Canada's Shame Game

When Canada was awarded the Olympic Winter Games it was welcomed by celebration across Canada. But as we got closer and closer to those Olympic Games, many got nervous that they would be an embarrassment to our nation. Canada was hosting the games in a time that had many problem economically and the H1N1 pandemic had not fully blown over, as talk is always about another wave of the virus. They would be a challenging games to host. And many believed that the fact that these games would be hosted in Canada would qualify them to be poor, and the games did not start out in a perfect form. The games started with a torch relay that would make it the longest ever across a country. And the torch relay was expected to be a very hard one to carry out, considering all the protesters across Canada. But the games seemed to start out well as the torch relay was virtually untouched, although minor problems would highlight its march across this great land. If protested did show up they usually just stepped around them. Which we can credit to a great on site response staff. So just the fact that Canada was able to get the torch all the way across the nation with very few security problems was already an impressive thing. And in the lead up to the opening ceremony's the town looked better than it ever had, mountains in full beauty, a city that looked polished and incredible. And inside BC place, which had just underwent millions of dollars in renovations, the opening ceremonies began. It was a ceremony full of Canadian culture. And one that was perfectly executed. The brilliance of the graphics and the patriotism behind the opening ceremonies was one that had me in shock. Canada had certainly come together for these games to try and make a name for ourselves. And then it happened, and it had to be on the biggest part of the ceremony. After a brilliant finish to the torch relay, one which underlined everything Canada stood for, the game changed. The Olympic cauldron had four pillars which should have come up. Only three did. The staff did a great job in making it look believable, but right away you knew that it would draw criticism. The torch bearers quickly lit the cauldron before sending Wayne Gretzky running out the stadium to light the external cauldron. And like expected Canada look a lot of heat for the failed arm in the torch. But that was only the start of problems to come. They all started on the ski hills, when it just wouldn't snow. Men's downhill had to be cancelled and bad conditions at the Women's mogul event spelled trouble for Olympic organizers, but this is all beyond human control. We took a lot of stick for our problems with the events from American and British papers, but i think Britain is just worried about the London games in 2012, because they are going to have several weather problems. And i think everyone is just kind of worried because Canada is actually competitive at these games and with 9 medals already they are doing a very good job, although the Americans are the obvious best at this point in the games. But if the problems had ended at that point it would have been easier to move forward. The problems that i must admit i am very concerned about come in the speed skating oval. The problems with the Olympia ice machines have caused major delays in the competition, prompting organizers to get Zamboni machines to do the job as well. And timing problems didn't help either. Meanwhile 20,000 tickets to the Snowboarding cancelled left organizers in an even worse situation. And as it seems like Canada's "own the podium" dream is over, some say nothing has gone right at these Olympic Games. That is not true at all. The spirit of the Olympic Games are still true, displayed by incredible athletics including a Slovenian skier winning a medal with a collapsed lung. And the story of Alexander Biladeau, Canada's first goal medal on home soil just added to the great feeling that has come out of these Olympics. It may not be the position that everyone hoped when Vancouver was awarded the Olympics, but they are not the worst one's yet. And going into the final couple of days at the Olympic Winter Games spirit and incredible talent will still be on the rise.