A very special thank you to the people of Vancouver, British Columbia for being such gracious hosts to Olympic athletes and fans from all over the world. Between the opening ceremonies on February 12th and the closing ceremonies on the 28th, people from every corner of the world tuned in to watch the XXI Winter Olympic Games, sharing in the highs and lows, victories and disappointments, and heartaches and celebrations of the participants. Bleary-eyed from staying up until midnight or after, fans in the United States would spend the mornings talking about Apolo Ohno’s personal medal count, the four-man American bobsled team winning their first gold medal since the 1940s, and Evan Lysacek beautifully skating to gold without the help of “a quad.” We collectively mourned after the tragic accident that claimed the life of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. We watched in awe as Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette bravely skated to bronze following the sudden passing of her mother. We were amazed by the thrilling performances of the snowboarders, skiers, and speed skaters. And oh that hockey game! The final minutes of the final event could not have been any more exciting if it had been scripted for the movies!
The dedication and commitment displayed by the Olympic athletes, coaches and families is a valuable lesson to take away from these games. The Olympic spotlight is bright, but the Olympic spirit comes from early morning practices, perfecting a skill, getting up after a fall, and being humble when you win and gracious when you don’t. It really is about how you play the game, and these Olympic games were a memorable example of that spirit.
Did you watch the Olympics? What was the most memorable moment for you? Feel free to post a comment and let us know.
Lois Schneider Realtor's Blog 