An Olympic Ovation

If you feel like you've lived a little harder over these past seventeen days while sharing in the joy, heartache, disappointment and excitement of athletes acrosss the globe then you're not unlike myself. The cynics were out in full force during week one but have undoubtedly been muted by triumphant successes not only by athletes at the venues but in the spirit of patrons on the streets of Vancouver and in the hearts of exuberant specatators and families of athletes. In a world where pundits are primed to pounce at the nearest misstep, purposefully driven athletes accustomed to injury and defeat proved during these Games that the spirit is mightier than rational thought. I'm grateful that we have the capacity to renew our own hopes, dreams and desires through the metaphor of sport and in spite of past incidents I'm relieved that the consumers of Olympic events are open to the ideology and execution of fairly contested international competition.

I was privileged to have lived in Vancouver from 1990 to 1996. The kindred affinity amongst athletes and attendees during the opening and closing ceremonies is reminiscent of a feel for the place that I sometimes experienced while living there. Certainly, my visit to the city during Expo 86 partly motivated a desire to inhabit the centre. Undoubtedly, there will be locals that have drawn comparisons between Expo and the Olympiad.

Elaborate Olympic Opening

One could sense, even from television, the pure joy and kindred spirit illicited by athletes, dignitaries, audience, and artists. The music and dancing was outstanding and it's only after retiring to read reviews that we're reminded that lyp syncing is now standard protocol for vast venues where acoustics are poor. Tragedy brings people together for a renewal of strength as witnessed by the acknowledgment of Nodar's passing. Imperfection in people and their pursuits was in some peculiar way symbolized by a glitch in the cauldron's indoor ignition. Let the games begin and may each athlete be at their best!