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National: Fantastic work, Oh Canada!
Commentary by Jeff Burgar
for South Peace News
Those slamming the “Own The Podium" program should take a deep breath, then shut their yaps.
Say all the bad things you wish about professional sports, amateur sports, steroid users, the commercialism of the Olympics, biassed judging and referees and anything else that comes to mind. When it comes down to the final push, the final shove, we all want our Canadian athletes to win.
Over the decades, Canadians watched, and often wondered, why our country couldn’t do better in so many sports. Why did it always seem to be Russia and the United States taking home medals in so many summer and winter, especially winter, Olympics.
It was the Calgary Olympics, 1988, that woke Canadians to the fact that as a winter country, we were pretty well a joke as international stars went. Yes we had stars. Nancy, Ken and the Crazy Canucks, Kurt and Elvis. But could we capture medals? Not very many.
Usually it was 3, 4, 2 and 4 again. We won 4 in Calgary in 1988, the turning point. But you don’t turn out stars by wishful thinking and a snap of the fingers. It takes time. In 1992 it was 7 medals. In 1994 the tide seriously turned. We earned 13. In 1998 it was 15. In 2002 in Salt Lake City it was 17. Four years ago in Turin, Italy, Canada won a remarkable 24 medals.
There is absolutely no mistaking the feeling one gets, even as an observer, to watch those Canadian flags go up when the medals are presented. The podium is where Canada, and Canadian athletes belong.
“Own the Podium’’ may not be the best name for a program., The intent is clear - to show Canadians and the world, our nation competes with the best.
The Vancouver medal count is again high. This is as it should be and proves correct what those who support and encourage all amateur sports have long argued. Build the facilities. Provide money for training and coaching. Enable our young people be the best they can be. They won’t, and have not, disappointed us. Not one bit.
Well done Canada. Well done.
Now, let’s keep it up.
Local
Let’s hear your thoughts
On Wednesday, March 3, local citizens are once again invited out to talk about the future of our community.
Bring your three cents worth of five opinions to the Gordon Buchanan Rec Centre at 7:00. This is your chance to add your ideas to what will become a vision of High Prairie five, ten and fifteen years from now. To borrow from the saying, “Speak now, or forever hold your tongue.’’
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