VANCOUVER WINTER OLYMPICS DAY 1

Spirits appeared in all forms in downtown Vancouver today. It was interesting to come across the Sports Chaplains, an evangelical group advancing the gospel at major sporting jamborees. For the price of a spiritual tale I received a pin and learnt how the Olympic colours represent the coming and passing of Christ, our shortcomings and our hope for the future. They were nice friendly people though they may not approve of their pin sitting alongside the “Strong and Free”.

The Olympic Spirit came to our front door here in Yaletown. The Olympic Torch, a happy throng of several thousand people and 2 helicopters arrived in Yaletown at lunchtime. (A practical application of Canadian restraint; in Sydney 18 whirly-birds followed the torch like a swarm of noisy mosquitoes). The torch arrival on a First Nations canoe from Granville Island was enthusiastically welcomed by the crowds and a wave of excitement rippled through the masses; The Olympic Spirit came upon us as successive runners made their way amongst the local streets. After my initial concerns, I can confirm that the Olympic spirit has definitely hit town.

This evening we hit the traditional alcoholic flavoured spirit. After a vain attempt to gain access to the over-popular though rain-drenched Yaletown Olympic “Live Site” it was on to Plan B - a Bar with TV and a large number of Canadians into both the Olympic and liquid spirit. On television the opening ceremony looked bright and colourful, a marvel of projection technology surpassing the boisterous bar crowd drowning out what was no doubt an equally inspiring musical score. The Canadian team was greeted with strident chants of “Let’s Go Canada, Go”: A little imperialistic perhaps, but infinitely preferable to the mind-numbing and thankfully fading Sydney legacy of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi”. Credit where credit is due, the patrons took up a respectful silence as the Opening Ceremony paused to remember Georgian luge competitor Nodar Kumaritashvili who died today. The sombre mood lingered for a while, perhaps a reminder that whilst the Olympics are a celebration tragedy is rarely far behind.

Somewhere amongst the TV action and swigging of local beverages a pin swop was negotiated. A Sydney Olympic Torch Marathon motif was exchanged for a pin promoting the “Strong and Free”; possibly a lesbian group and a pin that will sit incongruously along side this morning’s acquisition from the Sports Chaplains. In an equally strange pairing, the Olympic Torch ended its journey in the back of a Ute (a “pick-up” in the local dialect) - after the theatrical marvels of earlier, what was that all about?

And so the spirits are truly here in Vancouver.