The Olympic Day

So the Skip and I kicked off the day at the Great Oly Barn, taking in the Belarus/Switzer-tilt. After Canada's Game 2, we both have decided that the Swiss are the new international enemy to rally against.

Case in point. After the first period, Roman Wick, was tied for first in scoring in the whole tournament. These Swiss are insidious, effective and determined. And they have emerged.

We sat way up in the uppers, so far that the tons of concrete that sat behind our heads served as the only section behind us. We bantered as casual observers throughout the match.

"Why is Sergei Kostitsyn third in scoring in the Olympics, yet demoted to the minors from the Habs?"

"Why do Belarus thinking they're the Russians, by continually setting up fancy plays? But go nowhere?"

"Why, as the periods and days go by, do I harbour more resentment for the Swiss?"

To be honest, I feel that I have taken in this tourney in its fullest. I have attended. I have been involved. I have been emotionally invested. I have been blase. I can say in all honesty that I haven't taken in this much local hockey since my days as a lad in rural Sasky. Who would've thought the Olympics would rekindle that Civc Centre sense of community?

This was punctuated by the back and forth we had with our fellow residents in the nosebleeds. The Skip got animated at a poor puck decision by a Belrus forward who thought his last name was Malkin and passed instead of shot on a prime chance, racing to the net.

After listening for three periods to our transplanted HQ couch nonsense, she informed us that we'd won another gold. Women's ski cross. Awesome.

Evntually Belarus collapsed in the shootout, so we ducked out, and headed for Sasky house. Stood in the rain as the Vancouver winter finally decided to kick in. Entered the massive beer tent, where the First Mate was there to greet us, and took in the festivities. Sask Premier, Brad Wall, walked amongst the common folk as a country band cranked out "Devil Went Down To Georgia." It was fitting.

Game on. Rocking barn. We all needed to watch this game as a province and as a nation. We all needed to just relax and let the lads get they're groove back. Sid scored. Iggy scored two. Even Nash and Niddermayer scored. It was great. Bob was stopping pucks on his home turf. Sure it was against Germany. Sure it was to be expected. But whatevs. We needed it.

Fuck I hate to say it. I really do. But we needed a reason to believe.

We left halfway through the third because we had tickets to the medal ceremony. We hiked back to BC Place. Passed Quebec House and Hockey House and Ontario House.

All showing the game. Inside and out. All good.

Made our way through the VANOC maze and into our seats. Met Dice and Narn. The Spouse was sent on a real trek, but eventually met us, at our new perch in the BC Place nosebleeds.

And this venue. My word.

This was the Olympic Games. We had a view of two halves of the stadium. One being the stage, podium, flags, and ice deck for the dignitaries. It was amazing and it really hit home. Everything up to now had been the Olympics, but now were really at The Olympics.

Speed skating medals were handed out. We stood for the Korean anthem. Holy smokes, here we were.

The Russian appeared on a live feed from Whistler. They got medals. The national anthem was sung. It's one of Ma's favourites, the Skip's favourites, and my favourites. We were in the right place.

The Ski Cross Women were up. As they approached the podium, the place went crazy. They took they're places. Then the anthem. The Skip, with a surprise move started singing in French. I joined in with the remnants of the words still rattling around from Grade 1 French immersion in Burlington, Ontario. Dice sang, the Spouse sang, The Mate and Narn and all of BC Place sang.

These Olympics...I tell you...we were in a massive snow palace, lucky enough to sing our national anthem, after a warm up game, a gold, and a redemption match taken in amidst our prairie neighbours.