And with the hint of an accent it all flooded back … Vancouver 2010

Funny how history repeats itself.  A year ago, I was somewhat blassay about the Olympics being in this fine city of ours. The Olympic Committee had not been especially warm or welcoming to locals, but a few of the Houses changed all that for me, especially La Maison de la Suiss and Saxony House.  Oh and how did I love the music at the Saskatchewan Pavilion and all the fantastic Arts at Atlantic Canada House! Well, I’ve been feeling a little the same way as the one year celebration got under way this weekend, that is until a heard a German accent yesterday and then I was taken right back, burning red face and all.

You see for me the Olympics weren’t really about the games or sport at all. They were about the people I met, both local and from around the world and in sharing in our traditions from music and celebration to food and beer.  Oh and there were some fine beers – thank you Saxony House, I get teary eyed just thinking about those tankards.  I’m happy to provide you with an address for a care package.

Saxon-Canadian Relations (aka Being a good Canadian Diplomat.)

So we all need goals, especially around games, and that I had, just like any of the athletes.  My goals were two fold.

  1. Enjoy as much food, drink and music from all around the world, as possible.
  2. Encourage International Relations by hosting a little competition of my own against my darling hummingbird604.  How you ask?  Well, our own Olympic Sport of seeing who got more Olympic dates.

Now, this really set a great purpose and tone to the Games as things got off to a roaring start in our Olympic Event.  The Opening Ceremonies alone I had three dates.  Needless to say, despite the odds, I was leaving Raul behind in a white wash.

Olympic Dates 2 & 3 (Yes, they happened at the same time, as did Date 1 - he's taking the pictures. I'm not a girl that wastes time.)

That was until this Saxon fellow got in the way, and turned me head over heels in a hunt for unrequited love.

Stealing a Kiss

Not wanting to lose though, I tossed my heart aside and still managed to get in a kiss or two:

Thats when Raul pulled off the mittens and started playing dirty, deeking me out and landing me a very real Olympic romance and case in International Relations in my lap.  Now, I’m not one to smooch and tell, but lets just say that that German accent yesterday was all I needed to take me right back to Vancouver 2010 and turn my face as red as a beet.

Faced with nostalgia, I think I’ll dig up a bit of our unused footage to share with you in the coming weeks.  Who knows it might even help to me cure of this past year’s weakness for foreign men.

In the Name of Sport

I’ve never liked being left on the side lines.  I like to be in the game.

This is one of the many reasons why I am not an arm chair athlete and admittedly have not watched much of the Olympics on TV.  So what have been up to instead?  Well, competing, of course.

What?  You haven’t heard of me?  Which sport am I in?  No worries, I take absolutely no offence, as you see I’m in one of the experimental sports.  They are doing a soft launch of it this year with just two athletes – myself and hummingbird604.  And as we are all about inclusion are sporting events extends over both the Olympic and the Paralympic Games.

So what’s the sport?  Well, really its a long standing Olympic tradition played undercover. Yes, that’s right, the hummingbird and I are competing for whom can get the most Olympic dates. And NO, not, as others have suggested, the most Olympic shags. Neither, the hummingbird or I are tarts.  Simply, the most Olympic dates.

So far I am in the lead at 5 -3, despite twitter betting against me.  So whats the story on my dates?

  • A Swede enjoyed over a glass of wine.
  • A good, old American boy picked up our town’s latest meat market, the Canada Line.

Olympic Dates 2 & 3 (Yes, they happened at the same time. I'm not a girl that wastes time.)

  • A lonely Swiss man eating a meal alone.
  • Two drunken snowboarders, picked up in unison, at 4 AM on Grouse Mountain. (there is actually video on this one, I just need to find it for all of you voyeurs)

Olympic Date 4 wasted absolutely no time.

As for date number 6?  I am hoping it will be with this handsome Saxon.  Only problem is that he is currently MIA.

Have you seen my fella?

So my dear hummingbird?  Let’s hear the dirt on your 3 dates!