On July 2, 2003, I was sitting in front of my television as the IOC announced Vancouver would host the 2010 Olympic Games. At that moment, I felt the collective surge of patriotism that vibrated across the country. Canada, the country that always seems to be overshadowed by bigger and more ostentatious nations, would be front and centre on the world stage. My then 15-year-old self vowed that no matter what I was doing in February 2010, no matter what commitments I had, I’d make my way across the prairies and mountains to land in the great Pacific city to be part of this shining moment.
Today, I board a plane on my way to the Games. Not only will I be reveling in all the exciting activities that Vancouver has to offer, but I’ll also be reporting my butt off for The Varsity in a fittingly titled blog, Olympic Gould. I hope to give you a sense of what it’s like to be there on the ground as Canada steps into the limelight. From the Olympic Village to the hills of Whistler to the amazing cultural exhibits, performances, and late-night parties, there will surely be hundreds of stories to tell, photos to see, and videos to watch.
I’m extremely excited to see Canada showcase itself to the world, and yes, I will most likely get overly emotional every time I hear the national anthem played at a medal ceremony. But since that fateful day seven years ago, I’ve abandoned my unbridled patriotism. Education and experience have taught me that the Olympics have implications that reach far beyond athleticism.
When the torch came through Toronto in December, it was obvious that not everyone is bursting with pride over the Games. Hundreds of protestors clogged the flame’s route down Yonge Street, shouting “No Olympics on stolen native land!” Many aboriginal and non-aboriginal groups, led by the Olympic Resistance Network, believe that the Vancouver Organizing Committee has built some of its Olympic infrastructure on unceded, sacred Aboriginal land. They also fear the Games will be environmentally destructive, destroy plans for affordable housing, overrun Vancouver with corporations, and leave the city, province, and country reeling with debt for years to come. Hopefully, Vancouver won’t go the way of Montreal after the 1976 Olympics, which took over 30 years to pay off—a responsibility that fell heavily on taxpayers.
Other issues include security, media censorship, doping, technology, and the impact the Olympics will have on the impoverished Downtown Eastside. And don’t forget that a big reason Harper prorogued Parliament was so government officials could go out west for the big event. Let’s hope partisanship and political manoeuvring are left half a country away in Ottawa.
With all of these things in mind, I can no longer look at the Games through an untainted lens. These issues are crucial to understanding what these games mean to Canada and shouldn’t be left out of the public eye.
That being said, these issues shouldn’t go so far as to overshadow what the Olympic Games are supposed to be about, at least in theory: a wonderful display of athleticism. Millions will watch as Cindy Klassen tries to repeat her five-medal performance from Turin on the speed-skating oval. We’ll be glued to our seats as Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison skate through their pairs routine, or when Jenn Heil races down the moguls. And of course, the country will come to a screeching halt as our men’s and women’s hockey teams try to bring back the gold to where it belongs.
There’s also a ton of excitement in knowing that people from all around the world will be finding out what it means to be Canadian. The Cultural Olympiad will be putting on hundreds of events showcasing Canada’s cultural fabric, including a Ron Sexsmith and Lou Reed concert tribute to Neil Young, a cross-country digital dance party that links Vancouver and Montreal through giant projectors, and the dozens of art pieces by 90 Aboriginal artists that will line the streets of the city. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
So with a glowing heart, I embark upon my long-awaited sojourn to the west coast. By the time the last medal is presented, the last anthem sung, and the last heartbroken athlete leaves the city without getting what they came for, we’ll have a better idea about what the legacy of these Olympics will be.
