On Sunday my 5-year-old Hannah and I attended the Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. To get the tickets, I entered into the Canadian ticket lottery last year. You could request tickets to events, and back-up events, too. They tabulated all of the requests, and when demand exceeded supply, they used a random drawing. I requested tickets to the Opening Ceremonies and short track speed skating. My back-up events were the Closing Ceremonies and another short track speed skating event.
I chose short-track because my husband Jon was working at that venue. The speed skating events were short, so they seemed like a good choice for kids, and I assumed there wouldn’t be much demand for them. I was wrong – short track tickets were the 3rd most requested after men’s hockey and the Opening Ceremonies, and I didn’t luck out. But the Closing Ceremonies were a pretty amazing score, even in the nosebleed seats that I could barely afford.
I decided to take my daughter Hannah because Jon was sort of Olympic-ed out by the time the Games ended, and he wanted a chance to stay home. So Jon and 18-month-old Jacob got some quality time together and Hannah and I headed out on our own.
Hannah and I waiting for the SkyTrain
As it happens, we left the house about 3 minutes after the Canadian men’s hockey team won Olympic Gold. This was huge, I’m not sure that I can even say how huge it was. On our train ride downtown more revelers got on at every stop. I quickly picked up on the rule that when someone boards the SkyTrain decked out in a Canadian flag, or like a Canadian flag, or wearing a Team Canada sweater, everyone on the train has to cheer and clap and yell things like, “Gold, baby! YEAH!” That train was filled to bursting with national pride, so much that we spontaneously broke out into ‘O Canada’ at one point.
Our destination, BC Place, is right next door to General Motors Canada Hockey Place, where the gold medal game took place, and they share a SkyTrain station. When we got off there were big crowds milling around, cheering and carrying on and generally celebrating the win. It was fairly good-natured, and at just 4pm I don’t think anyone was too drunk (yet). I high-fived several strangers on my walk to BC Place. How could you not?
Canadian hockey fans high-fiving passersby after the gold medal win
The trip to the stadium was smoother than I expected. We got through security no problem, and there was a bit of a back-up waiting to get up to the main entrance, but it wasn’t awful. Luckily, Hannah was pretty patient and good-natured about the whole thing.
Hannah was very good-natured about all the walking and waiting
Waiting in the crowd outside BC Place
We made it to our seats with time to spare. We all received audience participation kits, which contained various props to help with the show. There were snazzy ponchos so that they could project images on to us, moose antlers, snow globes and big coloured paper cards. For the hour before the ceremony started there was a pre-ceremony show with periodic interruptions so that we could practice our roles. And then during the show there were audience leaders in the stands showing us what to do.
My audience participation kit, made just for me
It was pretty cool to be there, I must say. I didn’t get emotional as I expected I would, partly because Hannah kept interrupting the action to share a choice tidbit about her friend at school or complain about the noise level. She’s 5, it’s what she does. And then she sobbed for 7 minutes straight when they extinguished the flame, and that was no fun. But on the whole she enjoyed herself immensely, and I was glad to have her with me. I hope that it turns into a great memory that lasts her a long time.
The ceremonies begin
Being in the middle of the Olympics was a pretty surreal experience. I’m really glad I got to have it, because I won’t get another shot in my lifetime. Plus, now I have a snazzy poncho to wear around the house. What’s not to love about that?
Modeling the cool new wardrobe options that came in my audience participation kit
What an amazing opportunity! So glad Hannah got to experience it with you.
.-= Heather´s last post ..weathering the storm =-.
What a great experience you and Hannah had! I did see part of the closing ceremonies and thought about the two of you…
.-= Sara´s last post ..Homemaker Notebook =-.
amazing and thanks for sharing it with us. “town” seems so much quieter now – i’m hoping the paralympics generate their own buzz
.-= pomomama aka ebbandflo´s last post ..… and the winners are =-.
ok, Hannah was not the only one crying.
I’ll admit it, when Neil Young was singing, I was a bit misty-eyed, and as the torch was extinguished, it was a sad moment. Neil Young can do that to me though, so put the ending of the Olympics and him in the same place? *gnorf*
Did everyone go nuts when Shatner came out? My hubby and I just about jumped out of our seats, that was great! And we cheered when MJF came out too. It was great to see him on stage!
What did Hannah think fo the Zorb balls from the Sochi section? They looked like sopmething out of a wonderful child’s imagination! And then the “everything but an igloo” section with the Macy’s Day parade of bobble head Mounties and beavers. What was that like? I bet it was a lot for her to take in.
So glad you got to go. So glad you got to be part of the celebrations of our Men’s Gold! WOO! Now onwards to teh paralympics. Are you going to take any of those in too?
.-= Caroline´s last post ..Where I’ve Been – Part 7 1/2 =-.
SO cool. Happy for you and your little buddy.
oh wow, that looks amazing, what a fantastic experience!
.-= Heather´s last post ..My First Naked Party =-.
What an amazing amazing amazing experience!
.-= Loukia´s last post ..Evil pregnant sister =-.
very awesome Amber!
.-= Shannon´s last post ..What’s Happening Wednesday =-.
Very amazing! Canada did a good job.
I speak Canadian…I live in Minnesota.
OK…I will explain that. When I lived in Indianapolis there was a guy we hung out with who was from Canada – whenever anyone could not understand what he just said…they would look at me and I would “translate”. Honestly, people in Indiana are pretty, ummm, well, yeah.
Moose antlers?! I love this party!
.-= Lauren @ Hobo Mama´s last post ..Wordless Wednesday: Planting seeds =-.
See, you did learn how to rock the Moose antlers!
.-= Heather´s last post ..Wordless Weekend – Sunday =-.
I think it’s kind of funny you got an “audeince participation kit”. You have to pay to get in, and then you’re put to work. It’s kind of like inviting friends over to dinner and then asking them to put everything in the oven, but that’s Vanoc for you
Now Mike, complaining about the Olympics went out of fashion about 3 weeks ago. Get with the times!
That sounds like SUCH a fun time. Really. I would of loved to of seen the Opening or Closing Ceremony. And now you are totally set to go for a walk in the dark with your glowing nose hat.
.-= Marilyn @ A Lot of Loves´s last post ..Worms and Dirt: Wednesday of Few Words =-.
I was so envious knowing you were there. I got emotional seeing Michael J. Fox and my fave performer was Alannis Morrisette. Who did you love seeing? Oh, my least favorite part? The inflatables. Fun for the kids though I’m sure. Did Hannah like them? Tanks for blogging about it. I was looking forward to this post!
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That is fantastic! Hey, I may have seen YOUR moose antlers on the tele!
I am a flag-waving maniac for our fantastic country now like I never was before…. GO! Canada GO!
.-= *pol´s last post ..THANK YOU!!!! =-.
Wow, that looks like a fabulous experience!
I saw the end of the hockey game and I can just imagine how much it meant to the proud hosts. Thanks for the behind the scenes peek (audience rehearsals – ha!)
We had hoped that the Bay Area would win the 2012 summer games, but that was not meant to be. Perhaps another year, when the boys are older.
.-= Lady M´s last post ..Olympic Ceremonies and Cultural Oddities =-.
People talk about making memories but I’ll bet this is one neither of you will ever forget.
.-= Delia´s last post ..A “monstrous” birth =-.
That’s very cool that you got to be there! The game was everything you hoped a gold medal game would be, and completely didn’t disappoint, although I do like Crosby a little less right now.
(Also: you guys get the GOOD maple up there. Jus’ sayin’.)
.-= Melanie´s last post ..When A Day Is Not What You Expect… =-.
W.O.W! How lucky for you and Amber. Very cool
.-= smothermother´s last post ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
I love your cool wardrobe options:)! Very nice photo of Hannah and you.
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