HOCKEY!!

Today I went to my second hockey game, but this was not your average hockey game. This was a world class battle of Ice Sledge hockey! The game was between United States of America and South Korea. This sport is very intense and the players are very skilled. Ice Sledge hockey is when players are in "sleds" and they skate around the ice with there sticks. The sticks are double ended, one side has a pick that is used to push themselves on the ice. The player have different degrees of disabilities. It was so amazing to watch them play hockey, they were so quick the game ended so fast. =(

Before I got inside the UBC Thunderbird Arena I have just one quick thing I wish to comment on. Security! All I had to do to get in was scan my ticket and I was free to go in. Hello!?!? I am so used to go through the metal detectors and the volunteers asking if they can look through my bag. Just because this is a paralympic event does not mean that they need to reduce security. VANOC needs to use security in Paralympic venues; I do not know if there is no security at the Paralympic Centre. I will find out tomorrow when I go watch curling. That bugged me a little, these men and women are athletes too. They deserve the same amount of security an able bodied athlete gets. Argh it just makes me angry when people don't think that these people are athletes. They train just as hard has any Olympic gold medalist, maybe even harder because they have other obstacles to go through. No matter if you are an Olympic or paralympic athlete they are both world class.

Anyway back to the game I was sitting next to a bunch of Americans that was supporting their country! They were hooting and hollering every time America got the puck. The Americans were clearly the better team and I knew that they were going to win. Still the Koreans tried their best and they had a huge section of supporters. A huge group of Korean school children was cheering them on. They kept cheering them on and the team seemed to feed of the energy. At the end Korea lost 5-0. I wish the Americans would let them score one goal. I think that just me being more and more Canadian! =D

Going to curling tomorrow, Canada is playing so it's going to be a blast!

An Inspirational Start!

The opening ceremonies of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games was phenomenal! It had so many great elements, and it truly inspired me. The ceremony started with children dancing and singing. I loved how the children brought out the Governor General and they all sang the national anthem. Then Sumi came flying out, I only wish that she had come near where I was sitting. Sumi lingered around the officials box, but there was a kid next to me that was waiting for it to come near us. It was okay though, there was other amazing parts. One of my favourite parts was the light up pom pom. It was in our audience kit that contained a colored poncho and a gold card. When every one in the stadium lit their pom pom it look spectacular in the stadium.

The show rolled on with the theme of one inspires many. The dancer that walked on to the stage was amazing, and yes he could not walk. Luca Lazylegs Pateulli was born with arthrogryposis and then he was diagnosed with scoliosis as a child. He was so amazing that at first I thought he did not have a disability. After the dance it did not matter about about his disability, he was an amazing dancer. The whole show felt like it was showing how a disability was not an obstacle. There was guys doing skateboarding tricks on a wheelchair!! How amazing is that!

Inspirational people was a apart of the show. Rick Hansen told his story and I was in tears again. On Thursday I was lucky enough to go see him speak. His message and story is truly amazing, it makes me believe that nothing is impossible. After his speech was a tribute to Terry Fox. I did not know much about Terry Fox, only what my sister had told me. After last night I feel that Terry Fox is a national hero! He tried to do something not for him, but to help others. The moment we were waiting for came. Terry Fox's parents came in with the paralympic flame. The flame that has travelled across the country and has inspired so many people. The cauldron was lit by a 15 year old boy who has dreams of one day becoming a paralympic athlete and representing Canada!

These are the first paralympic games to be hosted in Canadian soil! In just a couple of hours I watch Ice Sledge Hockey! Going to be a great game!

Not over yet, just the beginning

The 2010 Winter Olympics are over, it took some time to sink in. The spirit of the Olympic games have seemed to vanish. I went downtown today and when I walked out of the City Centre Canada line station i was hoping to see a massive amount of people. I walked up the stairs and it looked pretty normal, dead compared to two weeks ago. I hurried to Robson Square to get off the rain, for it was a typical Vancouver day. When I got there a smile emerged on my face, I had to wait in line. I had to wait in line in order to buy tickets to the Paralympic Opening Ceremonies! Its not over yet!

The Paralympic games begin in 1 day! The flame has been lit agian and it has traveled across the country and is in Vancouver. I forgot to mention but I did get tickets to the Opening Ceremonies and I saw an man with an Italian jacket on. I guessed that he was an athelete. The party may have ended for the for the Olympics but the party is just starting for the Parlympics! These are amazing athethes doing sports and achieving goals that they put for themselves no matter their sitution.

Going to four paralympic events, Opening Ceremony, Wheel Chair Curling, Cross Country Skiing and Ice Sledge Hockey <----Something I'm really excited for!

What a Day! Eh

Canada has won hockey gold! I was downtown at the Sony Store in the Pacific Centre mall with a bunch of Students Live reporters. Originally we were going to watch the gold medal hockey game at the International Media Centre but we had to leave. Dezmond stated that we go to the Sony Store in the Pacific Centre to watch the game that everyone was waiting for. We asked the manger of the store and he let us, we got front row seats. By the time to game started the store was packed with people watching the game, about 100 to 150 people were all watching and rooting our team. When the first goal was scored the store erupted everyone was cheering and excited. The second goal got scored and we were pumped up and cheering Canada on! By the end of the game we were all waiting for the last few seconds ready to celebrate. Everyone in Canada knows what happen in 24.4 seconds left of regulation time USA scored a goal to even up the game. Everyone was dead silent, you could hear a pin drop in the whole store. Commercials came on and there was a wave of chatter in the store, could Canada win? I am not a hockey pro, but the exact opposite. I said to one of the students live crew I have a feeling that Sidney Crosby is going to score the final goal. I said this because from what I had heard about him he is one of the best players. Then overtime started and about 12 minutes Crosby SCORES! I really did not see the goal at first but I just erupted with joy just like everyone around me. We screamed so loud I think I might lose my voice. Then we sang the national anthem, just an amazing moment. It was amazing the energy level was at an all time high. I feel like I am still working on that energy. We decided to go outside and it was just a big party everyone was singing and cheering. As soon as I get video of that moment I will put it up.

I just think that the past 17 days of my life have gone so fast. I feel as it was only yesterday that the flame was lit at BC stadium but tonight it went out. I have learned so much the past 17 days. I have made friends from all over Vancouver and have had some amazing experiences. Meet and saw inspiring athletes, and I'm still taking it all in. I am now truly Canadian loving a sport that we are the champions. Today sitting in the Sony store surrounded by people that love hockey and are proud to be Canadian I felt thrilled. I was apart of something I felt like I was at the stadium rooting Canada on. It is just a feeling that words cannot describe, I am still running on a hockey high! =p I love being in Canada. Just want to thank Chris, Audrey, Christian, Gary and Lauren for creating this program and making this happen. Paralympics start on March 12th. Til then!

Interviews!

Interview with Joe Moir Part 1 (blogger is really slow)

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir

Yesterday night was an amazing night for there Tessa and Scott! They won gold in Ice Dance, the first Canadians to win a gold medal in that sport. They are the youngest ever gold medalist in Olympic history in Ice Dance. They had a press conference today were the press got to ask various questions. I did not get to ask a question but Hannah and I got to talk to the friends and family of Scott and Tessa.

The other video will be up shortly!

First Press Confrence

Feeling like a true reporter writing from a media work room at the International Media Centre. The first press conference that I watch was between a signing of a Protocol of Intent between the host cities of the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 2014 Winter Olympic Games will be in Sochi, Russia. The host city of 2010 Winter Olympic representives was Honorable Premier Gordon Campbell, and his Worship Mayor Gregor Robertson. The Representatives for the host city of 2014 Winter Olympic was Dzhambulat Khatouv, First Vice-Governor of Krasnodar Region of Russia and Anatoli Pakhomov, Mayor of Sochi.

This press conference was between the two countries meeting and signing an agreement. This agreement will strengthen the ties between the two host cities. The Premier gave a speech on how this agreement will help both host cities. British Columbia will help the Russian's host their very first Olympic Games, by giving tips and techniques. The First Vice-Governor of Krasnodor Region of Russia spoke next in his native language and talked about how great the 2010 Olympics games are. He talked about how the trading between Canada and Russia is very strong already but he hopes that it will increase by ten fold. He joked around and said that he just did not come to Vancouver to talk trade but also to get tips and tricks to win gold medals.

After they had given their speeches they signed the agreement! I think this is a great thing that the countries can both join together and help each other. This is a great way to show how the big countries of the world are working together! The Premier gave the First Vice-Governor a miniature replica of the 2010 torch. The First Vice-Governor gave the Premier a plate that shows all of what the Krasnodor Region had to offer. The Mayor of Vancouver and the Mayor of Sochi both gave a speeches as well. The Mayor of Vancouver gave the Mayor of Sochi a special 2010 Olympic Medal, likewise the Mayor of Sochi gave Mayor of Vancouver a token with the coat of arms of Sochi!

After that Hannah and went up to Premier Gordon and asked him if we could take a picture. He was in a rush so we could not get to ask any questions.