Let the games begin

I am very excited about XXI Winter Olympic Games. It is only a second time in my life that country where I live is organizing such an event.

My first Olympic games were in 1984, when I actually worked and earned first money. I still remember my mother's surprised face when a postman came to our house to give me a cheque.

I remember how Sarajevo was lacking snow and how warm weather threatened the games. And then, just on time, big snow storm blanketed the city and surrounding mountains. We got lucky.

Somehow, history is (almost) repeating itself. I am not working in Vancouver, but I will be a spectator. Some venues are lacking snow. Weather is (has been) just bad. It is raining in the city, and more rain is coming. It is too warm. It is Vancouver super humid. It is green. It is foggy in Whistler - on Thursday men were able to finish their training downhill run, but women were not that lucky. There is a big possibility that Saturday's men's downhill will be postponed. And that will be ok - I remember, in Sarajevo, during XIV Olympic games, the same race was postponed for a week.

I gave a speech today in my Toastmasters 'reverse' meeting. As whole meeting was run backwards (evaluations first, speeches, table topics, business meeting), my speech was also organized in same manner. I announced the biggest stars of Vancouver games.

Below is my list (as my speech was limited to 7 minutes, I was not able to cover everything):

Alpine skiing - Men: Bode Miller

Women: Maria Reisch

(My first choice was Lindsey Vonn, but she arrived injured to Vancouver.....I thought even, I would call it "Vonn-couver" games)

Biathlon - Men: Ole Einar Bjoerndalen

Women: Helena Jonsson

Bob Sleigh - Men: Andre Lange

Figure skating - Men: Patrick Chan

Women: Kim-Yu Na

Snowboarding - Shaun White

Ski jumping - Gregor Schlierenzauer

Cross country skiing - Petter Northug

Free style skiing - Jennifer Heil

Curling - Kevin Martin and Chinese women's team

Hockey - Sidney Crosby

Long track speed skating - Sven Kramer

Short track speed skating - Apolo Ohno

My biggest wishes: In hockey, Canada will beat Russia in the final. Robbie Dixon will win men's downhill. Pierre Lueders will win one medal. Ivica Kostelic will win either men's slalom or combined.

It is February 12th - the biggest day for Vancouver arrived. Let's hope that there will be less rain than predicted.

I am looking forward to the opening ceremony and packed BC Place.