, I will not soon forget!  

I have spent some time thinking about what images to post, how far back do I go?  I started working on the Olympic project here in Vancouver in February 2005.   It lead me to Italy to work at the 2006 Torino Winter Games and ended the journey here in Vancouver at the Olympic Village.  I can’t narrow it down!!! (sorry if too many!) So many friendships made, too many behind the scenes stories to tell!  But let me share just a few:

When asked by people ‘what is your most memorable moment?’ of course it’s hard to choose just one, but this is what comes to mind:

It was Feb 12th at about 5:00pm in the Athlete’s Village.  We had just successfully transferred all of our athletes from their accommodation and on to awaiting buses. (keep in mind this is about 2000 people, 40 buses and each of their movements planned to the minute – starting from 3:00pm and everyone off loaded by 4:20 – amazing!)  I was trying to decide where I would watch the actual ceremonies when I received a tap on the shoulder.  I was give several athlete seating tickets to hand out and decide if I wanted to use them myself.  I decided this was not something I wanted to miss, so I took one for myself and started to think of the others who really deserved to go – but only had a few minutes to do so as they were about to start!  I gathered who I could find, as we ran through the village towards Cambie bridge… I still had one ticket left and hoped to find a co-worker on the other end of the village to give it to… BUT then I hear from my team that there is an Athlete who had just arrived from his home country of Belarus.  He was late!  Had no ticket as his team had already left and was supposed to be one of the marching athletes for his country as they enter the stadium.  It was obvious – I had to bring him along!  He dropped everything and ran with us, literally over the entire Cambie Street bridge!  He’s very lucky that I’ve worked with the team for so long that I knew the exact people who could get him to the team, if we made it in time… we enter the stadium to hear it had started and they were already announcing Andorra, as it is called alphabetically we had very little time!  We saw the exact person I wanted to see as soon as we turned the first corner and with very little instruction he was already running downstairs to team up.  I can’t say how happy we all were to see that he had met up with his fellow team mates and was able to march in while being welcomed officially to the Games.  Not only did that make one of my Olympic experiences so memorable, but I love knowing that it had to have done the same for him!

Another one without a doubt was being asked to give the Gretzky family a private tour of the village!  The Great One arrived just before lunch with his wife and two eldest children, along with a few family friends.  I asked “what would you like to see first?”  They were hungry, so the dining hall it was.  In a space that is full of sport celebrities on a daily basis during these games, it was amazing to see how quickly the spotlight was shinning on our table.  Typically most countries will sit and eat with their team mates, so you’ll see groups of team jackets together.  What was really great to watch was Wayne going from country to country speaking with as many of the athletes as he could and watching their faces in amazement.  We then toured around the village where we stopped in at the Salt Building – Athlete’s Lounge.  There was a graffiti wall there – although it was a little hard to get used to using, we convinced him to make is mark.  2 hours with the family, a signed accreditation, personal Gretzky 99 pins given and a few photos… made for a great afternoon!

And a few that are all worthy of a full story – so next time you see me feel free to ask:  It’s flooding in purple again!  There has been no heat for 2 days in Orange.   Yellow is not getting not getting hot water that well.  The elevator is stuck with people in it.   FIRE, POLICE There are Athlete’s stuck on the roof (opps!!).  Escorting the Georgian team to by pass all security to retrieve Nodar’s clothing, making me cry.  What, Chara needs 3 beds???  Team Canada wants to have a party.  Helping Crosby navigate the village after the big win… and then helping he and his fellow team mates all get back into their rooms at the end of the night (no funny business people…).  Talking with the tactical teams.  Athlete’s stealing golfcarts.  Arranging a bed for an Athlete who broke both legs before even competing.   Getting temporary accreditation for Joannie Rochette’s boyfriend after her devatating loss.  Daily reports on the Canadian Hockey team’s where abouts :-).   There are so many more!

I can’t even begin to describe how fortunate I feel to have been a part of something so great, so monumental for Canada.  Even more special is that I was able to share that with so many people close to me.  My Mom came to work for me during the Games (kind of a shift in authority hey Mom!), my husband was able to come on board as well in the Village and best of all our then almost 2 year old son Nixon was able to come and stay with me in the Village a few nights (even Kashen has an Olympic memory, I was only a few weeks pregnant when the games began).  My position there had me living on site in one of the Condo’s and working an average 16-17 hour day, 7 days a week for 3 months… and I wouldn’t have changed it for anything!

Russian Red
Slovakian pride
China's coming!
German Pride
My only official day off was spent on the mountain watching the Half pipe competition, it was a long day for Nixon who couldn’t resist a nap
My only official day off!
I even got to be Miga the mascot at several events – who knows you may have been hugging me!  This was relaxing at Hotel Vancouver
Canadian Hockey Team
Graffiti Wall

S U B S C R I B E