Ode to Canadian Athletes and Athletes from all over the World.

  

We're 10 days into the Olympics and what 10 days has it been. Although I'm not a crazy fan of anything, it's hard not to get into the spirit when everyone around you is doing it. Also, for someone who loves Canada (and Canadians) as much as I do, it's an opportunity to be proud, cheer and be united into one voice, for once. Walking the streets of Vancouver you'll see happy families all dressed in red, cheering fans with tattoos and painted faces, accents from all over the place, international flags, line ups, red mittens, smiles, colours and sounds. This feeling is unique, of being in an international village, cheering for different countries, but enjoying being together. I can see why some people choose to follow the Olympics wherever they go, they simply want to keep living this experience. I'm happy I got to experience this as a local, and I don't think I'll do it again. But then, how do you measure the success for the Olympics? Is it for medals won? Or in putting together a great show? Inspiring crowds?

 It turns out that this is the  winter athletes show. They've been practicing, rehearsing, dreaming and preparing for this moment: Their moment to shine. The Olympic Committee organizes it, the volunteers work, and the fans cheer them on. But truth is that we are all backstage to what is happening right now. I'm all for having fun, and not so much for competition, but these athletes have been giving their best to arrive where they are today and they should be saluted and be given credit for all of their hard work. The top 3 winners get medals, and suddenly number 4 is a loser. Guess what? Being 4th in something, in the world, is a pretty good place already. And for those who don't get so close to the firsts on the list: You're at the Olympics! Congratulations and have a great time!

 Shame on you media, for celebrating a victory by overshadowing a loss. Saying that one Canadian athlete is saving the day because the other one was a disappointment is  cruel. I bet that the first ones to point their faults are the athletes themselves. Nobody came here because they wanted to "just compete." When you give up your life to be a winner, you aim at the podium, nothing less. The Vancouver Sun showed a story from the NYT showing The Price of Glory, telling how Lindsey Vonn didn't have a normal childhood, all for the love of sport (They end up saying we shouldn't honour athletes, you can read the reasons, I don't agree). Closer to me, is my friend Natalia. She's my age, she won bronze at the Beijing Olympics in Taekwondo, and she's an awesome girl. But only her family and friends to know how much she gave up to get there. I remember being in college and calling her to go out and she'd say she was too tired for anything after training all day. I remember all the hard work to raise funds to support her because most governments don't care for sports (only when it's to show off the medal count).

Natalia, like Vonn and many other athletes here in Vancouver, deserve nothing but our praise and our cheer. I can only imagine the amount of pressure anyone feels when it's their time to compete. It's that feeling of being now or never. The moment for which they've practiced  for years has finally arrived, and whether they win, or lose, we respectably say thank you, you made us proud. Enough with the word disappointment. Does anyone really care for regular international competitions that happen every year? Didn't think so. Then, why care so much for medal count now? In the past 2 Olympics it seems that the US, Germany,  Norway, Russia and Canada are always on top of the list anyway.

I choose to celebrate the fact that we're gathered here to celebrate excellence in sports. No matter what country they come from. I'll cheer for my country too. But if someone else wins, it's still human race that ends up winning. We're all in this together because fortunately, we rather compete on a mountain, or on the ice rink, than in a battlefield. 

 

           "Anything Is Possible

Anything is possible, if you think it is worthwhile
If you're willing to go the distance, to go the extra mile.
With determination and effort, you can often achieve more
Because you don't always get what you wish, but what you work for.
Dreams can become challenging, but no matter what the cost
Strive to complete the task before you, and you'll never end up lost.
So bring with you your goals, and leave your doubts behind
Whether you think you can or can't, you certainly will find
You'll be right either way--so never quit, and this is why:
You'll never become a failure, until you fail to try."

Credits: Poem by 

Melissa Underwood