2010 Vancouver (Canada)
XXIth Winter Olympic Games from 02/10 to 02/28/2010
Day -1 – 11 February
Arrived well at 2010 Vancouver where the rain appears. The temperature is soft. I visit the city and location. The Olympic village is close to the center town.
Day 0 – Opening Ceremony – 12 February
I leave Deep Cove where I reside to attend the opening ceremony of 2010 Vancouver which begins at 6pm. I travel by bus to BC place where the ceremony is held. I follow the crowd guided by the volunteers. I come in the stadium and I go to my place. I am with other French people. The sight is perfect. On each one of our places is deposited a program and a box with various instruments to use throughout the spectacle. The ceremony starts, it is dedicated to a young 21 years Georgian athlet, Nodar Kumaritashvili, unfortunately died during a training session.
It is the reception of the first 4 nations hosts, followed by the aboriginal people of Canada. The parade of the athletes begins, like always, by Greece and ends with the country host, Canada. After is the beginning of the spectacle, “landscape of a dream”. Then they are the official speeches and the opening of the Games, follow-up by the song of peace, the Olympic flag with the Olympic anthem, the oaths of the athletes and the judges. The ceremony is completed with the arrival of the flame and the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron!
Day 1 – 13 February
I go with my friend Claude to the Club France where we get our accreditations. On the way, we stop in the sponsor’s village located at Yaletown where we get some pins. After, we join the Coca-Cola trade center in the superstore “The Bay” where is already Pascal. We make some trading. I leave in the evening.
Day 2 – 14 February
The day starts well, the sun is there for the 1st time since my arrival! I join my friends Claude and Pascal at the Club France, then we go to the center town, Claude and Pascal have reserved a table to trade pins in Coca-Cola center. I continue towards Waterfront where the center of the media is. Near is the external cauldron of 2010 Vancouver. After a small visit of the corner, I comeback to the Coca-Cola trading center at the superstore. I find Claude and Pascal, I leave them a little later to comeback home.
Day 3 – 15 February
Meeting at Yaletown, the village of the sponsors, with Claude and Pascal to get some pins. We leave to go to the media center where I find with joy my Canadian friends Jean-Paul and Lucille. We eat before to trade some pins. Claude leaves us, with Pascal, we go in the Coca-Cola trading center installed in the building of CTV, the Canadian television. We make a stop at Robson square where are some animations. Then Pascal join Claude in the Coca-Cola trading center, I go to the Club France. We celebrate the bronze medal of Tony Ramoin, a young snowboarder resident of Cannes. I comeback a little later, it is 11pm.
Day 4 – 16 February
I go to Granville Island, the city’s Francophone neighbourhood. The Swiss house is there. They organize a tasting raclette today. Giant chocolate Inukshuk is installed at the entrance of restaurant. We are very close to water, small boats are crossing from shore to shore of the city. A large covered market of food and of craft industry is installed. I go to the Nova Scotia, I receive some pins, and I taste local oysters. I walk, then I leave to go to Club France. 2 medals are celebrated this evening, that in gold of Jason Lamy-Chappuis, for Nordic combined, and that of Deborah Anthonioz, in silver, obtained today in snowboard.
Day 5 – 17 February
A small passage at the village of the sponsors with Claude to get some pins , then I take him to Granville Island which he does not know. We eat something before to cross over with a small boat. We go to the media center for some trades of pins, we meet Jean-Paul and Lucille before to go to Coca-Cola trading center at the superstore. I leave Pascal and Claude to join the Club France. No medal today for french team.
Day 6 – 18 February
I have a little time before my bus and I go to visit Deep Cove, the village is 5 mn by walking. Small village near the water with its sheltered harbour . Appointment is taken with Irina and Claude at the media center. We go with Irina to the Edgewater casino where is organized a pins trading fair. Then, with Claude, we return to the superstore for our period of pins trading. I join the Club France a little later, nothing particular today. I comeback to Deep Cove around 11pm.
Day 7 – 19 February
Today, we have a city’s visit in minibus and with my Russian friend Irina. We see the downtown, Chinatown, waterfront, Stanley Park and Granville Island. The evening, good news, we have 3 tickets for the super giant ladies of the following day, in Whistler. We organize ourselves our trip.
Day 8 – 20 February
On the way for Whistler! We attend the super giant ladies by a splendid sun. We lunch at the Club France of Whistler, before visiting the village and comeback to 2010 Vancouver at the end of the afternoon.
Day 9 – 21 February
Today, in our program, a match of hockey, Czechoslovakia-Russia. An exciting match where Russia beats Czechoslovakia 4-2. The following match is hot! Canada – USA. I look it in the Club France. All the stadium is red and white! But the Canada loose over USA 3-5.
Day 10 – 22 February
Passage by the post office to make some shippings. Meet with Bob Farley, an English collector. Some trade to Coca-Cola then direction Club France. This evening Roch Voisine came to visit us. The skaters, Isabelle Delodel/Olivier Schoenfelder and Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat, are there also after the end of their competition.
Day 11 – 23 February
Very quiet day, a small round at the superstore to trade pins, then direction the Club France where I meet Patrice Martin, water skiing champion.
Day 12 – 24 February
Passage at the post office to purchase stamps. Trade of pins at CTV, then Club France where I meet Marcel Fourcade, father of Simon and Martin (recently silvered medalist).
Day 13 – 25 February
Passage at the Post office for Olympic obliterations, visit of the aboriginal house, Quebec house and the Sochi house for next winter Olympic Games. Spectacle of folk dances, demonstration of balalaika, and end of the day at the Club France with Jean-Pierre.
Day 14 – 26 February
I go to Whistler to the Club France, to find all the Fourcade family before his departure for France tomorrow morning. It rains, but there is many people in the streets.
Day 15 – 27 February
Passage to waterfront for trade pins accompanied by Irina, then direction the casino before joining the Club France to celebrate the bronze medal of Mathieu Bozzetto. Rama Yade is present.
Day 16 – Closing Ceremony – 28 February
I find my Canadian friends Jean-Paul and Lucille accompanied by Claude at waterfront. After I join the stadium for the closing ceremony, a beautiful spectacle which finishes in beauty the Games. Jean-Pierre accompanies me at the Club France for a last nice evening. Perhaps we will find ourselves in London!
