Olympic Favourites

I didn’t get out much with my camera as I was too busy with the delegations, but I am glad that at least I took some!This one of one of the Latvian Bobsleigh Teams is by far my favourite Olympic action shot. We were fortunate enough to be able to cheer them on from the start. Impressive…I was just praying they weren’t going to flip over, like so many teams did that day! Go Latvia Go!

I don’t even think this little girl was Latvian, but she did a great job waving her flag and even dancing occasionally to the music at the Latvia vs Czech Hockey Game! (This was on my day off – I went the game as a spectator and left my blue coat at home!)

Amazing atmosphere in the stadium!

And Latvia scored!

Here are a few from the Whistler Olympic Park, where we attended the Biathlon.

Yes, and it was snowing.  :)

And one flies by, but I was quite far, trying to see something.

And then to Whistler Village…

Hope the photographer got the shot!

In sadness, we mourned with the rest the world.

Up at Cypress Mountain, look closely (or click to enlarge); there is an Aerials athlete in the air (in a red suit)!

Canadian fans abound

I like observing the signage that was put up for the Olympics. Sometimes interesting… This next one made Whistler seem so small.

HOV lanes in the city were changed to Olympic Lanes

And the cool Olympic effects around town, too!

Post-Olympic Thoughts

Did it really happen? Were you all just here and now gone? As Vancouver returned to its tranquil state in the past days, a lot of us are asking ourselves ‘Now what?’.  Seems there still are some remnants -  a blue jacket here, another one there, but this must be Post-Olympic Withdrawal Syndrome lingering in me… :(  All of a sudden, I find myself looking at the  Sumi, Miga and Quatchi stuffies on sale in stores, even considering a pack of Olympic post-it notes to remind me of the spirit that prevailed for weeks in our city. Seems I don’t want to let go…yet. Well, the Paralympics are just about a week away! I do want to thank everyone who made my experience a lifetime memory that I will truly cherish.

I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to see the Closing Ceremonies (most of it), and I must admit that these words from John Furlong’s speech (Chief Executive Officer of VANOC) keep ringing in my ears, days later.

….

But the time has come to say goodbye…

To say thank you… de vous dire merci.

And to perhaps compare for a moment the Canada that was with the Canada that now is.

I believe we Canadians tonight are stronger, more united, more in love with our country and more connected with each other than ever before.

These Olympic Games have lifted us up.

If the Canada that came together on Opening night was a little mysterious to some it no longer is.

Now you know us, eh!

If we were once the few, we are surely now the many.

That quiet, humble national pride we were sometimes reluctant to acknowledge seemed to take to the streets as the most beautiful kind of patriotism broke out all across our country.

So many new and dazzling applications for the Maple Leaf – so many reasons to smile and be joyful.

Canadians, you joined each other and our colourful international visitors in common celebration – radiant, jubilant, spontaneous, peaceful.

For us you were the wind beneath our wings.

You did not just cheer – rather you lived every glorious moment as if you yourselves were competing for gold.

2010 Winter Olympics – Torch Relay

Things got very busy leading up to Opening Day, so busy, I didn’t realize that the torch was practically going to pass by my apartment until shortly before it actually did! Had I left one minute later (and not run to the corner of my street), I would have missed it entirely! I barely had time to change my camera settings, then snap a few times. Later on, I found out that it was BOB LENARDUZZI, professional soccer player, running with it. There’s something about the look on his face in the first shot that can’t be put to words. I am sure it was a true honour for him to run with it, as it was for so many. More to come soon!

Switched cameras at this point. Didn’t want to bring my good one downtown! Too bad…This was the last torch bearer, waiting patiently for his turn. He didn’t run with it, but rather walked. The crowd followed…

How many cameras can you count in the next one? Click to enlarge!

Olympics…how many days away?

Well, one very important thing I haven’t yet mentioned – my involvement with the 2010 Winter Games. No, I am not competing as some of you on Facebook falsely understood last year! ;-) In less than two weeks now, I will be working (I mean, volunteering) as a Visit Officer for various International Delegations visiting the Games. It’s pretty exciting, and it hasn’t quite hit me yet as I try to get Pix Productions work wrapped up for a few weeks. I will for sure be checking email, but I will most likely not be available for shooting between Feb 9 and March 2nd! Gulp. Yeah…that’s long, but I’ll be back, and I’ll probably be a different person after this experience. Now, if only it could snow…! What good are those great Olympic Mittens (the red ones everyone runs to The Bay and Zellers for) if it’s 9 degrees outside!