February 13th and 14th - Short Track & Curling

It's been a couple of busy days here in Vancouver...first of all the city has been transformed into a hub of activity...there are sooooooooooo many people around - today when I was downtown changing skytrains the streets were absolutely packed...I asked one of the security people what venue had just emptied out and she said none, she guessed that everyone had just decided to come downtown as it was an absolutely gorgeous, sunny (thank god) day...I took a pic of the crowds but it just doesn't do it justice...the skytrain was lined up onto the street (the station is underground) and the Olympic Store had a 15 minute waiting line to just get in to shop!!!  Although the skytrains and buses are crowded it is still quite easy to get around - they have increased their trains so they come along every couple of minutes...

Yesterday I strolled around Concord Place where the provinces pavillions are...I tried to get into Ontario House to see their 4D presentation but it was lined up, so I just strolled in and out of the rest of the pavillions, then headed to the Pacific Coliseum for my shift for short track skating...the athlete that I was supposed to chaperone was chosen from one of the first races, but it turned out that she also was skating in the relay a couple of hours later, so I was unable to notify her until after that race - I did however have to keep an eye on her, and try to do it without her realizing it...I was able to watch the athletes cool down, warm up and get prepared for their races...and I got to see a couple of heats at ice level...it was while I was "shadowing" her that I made my appearance on TSN - I just happened to be walking down the hall just after Charles Hamelin didn't qualify for the final and he came down the same hall so I got caught by the camera...I had absolutely no idea about it until I returned home and was greeted by my housemates exclaiming that I was a TV Star!!!  Gary had PVRed it and then videoed it on his camera - so now I have it on my laptop!!!  I've also seen a shortened version of it on TSN Sportscentre...my mom also saw it and emailed me to say that so far, it was the most exciting Olympic moment for her...of course, that was before our first gold medal today!!!!

These pics are of Molson Canada House and Ontario House

 This is the Olympic Village from across the harbour

Speed Skating

Today I was supposed to do a shift at the Village, but got moved over to curling - the teams were just practising, but it was still fun to watch them...the athlete I had spoke great english (although she was not from an english speaking nation) so we had a great little chat about her country, their hockey team and how much she was loving Vancouver...