Okay well I have been encouraged to post a blog about my experience at the Winter Olympics. At the moment I am kind of in shock as one of the Georgian luge team athletes has crashed into a pole traveling at 140 km/h. The 21 year old hit his head against the pole it seems and was airlifted to hospital. CPR was administered at the scene. This is just the training phase and hopefully the athlete is not seriously injured. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/breakingnews/georgian-luge-athlete-injured-in-olympic-training-run-crash-canadian-press-newsalert-84242522.html
The opening ceremonies begin this evening which I am really looking forward to, as it will be my first time to attend such an event. Beijing's summer olympic opening ceremonies of course cannot be topped. The Winter Olympics seems to be a quieter affair in that regard. London will have to try and be creative/ inventive in order to keep up the standards of Beijing. Going through Heathrow I picked up a good few of the London Olympic Games Pins which come in handy here in Vancouver for 'pin trading'. Pin trading is a huge phenomenon here with lots of people wearing 'two pins' to indicate they are willing to trade. At the moment I am gearing up to put on my 'opening ceremonies' pin and of course 'kiss me I'm Irish Olympic pin' - this of course should come in useful at the various venues.
Irish house is located at the back of Doolin's Irish Pub and is basically a massive tent in the back car-park. With an Irish passport entry is free. Although I was down there last night and didn't see too many Irish, the line-ups seemed to be a mixture of every nation.
The torch is currently been run through the city of Vancouver. The Governor of California (Arnold) carried the torch this morning around Stanley Park. Some say that Obama is not coming because Chicago did not get the Winter Olympics and is sending the VP Joe Biden instead.
Go Canada Go.