Vancouver Olympics

Ok so after making a fuss about almost-not-having two post in January, I go and blow it and have NO posts in February!

This isn't due to having a lack of things to say. In fact, I've had two posts prepared in my head - I just haven't wrote either of them because blast it all, February is too short and I spent a chunk of it not within England!

So I am going to fiddle and see if I can back-post this at all.

Last night the Vancouver Winter Olympics finished.

I actually sat there for the entire hockey game, and loved it. I found it rather intense. I couldn't even keep myself quiet. Thank goodness my flatmate watched the game with me, and I was chatting to various Canadians via my blackberry.

It really is our game, hockey. I found it somewhat fitting that the generally-regarded-as-the-most-important-game was the VERY last game to be played. It really showed all the tension and competition that can be found within the Olympics.

Now, we all know that I'm not much of a sports fan. It generally bores me. I'm not competitive. I think that most athletes (along with actors) are grossly overpaid.

However, I do enjoy the Olympics.

This reason why is this: it's really the only time that you fully get to see Canada being patriotic and openly happy about being Canadian. It really is the only time that the entire country comes together.

It was amplified this year, being on home soil. Yes, we showed a lot of Canadian stereotypes (especially during the closing ceremony, and while there were moments where I found it overly tacky, overall I found it amusing) but to me at least, self-depreciation is a part of our Canadian Identity.

Since I'm over here in England, I had the opportunity of listening to British commentators as well as Canadian. I think that in many ways, the world was surprised to see Canada being patriotic, and who can blame them? We so rarely show any pride in Canada towards ourselves. It doesn't mean it's not there though, it just isn't something I guess that we feel needs to be screamed out for the rest of the world to see. I think in a lot of ways, we're proud of being quietly happy with ourselves. So it was a shock to the world to see us being openly patriotic and loud about it.

But really, when else have we had the opportunity to do so? We're generally overshadowed by the USA or England, and we just go with the flow a lot. The world's never seen us at home. I think it was about time that they did.

And yes yes, we showcased all the stereotypes about us. But when it comes down to it, we're such a big place that those icons really are some of the few things that the ENTIRE country can agree on. We have a thriving outdoor adventure industry, we all know about Moose and Beavers, even if lots of people have never actually seen one (which, I'm proud to say, yes I've seen both in their natural habitat... although once I was very surprised to find a beaver swimming in Georgian Bay which is much too open and clear and cold for a beaver generally!). And in a lot of ways, but making fun of ourselves we're also teasing everyone else, because the stereotypes that we made fun of.... for some people, that's really all that they have ever known about Canada.

So I liked the Olympics, as being a rallying point for Canada to finally (after all of this time) show the world that we actually ARE proud of ourselves and have a personality.





PS. I even stayed awake until 1am to watch the closing ceremony, which did not end until 4am my time. I think I deserve my own sort of medal for that accomplishment!