Displaying a magnificent finishing kick, it turns out that these Olympics will be a roaring success after all. We are setting records. First, we have guaranteed ourselves a Canadian record of 26 medals. We have tied the world record for Winter Olympic gold with 13 (with 2002 Norway and 1976 Soviets). Should we win the hockey game on Sunday, we will be all alone in the record books with 14 first place finishes. Our anthem has been played to more podiums than any other. Lest we forget, the ancient Greeks only awarded prizes for first place (at least according to my ten minutes of research in Wikipedia). Was it Aristotle or Plato who said "if you ain't first, you're last"?
Let me take you back to a poll that I conducted in the first few days of the Olympics.
HOW MANY MEDALS DO YOU EXPECT CANADA TO WIN IN VANCOUVER?
less than 20 (43%)
20-25 (30%)
25-30 (22%) *answer 26
30+ (3%)
Thus 73% of my visitors at the start of the Olympics under estimated our eventual medal count. I would say that our athletes defied expectations. I declared on day 6 that we would not win total medal count and we should instead focus on winning the most gold. I took some flak, and yet here we are on the eve of the Closing Ceremonies with not only the most gold medals but also tied for the record for most gold ever by any country at a Winter Olympics with a gold medal hockey final yet to be played.
It is a great day to be Canadian! I remember earlier in the week, Evan Soloman was running the frequent headline "Dreams Dashed" when talking about the Olympics. How do we define dreams? Standing on the podium while everyone listens to your national anthem and your home fans are their singing along? You may have jumped the gun on that bad news story E-Solo. Will Evan run the headline "Most Dreams Achieved Ever" on Monday? I doubt it.
"Was it Aristotle or Plato who said "if you ain't first, you're last"?"
ReplyDeleteThat was Ricky Bobby's dad who said that.
I'm kind of shocked that you didn't post a poll on who'll win the gold medal tomorrow,Canada/US.
ReplyDeleteMy fearless prediction: Canada: U.S.
Damn! The Numbers quit working on my keyboard!
I'll let you know if I was right after the game tomorrow.
DMorris
The world listened to our national anthem more than on the podium,
ReplyDeletefans broke out in spotaneous ' O' Canada' many many times....these were the best games EVER
I am a proud Canadian, so happy that men won the curling GOLD.
ReplyDeleteJust watched The Prime Minister in an interview with Brian Williams on CTV.He is a great Prime Minister and demonstrates his enormous pride for our great Canadian Athletes.
It was also nice to see our male athletes man-up on the final few days, winning 8 of our final 11 medals. Don't be too quick to claim gender dominance ladies... Women's curling choked, men got it done. Women's long track pursuit choked, men got it done.
ReplyDeleteI am now waiting for the nasty media that were making fun of "Own the Podium" to man up and admit that they were wrong.
ReplyDeleteYeah I know, crickets.....
Yes, aiming for the stars will almost always get you closer to a goal.
ReplyDeleteYou have to wonder why so many people were trash talking the “Own the Podium” drive.
Could it be political? We have seen more than a few Globe & Mail articles worrying about the Conservatives catching some reflected glory from the Athletes winning. And they’re right, all these wins certainly do cast a positive atmosphere over the land, don’t they?
Meanwhile, the media have expended a lot of time and energy on spawning a negative pale in people’s minds, all to advance the interests of their beloved Liberals, and themselves, of course.
Yes, but if we had an wardrobe malfunction who would you be rooting for?
ReplyDeleteIn the 2008 games, China won the most gold and the USA won the most total medals. Many international publications listed China as first place in the medal standings. To be fair, the ancient Greeks who invented the Olympics only awarded prizes for first place. Silver and bronze are more like participation ribbons.
ReplyDelete