As a past athlete I can tell you that the Opening Ceremonies for an Olympics can be difficult if you aren’t mentally prepard for it. It is a full day with travel to the venue and the staging for the ceremony and the the ceremony itself can be a 5 hour ordeal. But when it’s in your home country who cares! National pride takes over and it can be a real boost to your performance rather than a hindrance.

It was a special night last night in both Vancouver and Whistler for the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. At the Athletes Village in Whistler it was an amazing site as all the countries lined up for their buses in full uniform for the trip Vancouver. The athletes were all leaving with a heavy heart as one of their fellow competitors was killed yesterday morning in a training run at the Whistler Sliding Centre. It was incredible to see the Georgian team enter BC Place in memory of their teammate. It will be a lasting memory for me.

Having had a sneak preview of the opening ceremony by participating in the final dress rehearsal I was still blown away by watching it on TV. How about the whales!!  In Whistler and estimated 2000 people jammed village square to do something Team Canada has never done before- march through the streets of the host city! Decked out in our Canada gear I had my two girls stationed right at the fence where the athletes entered. The crowd went crazy as the team entered. Michael Janyk who grew up in Whistler and is a member of Canada’s ski team spoke about how amazing it was to be on the stage in his home town in front of so many people at an Olympic Games. He speech was amazing and heartfelt. The crowd launched into “Oh Canada” and sent the team on their way. It was a great way to get the games started as a fan and I’m sure a great way for the athletes in Whistler to march in the games.

Crowd cheers in Whistler Village Square as Team Canada enters

Team Canada on stage

Here comes CANADA!

Team Canada enters to 60,000!

Memorial for Georgian slider Kumaritashvili