Mike Rainone
Hammertime
I am sure that most of us have all recovered from staying up late or getting up really early to watch those amazing 2018 Olympic Winter Games from Pyeongchang County, South Korea for three thrilling weeks.
But then again, now that our biological clocks are back in order it is time to dig out, watch out for the splish-splash on every corner, and start thinking that spring may be just around the corner. What an outstanding effort by our great Canadian team, which earned a record 29 medals (11 gold, eight silver and 10 bronze), along with accolades to the Koreans for being the perfect hosts as well as providing excellent facilities and first class sporting venues for every event.
What I really love about the Winter Olympics is the non-stop action at all the venues, the magnificent scenery in the background, and the sheer spirit, excitement, and participation mirrored by both the athletes and the crowds from each and every nation taking part. There is no doubt that winning a medal is on the minds of each and every athlete and their coaches at these thrilling competitions, but judging by the look on their faces, the biggest rush is just being there to represent their nations, which is vividly shown by the sheer joy expressed at the beginning and the end of each event by the Nigerian and Jamaican bobsleigh teams, the combined North and South Korean hockey team, and all the others.
The television and media coverage of those games, no matter what time of the day or night it may have been was absolutely wonderful from start to finish, and hopefully we will be able to tune in once again from March 9th to the 18th when Pyeongchang will play host to the 2018 Paralympics Games. Canada will be sending 55 skilled athletes to compete against the world once again in the six thrilling sports and 80 medal events of alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, ice sledge hockey, snowboarding, and wheelchair curling.
At the aftermath of these Olympics we should all be extremely proud of all aspects of our Canadian team and officials, who over the years have all unselfishly shared their skills, their knowledge, and their coaches to the competing nations of the world as well as inviting them to come here to play and learn our games. Along the way those international organizations have graciously responded and excelled on all fronts, including offering their chosen athletes and coaches full time jobs as well as every opportunity to excel at all levels of sports from youths to adults. It is great to see that special clinics have already begun across our nation to introduce young athletes to the ‘Olympic experience’ and promote the opportunities that are available for them to become involved. As all of our Canadian Olympic team have now returned home to their families and gotten on with the rest of their hectic lives, hopefully they and thousands of others in the future will always be given the funding, opportunity, and ongoing support to pursue the amazing opportunities and dreams of representing their nation throughout the world, not only in the Olympics, but in all levels of sports competition.
Now let’s get into our games of spring
Now that March has really roared in like a Lion there will still be lots of time for skiing and sledding and shovelling snow, but this ‘anything can happen’ month will also mark the exciting time for playoffs in hockey and curling, but also the eventual end of the ice season. While many of us will still hunker down and watch the Tim Horton’s Brier and the Men and Women’s World Curling Championships on TV, we can also get outside and generate some really great ideas and tasks we may be able to start before all the slush finally goes down the drain and the ‘early birds’ start arriving on the scene.
We could always get an early start by heading out to the garage (between games) and re-arranging the ‘winter toys’ to make room for the gardening tools, hitting some of the red hot early bargain sales on all sorts of spring and summer things from clothes to R.V.s, start planning your first neighbourhood garage sale, booking your first Provincial campground spot, or even daring to polish up the old ball glove and golf clubs. What-ever the case as Albertans we all know very well that dear old Mother Nature will summon the final ‘melt-down’ when-ever she wishes, that we need to change our clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 11th, and that April showers will eventually bring May flowers. In the meantime please get out and enjoy lots of fresh air and have a great week, all of you.