Sports enthusiasts from around the world will sit in front of their televisions tonight, watching in anticipation as the Vancouver Winter Olympics gets underway with the opening ceremonies and lighting of the cauldron.
If Jack Poole were alive today, he would be front and centre, enjoying every minute of tonight’s celebrations of sporting excellence, music, culture and pageantry. Poole, born in Parkbeg and educated in Mortlach, was the driving force behind Vancouver’s successful bid for the Games, and the man responsible for putting together the VANOC team that has worked over the past several years to bring the Games to the Canadian venue.
Despite controversies of cost, exclusion of some sports from the competitive roster, lack of snow on a ski hill, and occasional protests along the route of the Olympic Torch Relay, Canada’s moment on the world sporting stage has had a unifying influence on the nation.
School children from every area of Canada have embraced the excitement of the occasion by studying Canadian athletes, participating in their own style of Olympic events, and dreaming that someday they too might be participating in the real Olympics in their chosen sports.
The Olympic Torch Relay involving thousands of Canadians and international sports figures became an activity of immense emotional proportions — emotions that took participants and spectators by surprise and in one more way brought together Canadians of all ages, from all walks of life and from every corner of the country.
And now finally it is the athletes’ turn, to strive for excellence, to compete on behalf of their country, to put their skills to the test in a quest for gold, silver or bronze medals or even personal records.
There is much expectation for the Canadian team, perhaps too much pressure being placed on it to win a gold for Canada on Canadian soil.
Regardless of how many medals Canada wins, the true achievement of every Canadian athlete will be found in the motto selected for the Vancouver Olympics: with glowing hearts — hearts that push them to use their spirits, minds and bodies in pursuit of faster, higher and stronger results.
The late Jack Poole and his committee had all of that in mind when it said Vancouver and Canada would be worthy hosts for this international gathering of the best athletes in the world. That dream is now reality as the Games begin.
