I was at a loss at what to showcase today on launch week. Then I pulled my head out of…
Today the 2010 Olympics start in my home town of Vancouver. That’s a big deal.
When we had a referendum many years ago about whether we wanted to have the Olympics, I, along with 30 odd percent, voted against them. It was a reactionary vote, mostly driven by the fact that all the media was so pro-Olympics that real debate was impossible. That was a protest vote against media that had blatantly dropped their 5th Estate responsibility. Over the actual issues, I saw both sides.
But now, once all is settled, I am more supportive. I acknowledge that there are issues that have not been handled well, but there are also aspects that have been exemplary. At this point, at least for 2 weeks, it should be about the athletic competition, and enjoying the experience. Anti-Olympic protesters should ask themselves: can this actually change something now, or am I playing out my vindictive frustrations and trying to remain relevant? If the former, great. If the latter, please let people enjoy this, and let’s talk about the issues again in two weeks.
More emotionally, it’s a little hard not to be home right now. Watching the Olympics has long been part of my 2 year cycle. On a phone call with a TFD teammate last night, I could actually sense the buildup in the background, the controlled chaos, the excitement, the event. It was not audible but clearly palpable, as my friend walked down the street. I’m used to living on different continents. I don’t get homesick often. But today I do wish I were home, enjoying this experience.
Here’s to a successful competition, great achievement, and proud national spirit. Here’s to sharing the joy, loss, and appreciation of people who devote their lives to competing at a level most of us can only imagine. I’m proud of our athletes even before an event takes place. And proud of my city for making it happen.
B
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Very well put, I wasn’t always for the Olympics, but man do I wish I was there now. So homesick and proud.
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raff Reply:
February 13th, 2010 at 12:06 am
I’m here. I’m not going to be complicit in the massive waste of much needed cash. The entire thing is a nuisance and hopping on board now that it’s here sweeps the substantial dissent under the rug.
The entire event is over-commercialized and just getting into it all feels to me like buying in to the oligopolistic corporate hype (which is paid for by public dollars).
I like the idea that the whole city is buzzing over something, it’s just sad that it has to be this. It’s also disheartening that basic civil rights and access to public space without excessive surveillance are compromised.
GO CANADA!
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Another question: is it even a good idea to host Winter Olympics in a city that has little to no Winter?
This morning a luger died on a track that is scaring the athletes, because the ice is too fast.
The snowline at Cypress is clearly visible. Right at the peak. No lower.
Until today I’ve been rather apathetic, seeing the Olympics as something intriguing, but consciously resisting letting myself get as wrapped up in it as everyone wants me to be, on both sides: for and against. But today, hearing about the luger, I’m genuinely wondering if there isn’t a lesson in all this. Maybe Vancouver got too caught up in the potential of the event, and didn’t really honestly consider whether we were fit–climatically speaking–to host.
Money is one thing, but when someone dies, I think it changes the game. Sick pun, not intended.
-t
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To tess: I’m under the impression that the luger’s death was not weather related at all. The track is fast, yes, but only by design (I believe it actually has climate control in the form of pipes under the ice). A major, major tragedy, before the games even started.
Concerning the other weather issues, I’ve been thinking for a month that they should pull the plug on cypress and move the snowboard events to whistler (where they’d be crazy not to have a “back up” snowcross track and halfpipe. Cypress looks brutal, and should only get worse with 30-50mm or rain in the schedule for tomorrow when the snowboard and moguls events are acheduled to start.
I’m with Raff concerning the commercialism. I watched a video after-the-fact of the torch relay when it came through PG. It was hard to see the torch/carrier past the giant Coca-Cola and RBC signs.
It is exciting for the city, sure, but I also see plenty of waste and unneeded exuberance.
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It’s a week-plus now since B’s post, and I have to agree with Raff. I never really, in truth, supported the Olympics (I voted against the bid, too). I was thinking how we banned First Nations potlatches a hundred years ago, and now we’re holding a huge international potlatch. We’re holding this party and giving stuff away to show the world how important we are. What’s the difference from what we banned? And the streets are full of drunks; very little to do with sport. Last night (Feb 20) the police closed all the wine, beer, and liquor stores at 7:30. I was on the bus and a young guy simply pulled out 1) a beer and began to drink, then 2) his cell, to call a friend (”dude”; he didn’t seem to have a name) and recount how a mutual friend (”Kerry”, as he had to repeat several times), “totally fucking drunk” had scaled a chainlink fence, leapt over the side, and didn’t notice it was 30′ down. “He broke his back, dude…he’s in a coma and on life support”. Higher, faster, and more and more stupid, inane and banal.
The Olympics are probably going to cost on the order of 5-6 billion, all in. That’s $2000 for every Canadian, or more like about $4,000 for every tax-paying Canadian. Does that put a different slant on it?
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