Canadians proudly on display
February 01, 2010
For 106 days, traveling more than 45,000 kilometres through 1,000 communities across Canada, the Olympic Torch relay demonstrated just how much Canadians were looking forward to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. The torch was greeted with enthusiasm and approval wherever it went, including the House of Commons chamber. The long route saw the torch pass within a one-hour drive of 90% of Canada’s population. You may have been part of the crowds following the torch when it came to Edmonton, or even one of the 12,000 torchbearers.As a northern nation we pride ourselves on how we have embraced winter. Canadians are enthusiastic participants in winter sports, from curling to skiing to hockey, and our athletes have excelled on the world stage.
Therefore Canadians are expecting great things at these Games. Our athletes have spent the past four years preparing. Performing in front of a Canadian crowd may inspire them to new heights of athletic greatness. The investment, both moral and financial, from their sponsors and from the people and Government of Canada enables them to represent this country with pride and ability.
Edmonton-born athletes representing Canada at the Vancouver Games include ski jumper Stefan Read, freestyle skier Jennifer Heil (a gold medalist at the 2006 Turin games) bobsledder Pierre Lueders (who has won Olympic gold and silver in the past) and hockey players Scott Niedermayer and Jarome Iginla (both members of the 2002 gold medal team).
Edmonton Oilers fans may prefer to cheer for Iginla and Niedermayer (for once) and not for the two Oilers who are playing in the Vancouver Games – Lubomir Visnovsky (Slovakia) and Denis Grebeshkov (Russia).
I expect Canada’s athletes are going to make us all proud at the Vancouver Games. What do you think?