Well, as they say: it's not over 'til it's over! As you know, there were more medals yet awarded toward the end of the Games and our Canadian athletes continued to do very well. The Canadian women's hockey team and the Canadian women's curling team both won gold, each for the fourth time in as many Olympic Winter Games. The men's curling team, also, won gold and, "leaped" onto the podium for joy but, courtesy of the "Faux Pas" department, the organizers were running out of medals - surely a first of this kind! They received them later, of course!
Speaking of medals, I really liked the design. I thought that the mosaic inlay representing the different ethnic groups and cultures that make up Russia, was a good idea. That brings me to a question posed first, I think, by Peter Mansbridge of the CBC: "For which national team will you cheer, the team of the old country or that of Canada?" Though it was an interesting question, for most of us, I am sure, it was our Canadian team, front, back and center!
And then, the glorious last weekend, the finale of the games, was here! It started with a Figure Skating Gala and several more competitions on the hills before the final game, the game of all games, the Canadian men's hockey team against the swedish team. When the Canadians won, the cheers coming from hundreds of hockey parties all over Canada must have been loud enough to be heard in Sochi! In fact, the cheers were still in the air when a spectacular final show and the closing ceremony started and when the Olympic flame was extinguished by the bear mascot, everybody was sorry that it all had to come to an end!
The next Winter Olympiad will be held in South Korea in 2018 and judging by that country's portion of the entertainment during the final show, it will be lots of fun!
Russia has been a great host for these games — the work and planning needed for such an event can only be imagined! Consider, also, the hours of training needed to bring our athletes to the final result of 25 medals: 10 gold, 10 silver and 5 bronze - third rank standing among the teams participating this year. But there is another record I am sure! Somewhere I read that the Games were watched by a countless number of people (maybe in the trillions?) thanks to the expertise and know-how of TV stations such as our CBC. It was modern technology at its best! Also, I would like to mention the uncounted viewers - Ruthy and I included - who rose to the task of "Arm Chair Olyimpians" by getting up every morning at 6 a.m. sharp to be ready for the 7 a.m. broadcast of the past day's activities. Is there a medal for such loyalty?
Finally, when everything was over, Ruthy asked me - tongue in cheek, kind of - "Did you not want to read up and answer the criticisms voiced before the games?"
I had to admit that I did not even remember any of them!