GO CANADA GO!!!

Behind me the television is broadcasting the opening ceremonies to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. And they are doing a great job!

The beginning segments brought tears of pride and hope to my eyes. Right now I am watching a welcome ceremony performed by representatives of the four major aboriginal nations in Canada. It is a spectactular event - I hope that is released on DVD so that I can watch it again. I am so pleased to see that our First Nations people are being so properly represented. They have a rich culture that the world deserves to see.

The athletes are entering BC Place stadium now and it there are countries with less than ten athletes, some with only one, but the pride on those peoples' faces as they carry their country's flags. You can see the hope on all their faces. It is exciting. Some of these countries have never competed in the Winter Olympics before. Can you imagine what they

Sadness has laid a blanket over tonight though. Slider Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed in a practice run. The 21-year-old died doing what he loved but we all share the grief that his country, The Soviet Republic of Georgia, feels. As Georgia walked into the stadium they received a standing ovation.

I was out for a walk today and it was a relief to feel the attitude of the people around me. Everyone seemed excited, Canadian flags were all over the place. One fellow was wrapped in one as he walked down the street. (He was fully dressed under it) People were asking others if they had managed to see the flame when it went by - I hadn't but that's okay. It makes me smile to realize how many people are so uplifted by these games.

Of course there were also the protesters who made such ridiculous claims such as that they were standing up and not allowing the torch to pass through the city or the Games to be held here. Guess what? The torch did make it to BC Place and the Games will be held here. Deal with it.

This is a time for celebration, this is a time to show people what can be accomplished when you work at it. Granted many of the competing athletes have a talent for their sport but that in no way replaces the hours of practice, the heartbreaking defeats they have had and the soaring victories.

Teach our children that this is what they can do if they really want to and really try. They can be the best in the world. Teach our children to get up after they fall, that defeat doesn't make you a loser - teach our children to have pride in themselves. I think I will do another post on this topic later. I have more to say on that.

Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado sang a song 'Bang Your Drum' for the athletes. As soon as Adams and Furtado walked onto the giant drum I stood. I knew this was going to be great and it was. The First Nations danced along to the song and seemed to give it so much more power.

My greatest wish for the next 17 days is that it goes peacefully without any more deaths and that Canada makes history by winning a gold medal on Canada soil - the first time ever.

For now I am going to sign off (I will put a PS in later when I find out who lights the cauldron in BC Place)

PS: Rick Hansen brought the flame into the stadium and Wayne Gretzky was later escorted down to where the cauldron was lit outside. The lighting of the inside cauldron was done by Steve Nash, Gretzky and Nancy Greene Raine. A fourth column that was supposed to rise to support the indoor cauldron failed to operate, leaving speed-skater Catriona LeMay Doan to stand aside. It was impressive still though.

TAGS:2010, Karen Magill,Nodar Kumaritshvili,gold,olympics