2010 Vancouver Olympics

Wednesday February 10, 2010

As an enthusiastic fan of winter sports ... I'm no stranger to cross country skiing, downhill skiing, playing hockey or figure skating.  Some of these sports I was good at competitive level in my youth.  Now I'm just for the love of sailing.  However, after skyping with family back in Scandinavia I felt the sudden urge of wanting to feel the sound of snow under my skiis while the cold, yet fresh wind on my face as speeding downhill on a snowy white skihill.  Despite the lack of snow I might be returning back to visit homeport of Vancouver BC in its Olympic set up.  I have been told the Cypress Mountain is pretty soft plus wet and suffering from lack of snow.  Thankfully the Whistler snow conditions are great for skiing and for my favorite event skii jumping.  The last winter olympics in Canada were in Calgary 1988.  During this event the most memorable athlete was Finnish skii jumper Matti Nykanen with his three gold medals - his total olympic medal count is four golds plus one silver.  His sports and personal life history has been quite interesting; from being the best skii jumper in the world to downfall from sports hero to struggeling from poor choices in life.  As a Scandinavian I take pride of the history we have in Nordic winter sport events from Siiri Rantanen and Sonia Henie to Ingemar and Norwegian cross country skiiers, Danish and Swedish curlers ... just to mention a few.

The night light shows projected on white sails of Canada Place were eco-friendly and efficient way of upgrading views of the waterfront in Coal Harbour in the name of Olympic spirit.  As a Canadian I take pride of how the aboriginals of Canada have been given opportunities and a front row - limelight - during Vancouver Olympics.  A few disabled were selected for torchbearing opportunities.  But ... in the name of Olympic spirit something was left undone: all 14 social housing projects in Vancouver were only a photo opportunity.  These housing projects are not finished until years later.  An important decision has been left up in the air by the new Mayor of Vancouver to be decided after the international media has returned home. This decision is possibly to forget the Olympic mandate of providing opportunities for the least fortunate: 250 housing units.  While the new Mayor ran on the madate of resolving homelessness in Vancouver, he also received money for his campaign from the developer of the Vancouver Olympic Athlete's Village.  This same developer put the city of Vancouver in the hole for close to billion.  The previous Mayor, the disabled gentleman in a wheelchair is no longer there to promote Vancouver with a class act like he did in Torino.  I'm sad to confirm the progress in Vancouver in many social issues is shallow as many decisions are made in shadows, for example, from the BC Art Cuts to Health Care.  Would you understand, if your loved one's life saving surgery is postponed due to Olympics?  Or having the most beautiful North American City to hide its homeless until April 2010 into temporary shelters?  Or the same city to have chronic lack of affordable housing: 14280 people/familes are waiting for affordable housing?  Some of these people are providing basic services in Vancouver like serving your coffee or are simply disabled.  For example, a disabled family of two is not even considered for the affordable housing list.  They are told to find housing through co-ops who have minimum income level requirement of 36,000 per annum while disability pensions are less than 1000 per month?  Disabled cannot afford fair market value or co-op housing.  The street is only option whether in wheelchair or not.  The United Nations calls Canadian housing issues a National Emergency not to mention the child poverty rates.  Even in Vancouver there is room for improvement as anywhere else.  While officials from municipal to provincial levels are using taxpayer funds over 3 million dollars to get Olympic tickets, the very skihill of the Whistler resort is being auctioned off by Intrawest due to their lender recalling a $1.3 billion loan.  All these commentaries have been made in media in few past months.  Some of these claims in media are factual - how many are a version of truth are to be seen soon.

For the name of Olympic Spirit lets forget our indifferences and focus on celebrating the performances of all athletes without politics or hidden agendas.  Anyone can enjoy Vancouver Olympic Spirit despite a few problem issues.  Vancouver has excellent transport system.  People are friendly and welcoming.  The food is excellent.  Vancouverites know how to have fun and entertain, and the city is clean.  The closeness of mountains to the sea explains the nickname of highway to Whistler: Sea to Sky Highway.  In Squamish the Brackendale area is famous for its 'Eagle Run' related to salmon run.  The golf courses are open year around with incredible closeness to the wildlife.  The downtown marinas and Granville Island are close to Athelete's Village and places to be and to be seen.  If you get tired of the busy big city taking a little road trip in interior BC will reveal beautiful scenes of Okanagan Valley and Lake.  The Okanagan Valley is famous of its elusive lake monster Okopogo, wineries and orchards.  However, at the same time you cannot avoid seeing the ravage pine beetle has left behind in the forests that once were the green carpet covering the hills and mountain sides as far as the eye could see.  The green gold of BC does not exit.  Now the green carpet is scarred with 'red plague of pine beetle infestations'.  How will this change the cycle of life from salmon runs to Spirit Bears?

Like anything in life everything comes with good and bad - as a responsible people we should learn to deal with both good and bad.  The nature is always worth preserving as is endorsing sustainable way of life.  Saving our natural resources would have been cheaper by being proactive!  Whether we choose to blame the climate change, and do not reduce the carbon footprint - and continue excessive consumption of resources - or do not invest in green technologies will determine the outcome for the future generations.  However, on a lighter note people will not regret their visit to Vancouver 2010 Olympics ... the sound of the ocean, closeness of wildlife, the morning mist, the sudden warmth of early spring in February with the occasional rain shower are unique and refreshing.  Or the sight of Orcas in the Georgia Straight during ferry crossing to Vancouver Island.  Enjoy!  The Best Party is in town ... Yaletown and Robson Square.  Welcome to Vancouver Whistler 2010 Olympics in BC and Canada February 12 - the most beautiful city in North America with multicultural flair - everyday of the year!

Co-Captain and Hostess Erica ...