The countdown to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver is on. We're now less than two years away from the opening ceremonies, and my excitement level is starting to build. I can't wait to showcase our province, our country to the world in one of sports grandest stages.
I caught the Olympic spirit this week on the Coast. Tomorrow will bring to a close another successful Spirit of B.C. Week. The Olympic spirit was certainly in the hearts and minds of the organizers and participants at the many events I attended.Last Saturday I dropped in to the Gibsons Curling Club and met two young girls and their parents who were curling for the first time. They were having the time of their lives learning to throw curling rocks and try their hands at some sweeping. I also met the Special Olympic curlers. These talented athletes participated in their first bonspiel in Langley last weekend and did very well. The family skate at the Sunshine Coast Arena last Saturday was also packed with young skaters and families. The demonstration put on by our Pacific Blades speed skating club Tuesday was thrilling and I'm sure the cross country skiing and downhill skiing demonstration, put on by the Tetrahedron Ski Club tomorrow (Saturday) will also be packed with snow enthusiasts.
I'm very impressed with our Spirit committee and the activities that they have organized this year.
The activities have brought adults and youngsters out to participate in fun, lively events. The power of sport is such a positive thing. Athletes learn about being active and healthy. They learn about being a part of a team, sportsmanship, winning and losing. Plus, being involved in sport is a far better choice than hanging out at the corner store on a Friday night or vandalizing the batting cage in Brothers Park.
The Spirit Week events also gave us an opportunity to dream a little. Both the girls I met curling will be too young to compete in 2010, but who knows, maybe the lure of the game will strike and we may see these young athletes curling at a future Olympic games 10 or 15 years from now.
Some of the youngsters skating at the arena may join the local figure skating club, hoping one day to compete for their country. Maybe we have a downhill or cross country skier in our midst and one day we'll look back and that athlete will say they got their start learning to ski from the Tetrahedron Ski Club. Anything is possible.
These dreams are what Spirit Week is all about - a celebration of sport, a celebration of dreams and a celebration of possibility.
