We've been fortunate enough just to have attended the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, however being able to get a feel for the pulse of the nation in different regions throughout these Winter Olympics has made this adventure much more unique.
From catching events live in Vancouver, to the bars on Granville Street, to back here in Toronto and even 30,000 feet in the air, it's been a lesson in the sporting culture of Canada delivered. And both Dan and myself have appreciated every moment along the way.
In Vancouver
The events themselves were lively, no question about it; a lot of fun, supportive, and rowdy. Certainly all the talk about the atmosphere at Curling matches is true, and that's coming from someone who didn't even get to witness the home team curl either. It was just that good!
The spectators delivered an atmosphere of camaraderie as well as every competitor was cheered as they crossed the finish line, placed one on the button or scored a goal (well, in hockey obviously Canada became the focal point when they were playing but from watching the other games the crowd supported those teams well).
Outside of the venues watching the games on Granville Street, at Irish Bar and other locations around the area, the crowd was very loud and excited. It really created a unifying moment. Screens were put up everywhere and eyes glued to them, never wavering.
In the sky
On the way home our flight actually left at the time of puck drop for the Canada-US round robin game. You know it's Canada when I didn't even have to ask if the game would be shown on the flight since at least three people in front of me had already posed the question.
Watching on the mini-televisions on the back of the seats in front of us every time Canada scored hands would fire up in the air and a cheer would resound through the plane. The cheers were a little more subdued, we were flying in an airplane afterall, but based on the laughing reactions from the flight attendants every time the silence of the flight was broken by an outburst I'm sure it was loud enough.
In Toronto
And back here in Toronto, while it seems foreign now to not see 7 out of every 10 people on the streets clad in their nations colours, most with panted faces, wearing flags as capes, the support is still here. The red mittens are out and the bars are just as packed as there were in Vancouver.
Yes there is no spilling out onto a closed down Granville Street to party with thousands after a big win but everything else is there; the passion, the cheering, the dress is not as crazy but still very supportive.
And people remain to watch the other events afterwards as well. I went to watch the Toronto Raptors face the Cleveland Cavaliers in Toronto Friday night, the only reason my friend and I decided we would still go being the later start time for the Men's Hockey game (we still checked out early though, left early from a tight basketball game that eventually went to overtime! No regrets though not one, you must have the priorities straight!).
During the game I had a great angle to see the Women's Curling final - well on the screens in every box. At halftime people crowded around screens all over the ACC to watch the final few ends of the match, many not even returning to their seats until the match was over.
And the best part of it all was the discussions going on around me, people who clearly had no vested interest in Curling previously discussing the shots and what might take place. At a Raptors game, fans walked away from a close game against Lebron James and the best team in the NBA to watch Curling instead on a television. Yes, that happened!
True Colours
So while it has been impossible for every Canadian to make it out to Vancouver I say never fear, there are amazing experiences to be had from coast to coast. The Games always brings people together but this year, maybe because it's been in our own country, it seems that it's really caught people's attention more than in the past.
We have all come together, in support of our athletes, and given them the support they truly deserve. The world has been abuzz wondering where the nice, quiet Canadians have gone. Well we are still here, but now the world has just learned what has always been true: Canadians support their own, to absolutely no ends! They've learned about the overwhelming passion that resides in Canada.
And that is what has been so great about the Olympic experience
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