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By Kathy Michaels
An Olympic review I can take seriously finally came my way last night.
“It really doesn’t feel like No-Funcouver, anymore,” my sister said from her Vancouver condo, following laments of line-ups and hockey losses.
“It takes forever to do anything, and it’s too bad I can’t see an event, but there’s a good energy here,” she added.
Good energy is my family’s version of Ebert and Roeper’s two thumbs up, and it’s particularly impressive that the Olympics can get such a favourable rating from the union-flag-waving-lefty that is my sister.
She was one among many I know who swore they would leave town rather than stick around for the Games. For months she plotted a vacation, but when it all fell through at the 11th hour she begrudgingly decided to stay in the city and embrace what’s around her, leading to last night’s peppy review.
And it’s those who take the middle ground I find most relevant.
The balaclava-set lost my support as soon as I heard an account of one yelling, “Quatchi is a ho,” during the protesting preamble.
Then, when the Olympics fanatics didn’t bat an eye at the gaffe-filled Opening Ceremonies, they lost all their credibility.
Semi-erected torches aside, things got dicey when Wayne Gretzky was carted away from the nearly botched event in the back of a truck. Fellow torchbearer Rick Hansen lost the use of his legs after falling out the back of a pick up truck. Is the Olympics any time for irony?
But I digress.
Point is, Olympic fans and haters have become so blinded by their point of view that their accounts are starting to lack credibility. And, unfortunately, the media have been caught up in the fray and that’s best exemplified by the British press.
Their journalists, who are clearly prone to hyperbole, are circling like sharks with a sniff of blood pudding in the water. Pointing out all flaws with a fervor that’s mildly uncomfortable they’ve come out with some doozies.
The Independent called it “Vancouver’s Moral Vacuum.”
The Daily Mail said the Vancouver Winter Olympics “have produced nothing but pain and heartache.”
And the Guardian opined, “Worst Games ever.”
I say, “Ouch. Bugger off you colonialist fear mongers. You’ll get yours soon enough.”
Sure, there has been a tragedy, Mother Nature has had her way with certain venues, and there have been a few other scrapes. But that’s a long way off from the worst Olympics ever, as those who remember terrorists at Olympics past might point out.
Most importantly, many of those who are seeing it unfurl in front of them believe it’s been an event worthy of giving Vancouver a moniker change and that’s impressive as far as I’m concerned.
Personally, I can’t wait to visit Fun-Couver and see a slice of my province drenched in a bit of Coca-Cola’s happiness. If I’m going to pay for it the rest of my life, I may as well enjoy.
2 Responses to “Kathy Michaels: Time to tame the dramatics and embrace Funcouver”
Tags: 2010 Olympics, British Media, No-Funcouver, vancouver
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Well said my friend, well said. Just as I was feeling like a walking contradiction, you validated me. Thank you for that. I also plan to revel in my hypocrisy and take in a little Fun-couver.
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I love the idea of the Olympics. I’ve even worked at one summer Olympics. Unfortunately the reality of what’s happened to Vancouver, and to the event itself, has become poisonous.
We were lied to for too long, about too much, and too often. And we’ll be paying for it for far too long.
All props to the athletes, and I hope they compete honourably and with distinction.
Please continue discussion on the forum: link