And, for that reason, I am publishing a guest post from Rick Wilson, a friend who is attending the Olympics. The post provides info and subtle advice on being a good guest and visitor. 
I know that Huntsville will be hosting the G8, and 'locals' are truly going to be affected, many negatively. In addition, the entire community (towns; The District Municipality of Muskoka Lakes, Sudbury, Bracebridge, Lake of Bays, Hunstville, private businesses; The Moose FM, FedNor, Rotary Club, hotels) is involved in the Central/N. Ontario Winter Games (March 4th - 7th). Here is the list of events. So far the press is positive, unlike much coverage of the VANOC 2010 event.
HUNTSVILLE — When the bronze, silver and gold medal winners take to their podiums during the Ontario Winter Games, Huntsville High School students will have special reason to cheer.The Wilsons Olympic Experience
Hello All
We are having a great time
Yesterday was our first set of events. We got on the subway at 9 am for 1 pm start for speed skating After a 20 minute ride we walked 1 mile to the Richmond Oval. A beautiful warm sunny day for the walk. What a building, beautiful wood ceilings and a great facility. Weird things though: like 1 concession facility on our side of the arena and porta potties.
After going thru airport type security which is everywhere we went to our seats which turned out to be front row in the corner. We met the mother of one of Canada's skaters in line and it was great fun to talk with her. Her daughter is only 20 and in her first Olympics. She finished 34th out of 36 but learned a lot.
A great view and we watched the athletes warm up and practice. TV does not do justice to the speed they achieve and how close to the edge they are on the turns.
They rank the skaters and go 9 pairs at a time, resurface the ice and have 2 races. We were there for 4 hrs in all.
The Dutch are incredible skating fans and are really into it. They even have a Dutch Oom Pa Pa band that plays beer hall songs during the breaks.
The tension builds for the final groups as the fastest race last and the Korean winner won by .05 of a second.
Quite a spectacle and these women are amazing athletes. We saw some falls and the devastation they feel knowing they have lost their chance at a medal is hard to take.
We left from there at 4:15 and had to get to UBC for a women's hockey game. Line ups for the subway, crammed cars and then line up for a bus and a jam packed ride for 30 minutes. We finally arrived at the rink around 5:45 and had to go thru security again. Reached our seats around 630 -- after our 2 hr journey. Had seats in temporary upper deck behind net. UBC rink has been temporarily expanded from a three thousand seat rink to over 5,000 seats. Washroom and concession facilities were overwhelmed and hallways very crowded.
So, our dietary excellence continued. All told during the day we had a hot dog, a drink and then water and a granola bar during the whole day: Cost $30.00.
The game was between Finland and China. The crowd was really into it and the rink was full except for the empty seats held for IOC officials. ( same thing at Speed Skating) Everyone expected a blowout and the Finns outshot the Chinese 45 to 5. The Chinese goalie was fantastic and the final score was 2-1. We left, lined up to get out, lined up to get on packed bus and then changed for a packed subway. We got back to Yaletown around 10:30 and found a bakery and finally a sandwich... some real food.
Back to hotel and passed out at midnight.
In spite of all the crowds, transportation hassles, etc it is an incredible experience. We are meeting people from all over the world and from all over Canada. Every one patient and happy and enjoying the experience.
Lots of $$$ being spent by Government on this event that could be better used but they wouldn't anyway.
We are having a great time
Yesterday was our first set of events. We got on the subway at 9 am for 1 pm start for speed skating After a 20 minute ride we walked 1 mile to the Richmond Oval. A beautiful warm sunny day for the walk. What a building, beautiful wood ceilings and a great facility. Weird things though: like 1 concession facility on our side of the arena and porta potties.
After going thru airport type security which is everywhere we went to our seats which turned out to be front row in the corner. We met the mother of one of Canada's skaters in line and it was great fun to talk with her. Her daughter is only 20 and in her first Olympics. She finished 34th out of 36 but learned a lot.
A great view and we watched the athletes warm up and practice. TV does not do justice to the speed they achieve and how close to the edge they are on the turns.
The Dutch are incredible skating fans and are really into it. They even have a Dutch Oom Pa Pa band that plays beer hall songs during the breaks.
The tension builds for the final groups as the fastest race last and the Korean winner won by .05 of a second.
Quite a spectacle and these women are amazing athletes. We saw some falls and the devastation they feel knowing they have lost their chance at a medal is hard to take.
We left from there at 4:15 and had to get to UBC for a women's hockey game. Line ups for the subway, crammed cars and then line up for a bus and a jam packed ride for 30 minutes. We finally arrived at the rink around 5:45 and had to go thru security again. Reached our seats around 630 -- after our 2 hr journey. Had seats in temporary upper deck behind net. UBC rink has been temporarily expanded from a three thousand seat rink to over 5,000 seats. Washroom and concession facilities were overwhelmed and hallways very crowded. 
So, our dietary excellence continued. All told during the day we had a hot dog, a drink and then water and a granola bar during the whole day: Cost $30.00.
Back to hotel and passed out at midnight.
Lots of $$$ being spent by Government on this event that could be better used but they wouldn't anyway.
Lots of problems. My favorite is Zamboni trouble in speed skating ice making. I joked with others that they will probably bring new machines from elsewhere. (saw news and that is what they did). Commercialism runs rampant (only Visa cards can be used, only coke, etc.). Hassles with transit as systems are overwhelmed but they are trying.
In spite of all this I will still support the idea of the world getting together to compete in sports rather that kill each other.
Today we head to men's hockey game -- Finland vs Belarus. We can walk there.
Back to Island tomorrow and return next week for men's quarter final hockey game.
What a trip!
In spite of all this I will still support the idea of the world getting together to compete in sports rather that kill each other.
Today we head to men's hockey game -- Finland vs Belarus. We can walk there. Back to Island tomorrow and return next week for men's quarter final hockey game.
What a trip!
1 comment:
We live so close to the Olympics but couldn't get any tickets and refused to pay to resale prices. We are enjoying them on TV instead. It's nice to have local events. Sometimes they are more fun than the big things. - Margy
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