Hammertime
As somewhat of a fanatic, like many of you out there, I have watched and cheered at countless teams and individual sports events for many years, and even managed to play a few when I was younger. It is without a doubt that we should all jump up and down and proudly salute Canada as one of the greatest sports powers in the world, along with the very best and most avid fans.
In whatever year-round sports activity you may choose across the globe, you will usually find a Canadian amateur or professional athlete or team out their giving their very best effort, trying to qualify for a chance to reach for the top. But the outcome is not always the priority — just being there representing Canada and competing against the best is their ultimate goal. Whether we win a medal or not, we somehow manage to stir the crowds into a frenzy and always come back for more.
Of course for decades our great nation has also done its share of winning and hosting many prestigious and thrilling sports events in many categories and age groups. Take the recent Winter Olympics in Vancouver, a magnificently well-organized and successful event that attracted record crowds and featured Canada leading the way in gold medal performances.
We have always proudly and adamantly stated that hockey is indeed our game, and our grassroots training programs and minor hockey systems have helped us to be very competitive in all categories. Since we started to get involved in these tournaments, way back when, the rest of the world has chased and become caught up in our enthusiasm and our skills, and this spirit has provided millions of fans with thrilling confrontations on all fronts. Our medal count for both men and women has been overwhelming at the Olympics, Juniors, Worlds, and other competitions over those years — with no chance of backing off. We also created the greatest outdoor winter hockey game classic on Earth, others are doing the same, and there is no doubt that it will be another blast this February in Calgary.
What can we say about our loyal and avid fans in each and every sport that Canada competes in? Young and old alike cheer heart and soul for our athletes, whether we are at the game site, sitting in front of our television sets, or at some other venue celebrating with family and friends.
I believe that it is this kind of keen support and loyalty that spurs our teams and players on to their greatest efforts. At my age, I still pace around the room or rink during a game, I cheer loudly for a goal, a hit, a supreme individual effort, and I tingle all over when I hear our national anthem, and watch our Maple Leaf flag being raised.
Finally, our nation’s politicians are recognizing the efforts, sacrifices, and dedication of our super Canadian amateur athletes, assisting them with the funding and sponsorships that will help them to received the very best training and facilities available for their particular sport. Hopefully the sports venues that have been provided across our nation will be used in the future for training programs, but also for the affordable use of absolutely everyone.
No matter what those Olympics cost, the Vancouver showcase created an amazing atmosphere of keen competition and peaceful camaraderie that affected the entire world, no matter what team spectators may have been pulling for. It is totally amazing that whatever sport we host year round across our nation that each and every building or playing field is always packed to the hilt, and we should be very proud of the atmosphere of fair play and opportunity that we have always provided.
Yes, we have produced some millionaires and a great many successful athletes along the way, but hopefully they will share that legacy and glory now, and long after their careers have ended. It is our volunteer coaches, sponsors, parents, fans, and mentors who are unselfishly giving many hours of their time all year-round that allows people of all ages the opportunity to play and enjoy the sport of their choosing, at their level, and at a fair and affordable price.
In the meantime, in between time please dress up warm and get outside and enjoy your own refreshing family fun, on ice, on skis, on sleighs, on horseback, at the rink, in the park, or wherever you may wish. This is the Canadian dream of participation for all of us, at our own speed. Have a great week, all of you!