Vancouver 2010 - Red White and Gold for Canada

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Well unless you have been living under a rock the past 17 days, you have probably been glued to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games from Vancouver.  And what an Olympics it was.  Canada walked away with 14 gold medals, a new world record previously set by Russia and once tied by Norway.  And what a better way to set that record than by beating the USA with an overtime goal in men’s hockey.

I have always enjoyed the Olympics but the 2010 games will always hold a special place in my memory.  Whether it was Alex Bilodeaus first gold medal on Canadian soil, Joannie Rochettes triumph through over whelming adversity, or Jon Montgomery’s famous stroll through Whistler with a pitcher of beer, these games had it all.  They were an emotional roller coaster, and it was one heck of a ride. 

The games started on a somber note with the tragic death of the Georgian luger and before the games started, criticism of VANOC and the venues began.  Then there was the cauldron malfunction, the bad weather and slow start to Canada's medal count after all the talk of Own The Podium. It all seemed to build on that ever growing doubt that this could go down as the worst winter Olympics in history.

But something amazing was happening and even from my couch I could see it.  No matter what event or who was competing in it, our national pride was swelling.  It was as though we didn’t care about the medals, but more so to show the world who we are and why we love Canada.  Sure more than ever we put an emphasis on winning, and I totally agree that there is nothing wrong with striving to be the best in the world.  But what was amazing to watch was that even in failure, our resolve and collective love for our country was stronger than ever.  We cheered hard and loud for all the worlds athletes, and and even harder for our own.  The fans created an amazing atmosphere that spread across the entire nation and it was even something the IOC president said was "...a real credit to Canadians".

Personally I have never been prouder to be a Canadian.  We have all had that national pride; Vancouver 2010 just gave us a chance to really show it.  And show it we did. VANOC president John Furlong said it best " I believe we Canadians tonight are stronger, more united, more in love with our country and more connected with each other than ever before."

Globe and Mail writer Stephen Brunt created an amazing video essay that truly captures how these games have impacted Canada. If you missed the video Sunday night watch it right now and send it to everyone you know.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Let us know what you thought of the 2010 games and what your favorite moments were in the comments below.