Monday, February 25, 2002
Games a real blast
Athletes make 17 days a joyous celebration
By STEVE BUFFERY -- Toronto Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- For 17 days, they amazed and astonished us in a joyous celebration of the human spirit.
These were the Games of controversy, of never-ending press conferences, of long-winded, heavy-handed officials.
But we were reminded once again last night, as athletes from 78 nations marched into Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium for the closing ceremonies, that the Olympics are not just about winning and losing.
They are an exercise in physical and emotional excellence, under excessive duress and pressure. Athletes don't get paid for competing at Olympics; they do it for love of competition and country.
And no one displayed the traits of good sportsmanship and grace better than Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, Canada's gold-medal-winning, figure-skating pair.
On the ice and off, Sale and Pelletier became a symbol of everything good that is sport and the biggest cheers during the entrance of the flag bearers last night was reserved for the Canadians.
Forget those long-winded speeches by politicians and organizers, or the dancing and singing. The best part of any Olympic ceremony is when the athletes march into the stadium. Win or lose, they all wear golden smiles, a lifetime of experience etched on their faces from competition, meeting new friends, exploring a different culture. Last night was no different.
For 17 days, we lived their ups and downs, their sorrow and pain and triumph. We watched in wonderment and realized, through the sheer simplicity of a game, how brilliant the human spirit can become.
Despite a slow start, Canadian athletes shone brightly, winning a record 17 medals, including the one title that counted most, the men's ice hockey gold.
But there were so many other amazing athletic achievements by the sons and daughters of Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies, the Maritimes, British Columbia.
CLARA'S MOMENT
How great it was to see one of the nicest people you will ever meet, Clara Hughes, make history. Her bronze medal in the women's 5,000-metre speed skating event put the always-smiling, always-pleasant Winnipeg native in the record books as the only Canadian athlete to have won medals in both the summer and winter Games.
Beckie Scott winning the first Olympic cross-country ski medal by a North American. Cartriona Le May Doan keeping her 500-metre long track title and her golden smile captivating a nation other than her own.
Marc Gagnon carving his name in the annals of great Canadian Olympians, his two gold and bronze here upping his career medal total to five.
Of course there were disappointments for Canada, the most obvious being world speed skating champion Jeremy Wotherspoon burning out in both the 500 and 1000.
The Canadian alpine ski team failed to win a medal. The curling teams failed to win a gold. Figure skater Emanuel Sandhu fell short at a big competition yet again.
The Olympics are about winning and losing, but they're also about human nature. Some people rise to the occasion, others implode pathetically. There were so many memories packed into two weeks of fun and games. But that's always the case when the world comes together in the heated exchange of athletic competition.
It's not often who wins the gold medal that remains in one's mind. Who can forget:
AN ABSURD JUDGE
The absurdity that is French pairs judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne, who has almost run out of people to blame for her scoring follies. The whining by the Russians every time a decision did not go their way. The Brits' improbable victory in women's curling, and their record three medals. The 1980 American men's hockey team lighting the cauldron in the opening ceremonies. Sarah Hughes, the American girl from good Canadian stock, skating one of the best long performances in women's figure skating history. The Barenaked Ladies performance at the Olympic medal plaza. The outrageous, but incredibly joyous, victory by Australian short tracker Stephen Bradley. Wayne Gretzky's rant and Belarus' upset over Sweden in men's hockey and the reaction of the Swedish media afterwards. Mormons everywhere and no one trying to convert anyone.
It's been a blast (in the good sense of the word).
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2002 Games Columnists
