03.22.10
I'm back in the States and ready for new adventures that lie ahead!
Last Day
Photo: Pictured in the photo are my lunch/breakfast tickets, my other badge that with each sticker earned me a gift -- the Paralympic pin was my first reward and the limited edition Swatch was my final thank you reward!
03.21.10
Every work day I hit the road from West Vancouver to Whistler. I parked in lot F, took a van to Athletes Village, then took a shuttle bus to Whistler Creekside. The security tent was always my first stop. Next, I'd have to check in at the Workforce Office, where they'd scan my badge and give me a breakfast and/or lunch ticket, depending on my work shift for the day. Everyday they published a fun two-sided newsletter with news about the volunteers and a featured athlete. I would then head to the transportation tent to check in with my supervisor for the day, get my binder with my assignment details and then go to whatever post I was assigned for that day.
I'm very sad my Paralympic journey has come to an end. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget. I had fun meeting people from all over the world. I'm honored to have met and watched athletes with unbreakable spirits who are true role models.
FUN SIDE NOTE: In addition to the Canadian terms I already knew like eh? and aboot, I learned some new ones ...
sunnies = sunglasses
no worries = no problem, it’s all good
mind your back = look out behind you
Sledge Hockey - USA GOLD Victory
03.20.10I received my volunteer work schedule in advance and knew what days I would have off. The Sledge Hockey Gold Medal Game fell on one of my free days, so I excitedly bought a ticket. At the time, I didn’t know which countries would be competing in that game. I was hoping it would be Canada vs. the U.S. I was SUPER shocked when it turned out to be Japan vs. the U.S. When you think about countries with a rich hockey history, Japan doesn’t come to mind. Early on in the Paralympics this was the hottest ticket, then when Canada was knocked out of medals contention things changed. Many Canadians tried to sell their ticket(s) and some just didn’t show up for the game. The Canadians who did attend the gold medal game all cheered on Japan. I was disappointed because as our neighbors, I felt if Canada was playing instead of the U.S. I would have rooted for them.
The game started at noon. I arrived at UBC Thunderbird Arena, a 6,800-seat rink, around 11:45 a.m. All the vehicles were only allowed within a certain distance of the arena. Along my walk I bought a U.S. flag from a street vendor so I could show support for my country! When I got to my seat I was happy to discover that I was sitting next to a nice older couple from Chicago. I have been to more than two hundred hockey games in my life, but this one was very special because it was my first sledge hockey game and my first medals game. The players were all incredible to watch. They used two mini sticks like boat oars to propel their sleds across the ice. They used the top of the sticks to push themselves and then they’d flip their sticks around super fast to the curved end when they were in contact with the puck. They hustled across the ice with great speed and determination. They played equally as aggressive as NHL players, but with even more passion. Besides the different equipment than the NHL, the sledge hockey penalty box and players box had doors that were flush to the ice and had lower clear walls.
Steve Cash, one of our goalies, worked very hard guarding the net. Alexi Salamone #21 of Grand Island, NY, scored the first goal on the power play in the first period. Taylor Lipsett #7 from Mesquite, Texas, scored goal number two in the third period. The U.S. beat Japan 2 to 0. Immediately after the game they rolled out the carpets for the medals ceremony. It all happened very fast. Players from the Norway team came out in a single file line on the carpet and were presented with their bronze medals, then their flower bouquets. Next, the Japanese players were each given their silver medals and then their flowers. Saving the best for last … the U.S. players were each awarded their gold medals and flowers. The three flags were raised and the U.S. anthem played. I hung out in the stands taking it all in until every player had left the ice.
All the sledge hockey players demonstrated determination, perseverance and courage. It was great fun to watch them play.
The game started at noon. I arrived at UBC Thunderbird Arena, a 6,800-seat rink, around 11:45 a.m. All the vehicles were only allowed within a certain distance of the arena. Along my walk I bought a U.S. flag from a street vendor so I could show support for my country! When I got to my seat I was happy to discover that I was sitting next to a nice older couple from Chicago. I have been to more than two hundred hockey games in my life, but this one was very special because it was my first sledge hockey game and my first medals game. The players were all incredible to watch. They used two mini sticks like boat oars to propel their sleds across the ice. They used the top of the sticks to push themselves and then they’d flip their sticks around super fast to the curved end when they were in contact with the puck. They hustled across the ice with great speed and determination. They played equally as aggressive as NHL players, but with even more passion. Besides the different equipment than the NHL, the sledge hockey penalty box and players box had doors that were flush to the ice and had lower clear walls.
Steve Cash, one of our goalies, worked very hard guarding the net. Alexi Salamone #21 of Grand Island, NY, scored the first goal on the power play in the first period. Taylor Lipsett #7 from Mesquite, Texas, scored goal number two in the third period. The U.S. beat Japan 2 to 0. Immediately after the game they rolled out the carpets for the medals ceremony. It all happened very fast. Players from the Norway team came out in a single file line on the carpet and were presented with their bronze medals, then their flower bouquets. Next, the Japanese players were each given their silver medals and then their flowers. Saving the best for last … the U.S. players were each awarded their gold medals and flowers. The three flags were raised and the U.S. anthem played. I hung out in the stands taking it all in until every player had left the ice.
All the sledge hockey players demonstrated determination, perseverance and courage. It was great fun to watch them play.
Medal Ceremony
03.18.10The last formal Medal Ceremony at Whistler Medals Plaza in Whistler Village was tonight. It was a FREE first-come-first-serve spectator event. I was so excited to attend, I went as soon as my work shift ended. The gates opened at 5:30 p.m. I secured a place right in front, which was my goal since I'm short and I wanted to capture video/photos. The venue has a capacity of 8,000. People soon began to come in and fill up the space. They were dancing to a DJ and chatting away as they waited for the event to begin at 7 p.m. A group of very enthusiastic Japanese athletes and supporters showed up with a huge flag and a long green fabric fish. People immediately flocked to them and started taking pictures. Shortly after, the ceremony began. A lot of divisions received medals, but two of them in particular were my favorite ...
Brian McKeever of Canada skied with his brother and guide Robin McKeever in the men's 10 km classic cross-country, visually impaired event and won the GOLD. I thought it was interesting that they are a brother team. I was surprised to learn that in the visually impaired division, the guide receives the same medal as the athlete and is honored in the ceremony! (see photo above)
Two American women were honored in the women’s Alpine, sitting division. Alana Nichols of the U.S. won the GOLD and Laurie Stephens won the SILVER. (Claudia Loesch of Austria won the BRONZE.) The women were all so ecstatic about their victories, they were bouncing in their wheelchairs. Their enthusiasm was infectious. When they raised the flags and played our anthem I started to cry. It was the first time I ever witnessed a medals ceremony in person. I was filled with pride for our country. It was incredibly moving. As the trio wheeled off to the side of the stage to pose for the press, they threw their flowers into the crowd.
It was such a joyous evening that I found myself cheering for all the winners, regardless of which country they were from. The Paralympic athletes are so impressive, you can't help but root for all of them. It was a wonderful evening.
Educational
03.18.10To keep things interesting, everyday we were assigned a different post at Whistler Creekside. During the course of my time as a volunteer I worked at the Alpine skiing venue for the athletes and families, local school kids and media. On this particular day, fleets of buses carrying 997 children from local schools between the ages of five and 13 arrived within a two-hour time frame. The kids would run off the buses -- a majority of them would be decked out in various symbols of Canadian pride including face tattoos, face paint, flags, jerseys, funky hats, the famous red mittens and more. The boys and girls would then anxiously migrate to their teacher who would hand them their admission ticket. Each ticket was big, colorful and had a small silver hologram. The kid's reactions were all the same -- cool! Next, they would scurry off to the race course. During their visit they would get to watch the races of the day, have lunch, meet some of the athletes and play with the Paralympic equipment. Two kids at a time could use the sledge hockey equipment to face off with each other. They could also test a sit-ski and learn from a volunteer how the equipment is used by the athletes. When the kids returned to board the buses at the end of their visit some would have autographed tickets by one or more of the athletes that they would brag about with glee. They loved to give us high-fives and ask us to give them pins.
Olympic Cauldron
03.17.10A must-see structure ... I drove into Vancouver in the evening to view the Olympic Cauldron. I knew that by going at night, the flames would appear more radiant. The Cauldron is located on the edge of the city. To the left is a beautiful view of the Paralympic symbol floating on a barge in Coal Harbour. The Cauldron was lit on Feb. 12, 2010, marking the official opening of the Olympics. The journey of the torch leading up to the 2010 Winter Games made it the longest national torch relay in Olympic history. The Cauldron structure is simple in design, yet impressive. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the flames. I walked along the side of the massive sculpture to observe it and to take a few moments to reflect on what it symbolizes. It was a very peaceful experience.
Something Blue
03.16.10My zany friends Rebecca (Vancouver, BC) and Stephane (Québec) posing with their Smurf love child. Because of our blue uniforms and the number of us you see working at all the venues, we were told by many people that we look like Smurfs. We embrace this label! One of the guys took a toy Smurf and made a little accreditation badge for it as seen in the photo above ... a mini-me version if you will of a VANOC worker.
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