F is for FANS

We may not be in the lead for number of medals earned at these Olympics, but I have never in my life witnessed Canadian patriotism like I've seen in the past week or so. Everywhere I look, I see red! Of course, I keep my own Canadian flag draped above the TV set and I have one stuck in my car window. But people are dressed in red...red hockey jerseys, red scarfs, red caps, red jackets...everywhere I look, I see red red red! The city is a sea of red!

This is indicative of the pride Canadians have in their country! We Canadians tend to be a somewhat quiet lot, with a reserved spirit of support towards their country and their athletes. However, the party is here now! And people are out in droves to support the Canadian athletes and to spontaneously erupt into our national anthem at any opportunity. Our natural manners, though, do remind us to cheer for the winners no matter which nation they represent. So, party on Canadians, Americans, Brits, Germans, Norwegians, Russians, Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, Georgians, et al...

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Photos taken by Lorne (except the one of him in his security uniform) just before the Canadian hockey team played the American team...The police were worried there might be a riot, but Lorne assured them that these people were all just excited about the game and everything went very smoothly - as far as getting the fans in and out of the stadium. The result of the game....well, that's another story. But the fans get one more chance to cheer on the Canadian team when they play Germany and if they win, will go on to the semi-finals.

Plus, Monday evening, a pair of Canadian athletes made history! Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won the gold medal in the Ice Dancing competition, becoming the youngest and first ice dance pair in North America to ever win the gold medal in the history of the games.

So here's to all the FANS of the Olympics, no matter their nationality!