the other night, after we were done with another fun day up at cypress, i went with 2 co-workers to a chain here in vancouver called 'boston pizza.' we went to watch the canada/germany men's hockey game...and it was a lively, spirited crowd that had assembled in the bar to watch the game.
the two guys in the picture above were two of the most vocal people in the room (and clearly the most active, as you see them standing on their chairs, drinking and watching the game.) they were both from norway - and were in the bar celebrating their country picking up a medal in women's ski cross. but as the game started, these guys started chanting and cheering, "WE LOVE CANADA!" over and over and over again - walking around and getting others to cheer and clap and celebrate, as well. then they came to the table behind us that was full of russians...and when they found this out, they changed their tune to, "WE LOVE RUSSIA!" over and over and over again...getting that table into the cheering. they even found the lone german, sitting at the bar, in his german-flag-colored suspenders and his german flag draped over his chair (dejected, because his team was getting clobbered), and starting chanting with him, "WE LOVE GERMANY!" over and over and over again.
i sat back and watched these norwegians working the room, professing their love of every country they came in contact with - and really believing that they did, INDEED, love all these countries - and it struck me that these guys are what the olympic experience is all about. they aren't athletes....they aren't coaches...they aren't here competing for a gold medal and endorsement deals. they are part of the spectating masses that have come to connect to the world they live in, in whatever way they know how. (this night, it just happened to be over hockey and pizza and beer and standing on chairs...but it varies from location to location.)
i came to vancouver thinking i couldn't love the olympics anymore...but thanks to experiences like the ones with the fans from norway, or with the awesome dutch fans who have let me get pictures with them and laugh with them, or with the aussies standing in line while it sleets as we sing and clap and cheer, i have found an increased capacity to love the olympics in my life.
and knowing it makes me want to stand on the table and shout, "WE LOVE OLYMPICS!" for everyone in the bar to hear.
the two guys in the picture above were two of the most vocal people in the room (and clearly the most active, as you see them standing on their chairs, drinking and watching the game.) they were both from norway - and were in the bar celebrating their country picking up a medal in women's ski cross. but as the game started, these guys started chanting and cheering, "WE LOVE CANADA!" over and over and over again - walking around and getting others to cheer and clap and celebrate, as well. then they came to the table behind us that was full of russians...and when they found this out, they changed their tune to, "WE LOVE RUSSIA!" over and over and over again...getting that table into the cheering. they even found the lone german, sitting at the bar, in his german-flag-colored suspenders and his german flag draped over his chair (dejected, because his team was getting clobbered), and starting chanting with him, "WE LOVE GERMANY!" over and over and over again.
i sat back and watched these norwegians working the room, professing their love of every country they came in contact with - and really believing that they did, INDEED, love all these countries - and it struck me that these guys are what the olympic experience is all about. they aren't athletes....they aren't coaches...they aren't here competing for a gold medal and endorsement deals. they are part of the spectating masses that have come to connect to the world they live in, in whatever way they know how. (this night, it just happened to be over hockey and pizza and beer and standing on chairs...but it varies from location to location.)
i came to vancouver thinking i couldn't love the olympics anymore...but thanks to experiences like the ones with the fans from norway, or with the awesome dutch fans who have let me get pictures with them and laugh with them, or with the aussies standing in line while it sleets as we sing and clap and cheer, i have found an increased capacity to love the olympics in my life.
and knowing it makes me want to stand on the table and shout, "WE LOVE OLYMPICS!" for everyone in the bar to hear.
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