2010 Olympics, Day 9

Last night found me working on the floor level of the stadium. I was just outside what I refer to as "the mosh pit". It's not a true "mosh pit"-there's no "moshing" allowed, but it's an area that spectators who are awarded special tickets, either by winning them up at Whistler as part of a sponsor promotion or being given them, at random because of their costumes and lively spirit once they arrive at the stadium. It allows them into the floor area directly in front of the stage for the concert and the chance to be seen on TV, during crowd shots. It's really popular-everyone wants to see the show from that vantage point!

I got to stand directly under the Olympic flag and just for my own amusement, I made sure I touched the pole. It's not like I'll have that chance twice in a lifetime!



While I was waiting for the festivities to start, this young couple came up to ask me a question and we got talking. The young woman works for VANOC and she asked me about my volunteer experience, so I was telling them about being given the honour of helping to queue up the athletes for the Opening Ceremonies and then seating and sitting with them and all the famous people I'd had the chance to see (and in some cases talk to!) in person.




I went on to explain that I'd had to work very had to be healthy enough to be able to participate in the Olympics, having gone through chemo all of spring and summer last year and then a steroid infusion two weeks before my volunteering began. The young woman started to cry and her boyfriend explained that she had just been through chemo too. (She had cancer, I have MS.) She's far younger than I am (20 something) and my heart went out to her. I know how difficult it is to go through chemo-it's hellish. In a few minutes though, I had her laughing again and found out they were huge Stereophonics fans. (That's the band that played last night.)




I asked them where they were sitting and it turned out there were just above the area I was working. When my supervisor came around, I asked him for a pair of those special "mosh pit" tickets to give them. He was so great and said he'd man my post while I went up and gave them the tickets and the good news. They were thrilled!




After the concert was over, they found me again to thank me for getting them the tickets. They had a wonderful time. That made me really happy and I gave them my blog addy, so they may even be reading this today! *Waves to new friends*




Another nice thing that happened yesterday after the concert was that a spectator came right up to me and said "After this is over and you've rested up, would you please go online and register to volunteer for the 2012 London Olympics? I've been watching you and you are doing a fabulous job. We need you!" How nice was that?!? They aren't kidding when they say the whole world is watching. I've always been of the school that anything you do for anyone makes a difference. It really is true! As much as I would love that, I don't think London 2014 is in my future-my pockets aren't that deep.

Commuting in and out of the city yesterday was a bit of a nightmare. (I am classically understating it, as always.) Going in, I got to Waterfront station only to find that in order to connect to the Canada Line to get to my security check point, I had to line up OUTSIDE the building. That's never happened before. I knew if I did that, I would be late, so I hopped back on the Expo line and backtracked to Stadium. From there I somehow missed the East checkpoint (The crowds were huge and I guess I got swept right past where I should have turned) and ended up hiking all the way to the West one. *sigh*

The photo above was from my commute home. It doesn't even do justice to the sardine-like conditions of the West Coast Express. My claustrophobia was starting to kick in while we waited for the train to leave the station so I just started cracking jokes and making everyone laugh so we would all make it home in good spirits. Let me just say that it's not fun to be on your feet for 10 hours straight and then have to ride standing up in a hot, packed train for 1/2 hour. I think the transit system has reached it's critical mass. I am kind of dreading today's commute. I've never seen it as bad as it was yesterday and today there are THREE hockey games next door to my venue, the biggest of which is the Canada vs. USA game. It's going to be nuts down there today!

I think Volunteering is becoming the newest Olympic event and it's a marathon, not a sprint! Seriously, I've dropped about 6 lbs. since I started, between the stairs and the food. It's an adventure, to be sure!

2010 Olympics, Days 8

Ah, so Day 8! So I have a bit of everything today.

This is the food services area in the Stadium, where we eat. The other food service area is across the street, as there are so many volunteers at this venue (1300+) so they split it between the two locations so we all fit. Sadly though, the food is nothing to write home about. Not a green vegetable in sight. I'm subsisting on dinner rolls and bananas. (And no, I am not kidding!)

I found it amusing that someone hung Canadian flags off the tv for good luck! These are some of our Police forces from all over Canada, taking a break. They've worked very long days.

VANOC made a commitment to make our games the greenest one yet, so throwing out garbage has become it's own Olympic event. It's like an IQ test to see if you can correctly dispose of your garbage. For example, the utensils (knives, forks, spoons) are actually compostable! Usually they are simply recyclable, being melted down to make something else, but in this case, they've used a material that breaks down and can go back into the earth! I've been there for 9 shifts now and I still have to concentrate when I do it. *laughs*

When you're walking the private areas of the concourse, you see sights like this. (RCMP officers in the dress uniforms. The ones in Red Serge had gone by just minutes before.)

Every night as the Victory Ceremonies start, the RCMP walks in with the Olympic flag and it's raised as the Olympic anthem is played.

The flag fluttering.

One of the medals ceremonies. I believe that's Lindsey Vonn on the right. (Yes?)

Prince Albert of Monaco (Grace Kelly's son) presented the medals for the Men's Super G. Prince Albert is a past Olympian, having competed in the bobsled in the 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998 & 2002 Olympics.

Winners of the Men's Super G.

Friday night was North West Territories night and the concert was Theory of a Deadman. While I saw the medals and the NWT presentation, I didn't see the concert. I was busy up on the concourse, answering questions and directing spectators.

Next up, Day #9!

2010 Olympics, Scenes From Day 5

Finally got ahold of the camera and was able to upload photos from Day 5.



Of course everything gets translated en Francais.

These are giant banners along the back wall of the staging area. I love the art on them.

The venue before the Victory Ceremony started.


Japanese and Korean Athletes accepting their medals for speed skating.

And a blurry shot of the Barenaked Ladies during rehearsals. I was having some issues with my camera. *sigh* Hoping to resolve them today, but if not, I may just switch cameras.

Days 6 & 7 were quiet, as I was home, resting. I did get an email saying that I will likely get to help play another special roll in the closing ceremonies, so that's really cool. No idea what it is yet, but it will most certainly be a secret until after it happens!

I haven't forgotten about the giveaway. I am getting it organized and will likely post it after the weekend, so keep your eyes peeled!

2010 Olympics, Days 5

Going back a few days to the Opening Ceremonies, here's a pic to prove I was there!! These are my feet on the floor of the stadium, covered with paper sneaux and that's my athletes' seating roster for the teams I was seating in the Opening Ceremony. (All seventeen of them!)

Last night there were four medal presentations. Two took place in Vancouver at the stadium and two were in Whistler and streamed live to the stadium so we could watch them in real time. It was also Nova Scotia's night to shine. The opening acts were Buck 65 and a group called DRUM.

Buck 65 sang this song called "Way Back When" and it was so catchy I had to download it from iTunes. Drum was fabulous-it's a fusion of First Nations, Celtic, Acadian and Black Canadian musicians, drummers, singers and dancers. I can't tell you how wonderful it was-it's something you have to see for yourself. I especially loved the Acadian section. (I have a fondness for fiddle and accordion music.) At one point, there were women sitting on chairs, tapping (with tap shoes on) and playing the spoons, which was fabulous. The music of Nova Scotia just makes you want to get up and dance. DRUM is so spirited and delightful-it's a joyous celebration of life and culture.

And then, the Barenaked Ladies performed. It's the first time I have heard them live and it was a good time. Ed Robertson is funny. I have to say though that when they were playing old favourites, I really missed hearing Steven Page chime in, where he used to. It just seemed wrong somehow. Kevin Hearn has kinda/sorta taken Steven's place, but I didn't think his voice sounded strong enough or that it blended as seamlessly as Steven's did. It's just not what I was expecting, though what can you do when one of the lead signers leaves the band? :/

It's been interesting being a "blue coat" and commuting. I've certainly had a ton of people come up to me en route every day and ask for assistance. Of course, I always stop and try to help in any way I can. Mostly it's questions about how to get from here to there or seeking information about where they can go see entertainment or local landmarks. It's kind of fun to play host and have an excuse to engage with people whom I would not normally interact with. I really like the idea that even if only for a brief time, our city has become a global village.

I had planned to post more photos today, but my son made off with the camera-he went to see women's hockey tonight, so they'll have to wait till tomorrow.

I will be having an Olympic themed giveaway shortly, so keep reading!

2010 Olympics, Days 2, 3, & 4

Hello, hello! As you all can imagine, I've been crazy busy and just found a small pocket of time to post again and catch up.

I had Saturday off, as it was conversion day, meaning the staging for the Victory Ceremonies was being set up. Sunday was the first Victory Ceremony, for Canada's first silver medal, thanks to Jennifer Heil and it was BC night, so Nelly Furtado was giving the concert afterwards.





I was stationed outside with a bullhorn directing spectators to the appropriate gates and then later helping to direct them to the skytrain footpaths. While I was talking on the bullhorn, this lady came up to ask about gate access and it was Nancy Greene! It was lovely to see her. (She was one of the Olympic flag bearers in the Opening Ceremonies.)




Yesterday, Alexandre Bilodeau was honoured at our second Victory Ceremony, having won Canada's first GOLD medal! The crowd was very excited and the noise was incredible inside the stadium when his medal was presented. When they played our National Anthem, you could hear the voices raised above the music. What a great moment that was! The concert featured talent from Quebec and while I can't tell you who it was (I never did find out) he did covers of several bands.





This evening, Mike Roberson will receive a silver medal at our third ceremony and tonight is the province of Nova Scotia's night so that means THE BARENAKID LADIES will be performing!! I know that's going to be a great concert!

Despite the predicted wait times, prior to the Games starting, our transit system is doing a fabulous job at moving the crowds in a timely matter. I have not had to wait beyond 10 minutes anywhere and the skytrains are not packed like I feared they would be. Of course tonight the hockey begins and my venue is right next door to Canada Hockey Place, so we'll see...it's going to get alot busier with two venues egressing at the same time!

On Sunday, I took the West Coast Express train into the city, just because I could. I've never ridden it and from the station I boarded at, to downtown took a mere 26 minutes. Since it was Sunday, it was quite crowded on the train, but by sheer luck, I ran into my husband's cousins, so it was a nice trip in, chatting with them and sharing my adventures.

The view from the train were pretty. I just wish it had been less crowded, so I could have found a seat and taken better photos. Perhaps another time.

Downtown there are tons of Olympic Sponsor companies handing out free stuff. Sometimes it's flags or pin and yesterday in Yaletown, it was toques! If you're looking for good times, head downtown-there's tons to see and do!

Okay, I have to run, but again, thanks to everyone for your comments and emails. It's nice to know you're enjoying my reports. I feel like I'm Mike from Canmore or something! *grins*