There is never a dull moment at Cypress... Today, we had a special visit!
I started my shift at 6:00am. Today's assignment: "Path 20." At first I thought: Oh, great... Crowd control - how exciting can that be? Was I ever wrong! In fact, I was in charge of a gate to the restricted area just off the main path that spectators take to get to the grand stands for SBX/Half-pipe. Who goes through it? The media/photographers, athletes, athletes' families, dignitaries, the mascots, even graffiti artists that were painting on a big graffiti wall along the main path. While controlling access, you also get to mingle with the spectators coming for today's women's SBX, so there is always action around.
The day started off on a bad note though. We were greeted by torrential rains that continued up until around 9am. Then we got fog. The competition was first moved from 10:30am to 11:30am, and later to 12:30pm. The fog finally lifted around noon and about half-way through the competition, the sun came out. So did the mascots, stirring quite the commotion in the crowd, especially amongst the youngsters!
But it's the surprise visit from our official Head of State, Her Excellency The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, that was on everyone's lips! Of course, she passed through my gate not once, but twice, greeting me and shaking my hand on the way out. Yes, we're pals now and I hope to hang out with her at the Keineken House tomorrow to party it up!
Today, there are enough reasons to celebrate, too. The main one: Cypress, the 'Special Child' of the Olympics, despite its challenges, has produced another medal: Maelle Ricker won the 2nd Olympic gold for Canada today in women's snowboard cross!
So for Cypress, our Canadian medal record to date is... 4 in 4!!
- Feb. 13 - Jenn Heil (Women's Moguls) - Silver
- Feb. 14 - Alexandre Bilodeau (Men's Moguls) - Gold
- Feb. 15 - Mike Robertson (Men's SBX) - Silver
- Feb. 16 - Maelle Ricker (Women's SBX) - Gold
It's all smiles amongst the 'blue jackets!' :)
After my shift, I got home and met up with Adam. We headed out to a local theater, the Cultch, for a play titled BASH'd (part of the Cultural Olympiad) and then downtown to the Deutsche Haus for some real German beer and bratwurst hot-dogs!
Another awesome day: check.
