Is it really the end for Vancouver Games?

Opening with the athletes marching through Whistler village, the Paralympic Closing Ceremonies were held at a different venue than the 3 previous ceremonies. These Ceremonies incorporated a lot of First Nations culture including Aboriginal drumming, dancing, their traditional hunting methods being used as a trampoline for a paraplegic and throat singing, which I found to be rather bizarre. Also included in these ceremonies was a bunch of Sochi 2014 showcases. My favourite part was all the Canadian children passing the torch along to the Russian kids, it was a memorable moment that represents the youth, who are the future of our world. I learned that the Russian national anthem is a very long song, but the young children sang it beautifully. I became rather emotional at the moment when the Mayor of Whistler, along with Greggor Robertson and Sir Phillip Craven hand over the Paralympic flag. That's when it hit me that the games are officially over. As sad as I was to watch the Games leave the hands of VANOC and all Canadians, I realized how lucky I was to be a part of the most exciting event Vancouver has ever hosted. So many memories have been created and will last a lifetime, and I am so thankful for the opportunities that have come my way. Sir Phillip Craven said in his speech- "The best Paralympic Winter Games ever!" and I agree 100% and am so proud and honored to be a Vancouverite and Canadian.

Just as the 2010 Games are ending and I thought I'd learned everything there is to know, I discovered a whole new world. And this is no small discovery, it's a whole new set of Games related with the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Have you heard of the Deaflympics? Olympic Games for the deaf. I hadn't heard about it until today and was quite surprised to find it out. They're much smaller on the scale compared to the Olympic Games, and even the Paralympic Games but none the less they are an international sporting event. Vancouver and Whistler are set to host the 2015 Deaflympics, so if you were thinking Vancouver is done hosting Games, then you are wrong. I'm sure I will be checking them out, to answer the many wonders I have on this new discovery. It would be interesting to see how the audience would cheer on a team or an athlete when they can not hear the encouragement. I also wonder how much being deaf would affect your athletic ability because I'm sure it would be a challenge, but not quite like missing a limb or being blind. However along with being deaf usually means you are mute as well so that could affect the communication between athletes and coached. I guess I will need to watch them to answer my own questions. I'm thinking Students Live's next project?

As the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are coming to a close, we can look forward to the 2015 Deaflympics right here in the same host city!

Change of Moods

Do you remember that feeling you got walking downtown before the Olympic Games started? How you could feel the city getting pumped up, and everyday you were more and more excited.

And do you remember that feeling when the Olympic Games ended? How everyone was dreading going back to reality.

I will admit, until yesterday I was still in that post-Olympic depression. But yesterday I switched over from that mood, to the Paralympic excitement stage.

First off I got to see the Paralympic torch relay as it was coming off the Peak to Peak gondola. Kirsten Sharp who was carrying the torch was in tears as she wheeled out the doors, being greeted by hundreds of people cheering, and later belting out O'Canada. I overheard an interview she was having with a reporter. She said it felt great to be back in Whistler with the sun shining, this is one of her favourite places in the world despite her traumatizing experience here. She had a skiing accident 19 years ago on this very mountain which left her a paraplegic. Obviously that moment 19 years ago has changed her life, however she said it isn't necessarily a negative thing. She doesn't see anything disabling about a disability, "you just have to have the determination to do it."




















Next I hit up the celebrations at the village. There was much going on there, but I think the biggest hit was being able to get your pictures taken with the torches. There were so many torchbearers all over the place with their torches who were just delighted to have their pictures taken with you.



At Village Square there was live music, performances, and most importantly the lighting of the cauldron. Of course this was "unofficial" because the Games haven't started yet, but it was great to see all the people out, re-amping the spirit.



Sitskier Kees-Jan van der Klooster of the Netherlands was at the relay soaking up some of the spirit. I took the opportunity to talk to him, and ask him a few questions. K-J will be competing in the downhill, giant slalom and super-G in these Paralympic Games. I asked how he got involved with the Paralympic Games, and his reply was "Back in 2001, I had a snowboard accident in France and broke my back. Now I'm paralysed from the waist down, I wasn't going to let that keep me off the mountains so I decided to get into sit skiing." It was only one year after the accident that K-J got into sitwakeboarding and two years after he get into sit-skiing. K-J is now 33 years old, and seems to have a need for speed, his motto is "No fear!!" and his favourite quote is “Ride it like ya stole it!!” K-J was such a down-to-earth guy, it was great to talk to him. When asked if he had any superstitions, K-J said "If you don't have them, they won't let you down."

K-J won a gold medal in 2008 at the "MonoskierX winter X Games 12" in Aspen. And that same year won a gold in sitwakeboarding at the "Extremity Games Michigan". He is also the only athlete representing the Netherlands at these Paralympic Games, but I think he is a strong medal contender, and should do his country proud.



Did you know the first Paralympic Games were held in 1948, and most of these athletes were veterans of World War 2? I learned this from the big blow-up igloo in the Village which has all sorts of Paralympic information and interesting facts, and young kids could even take some shots as a sledge hockey player.




Here is the beautiful Paralympic rings in Whistler:

An Exciting Encounter

Today as I was trekking down the slopes of Whistler, I spotted a group of skiers all with matching jackets, as I got closer I noticed they were Russia jackets, and as I got even closer I noticed that many of them were missing a leg. This is when I got really excited, I realized that I had spotted the Russian Paralympic Ski Team!

Trying to be as subtle as possible I followed one of them down the run. This lady was on one leg, and had two poles with mini-skis on the ends of them for balance. I was amazed at how graceful she looked racing down the hill, on one leg I can't even imagine how hard that would be. And she was going so fast too, I found it hard to keep up. Eventually I gave up following her, as I was falling behind, and I thought I was beginning to be a little creepy.

Then, a few hours down the road, I saw two more Russian jackets, but this time they both had a full pair of legs. I thought they were just some random Russians but it turns out they were also on the Paralympic team. One of these ladies was blind and the other was her guide. I could see the microphone on the guide so that she can call out commands to her athlete; briefing her of turns, bumps, and obsticles. It was so interesting to see how someone who is visually impaired can dodge all these people skiing down the hill. And it just got me thinking, what would happen if someone comes flying out infront of the skier, and her guide doesn't have time to tell her to stop, or if someone falls right infront of her. Thinking about it, there is so many things that could go wrong, but I find it amazing that you don't hear about more accidents. It was such a cool thing to watch the team in action and it is really a fascinating concept!