Big day today for the USA and Canada at ROO. Men’s 1500m. Shani Davis holds the record and won gold in the 1000m. Wonder how he’ll do today.

We [that's T and me] are going to Women’s hockey tonight. Looking forward to it. Here I am heading off to my shift… I look a little bit tired don’t I?

We see Ovechkin, Malkin, Semin and MORE! Yep, Team Russia on the ticket tonight… No rooting for the Slovaks tonight, it’s a full-on Russia cheerfest.

I really enjoy watching Ovie play. It’s just so effortless. I’m seriously hoping for a Canada | Russia Gold Medal Hockey final. That would be a game for the ages… A true test of the question, “Who is better? Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin?”

In my humble opinion, I’d say Ovie is the more passionate, naturally gifted player. The puck just finds him and he finds the back of the net with a verve and love of the game unmatched by most of the NHLers. And skills? Let’s just say his puck and skating skills are SICK! On the other hand, Sidney is the more ‘complete’ player. Offensively gifted and defensively well rounded, BUT pure, unadulterated passion and love of the game? Yes, Sid has it, but Ovie has it in spades and that is what I think edges him out over Sid. Now as a dyed in the wool Team Canada fan, I know what I’ve just said here is probably considered blasphemy by most and I will probably be tarred and feathered for it is some random parking lot outside of Canada Hockey Place… BUT, it’s simply my opinion about two exceptionally skilled and naturally gifted hockey players. And besides, I’m a girl, so what do I know?? LOL ;^)

For tonight, I had to buy a Russia Team cap. I LOVE the design. So traditional and so, so pretty. It totally appeals to the artist in me and the fact that Ovechkin plays for team Russia is simply a bonus LOL! We fully expect a whole lot of crazy from the Russian / NHL fans tonight. Last night was loony with the Czech / Slovak fans. Tonight, I think they’ll ratchet it up another notch. I’m thinking about bringing ear plugs LOL!

tickets in hand…
Bay card ready for 2010 Team gear…
my camera is charged and ready…

its time to really get a feel for the 2010 Winter Olympics experience in downtown Vancouver this afternoon and evening! catch you later…

My post in the Press Tribune - Nice view huh?

Whew! it’s been a whirlwind the last 4 days of competition at the ROO!

Ice making issues, delays in competition, crazy busy sleep deprived reporters, ‘gate crashers’, etc… It all makes for an exciting, fun and tiring experience.

The Press Tribune area that I work in is large. It seats 122 written press at ‘tabled’ seating with laptop space, internet ports, phone jacks, etc… Then there is the 75+ overflow press seats immediately adjacent to the seated positions. It means that I have the single largest Tribune area, and the area with the most issues. But it’s all good… After 4 days in that area, I know my press guys pretty well. Some by first name, most others by face, so I know WHO should and who SHOULDN’T be seated in my area.

Generally speaking, the guys are pretty good about being where they need to be. It’s usually the ‘rights’ broadcasters that I need to direct to the right location. Everyone wants a tabled seat, and why not? You have internet hard-wired into the area, wi-fi if needed, phone jacks and power cords. The ‘rights’ people [these are the various country broadcasters] don’t have access to this stuff on my lower ice-level of the tribune. They are generally pretty understanding when I gently steer them away from the tabled seating, and I do let them sit in the area while it’s quiet during training sessions… But they all know that once training is over, I’ll be steering them away from the tables to the seats across the aisle. LOL! It’s funny, now all I have to do is look a certain people and they grab their stuff and move, with a smile and nod of understanding.

One of the broadcasters/commentators is from the Dutch tv and his name is Bart. Yesterday,  Bart arrived, plunked down in his usual training spot, and proceeded to lay all the Monday problems with the Olympia Icebears [the resurfacing equipment was causing ruts] on me, saying it was because I had an early shift, left before competition and that I wasn’t there to maintain order. LOL! He jokingly blamed ME for the problems. So I assured him that I would be at ROO from 8am-7pm and that I was going to be in ALL day to ‘maintain order’ and that the ice machines wouldn’t be a problem. He gave me a big grin and said that he was glad because the night before had been a very long one indeed. Thank goodness there were no problems with the equipment! =)

It amazes me how much easier it is to direct people with a smile, humor and a well timed laugh. I’ve watched a few of my other Tribune cohorts and they are far more serious in their ‘delivery’ of the rules and direction. They tend to have a tougher time moving people, or at least their people don’t see quite as happy as mine LOL… Like a said, a smile, a laugh and a little bit of flirting with the press in area goes a long long way. And when you have well over 100 of them to deal with, that is a HUGE help.

Have seen a lot of Shani Davis in the last few days. He actually was seated and chatting with Bart in my Tribune for about 30 minutes yesterday, right beside me. Interesting stuff… none of which I can repeat here ;^) Anyways, he’s very nice, and will return your smiled readily, if he notices it. He is very quiet though and will only speak to certain reporters… Game face is on for Shani Davis, that is for sure!

So today, I have the day off. I’m blogging, slept in until 9am <sigh – that was heaven!>, will be bussing in to meet T at 5pm at Cityhall. Then we’re off to Canada Hockey Place [aka GM Place - home of the Canucks] for a 9pm Men’s Hockey Game of Czech vs. Slovakia! Now that is a grunge match and with some impressive NHLers in the line-up, it should be a good game.Tomorrow night we see the Men’s Russia vs. Czech game. Now THAT is going to be a GOOD game! Can hardly wait. I love Ovie… Pure hockey skill and passion in that guy.

We’re going to pitstop at the Bay downtown, where all the international team gear is being sold to fans from around the world. I really hope to pick up either an orange Netherlands jacket [I love it because of the colour and the native art inspired wing down each sleeve of the warm-up jacket] or a Russia red and white ballcap [I LOVE the flourish design in their team gear this year. AWESOME!]. I’d love a Russia warm-up jacket, but they are running at a pretty steep price-point so I don’t think that’s in the cards. PLUS T might be looking at an Ovechkin jersey too… so the ballcap would work well with the jersey.

OH! Before I forget… Colbert will be shooting in ROO today, tomorrow and Friday. Hopefully he’ll be in while I’m there on Friday. I’m choked about today though, especially since he’s shooting in MY Tribune area and I’m not there =( Oh well, maybe I’ll get a chance to see him on Friday.

Anyways, that is the scoop so far. Will report in again soon… in the meantime, GO CANADA GO!

Early shift again this morning at the Oval… 8:00am-2:00pm.

Training is definitely heating up with serious laps being run by many of the athletes, since this is one of the last training days they’ll have before the Opening Ceremonies tomorrow evening. Lots of Canadian, Chinese, Korean and Dutch skaters were on before the first ice-flood [that's when the Olympia IceBears clean and smooth the ice between training sessions] and American, Russian, Khazakstan [? spelling], Japanese, French and Italian skaters the late morning session.

It really is cool to see the skaters running their laps with such effortless grace. Me, I simply look at an ice sheet and fall on my ass in the most UNgraceful heap imaginable.  YES, I’m Canadian born and raised. And YES, I cannot skate to save my life. But I appreciate it… the speed and grace. Amazing. Wish I could do it without looking like a ginormous dork! <sigh> Maybe one day…

Hung out in the ‘dedicated press’ area of the Tribune this morning. Chatted with the Dutch and other Northern European newsmen, commiserating about the crappy rain this morning. Ah… they were getting spoiled with Vancouver sunshine and early Daffodil blooms [yes, our early daffodils are starting to bloom!] but now they are getting a taste of an early Vancouver Spring with mild 9C temps and drizzle. LOL… The sun WILL come out again, but this morning, there were a lot of damp Dutchmen LOL…

In the Oval again tomorrow afternoon from 1-6pm. Then home to watch the amazing Opening Ceremonies… From what I’m hearing from those who attended the dress rehearsals yesterday, it’s truly amazing and very very Canadian. Most if not every Canadian there said that they left feeling proud and totally stoked about our opening act at the 2010 Olympic Games. The PVR is set, ready and will record both the CTV and NBC feeds. Can’t wait =)

Go CANADA GO!

The Olympic Flame rolled through our neighbourhood yesterday.

We had thought about watching the mini-cauldron being lit in the Richmond O Zone [the celebration site I've been working on for months in design prep, and for the last two weeks setting up], but we had correctly assumed that it would be packed and that it would be a long wait getting in and out of the site. It was packed! Over 15,000 people in attendance and gridlock traffic getting home. So, our plan to watch the Torch run past our neighbourhood was a great one. It wasn’t as exciting as the big event site, but it was still moving and I confess that I got a little emotional seeing it after all this time.

Here are a few pics from last night…

Read the rest of this entry »