Today was quite an exciting day. I went downtown at 10am this morning with my cousin Vince and his wife Tami to catch the gold medal hockey game of Canada vs USA in what was sure to be an epic showdown. Unfortunately all the bars and restaurants that had a tv already had long lineups outside already. We wandered around for an hour and a bit to find a place to watch. We even headed to Ontario house by Concord Pacific to try catching the game. We were told by the workers outside “Don’t bother if you’re lined up around the corner, we’re almost filled to capacity” We finally ended up going back to Vince’s friends office to watch the game on a large screen tv with about 25 other people. It was quite an eventful game, we couldn’t believe that the USA tied it up with 24.4 seconds left in the game. It silenced the room, I’m sure it silenced Canada. We went into overtime. Oh what an overtime it was. Sidney Crosby hadn’t scored in nine periods but he made up for it. MADE UP FOR IT LARGE WITH THE GAME WINNING GOAL! It was an incredible and poetic end to the game. Luongo did a great job for us and its great that it was Vancouvers goalie that helped us through. Who am I kidding, all of Team Canada did us proud! It was one of the greatest feelings I’ve had to watch us win.

The aftermath of the game winning gold.

Hockey Gold! Yes I watched it the game on this big tv with a grid through it

Celebratory Cigars on our final gold medal win of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games

Granville Street crowds on a bus stop, I’m surprised it didn’t break through.

Granville Street later in the evening. Keep in mind this goes on for about ten blocks

Vancouver Art Gallery in the evening

Spiderman supports the Team Canada Winners!

I’m sad the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games is over, it has been two weeks of excitement, partying and a unified national pride like no other. There was high fiving in the streets with thousands upon thousands of people throughout the city. Everyday people sang O Canada in the streets! I’m going to miss that electric feeling in our fine city. Monday will seem so blah when most of us go back to work. I like to thank our athletes of Team Canada for giving us such joy and pride in supporting you. There were so many memorable moments that you’ve left us with during these games.  You’ve done our country proud and I can’t wait to see you perform in London and Sochi! Its time to sleep and rest.

A last look of the Olympic Cauldron before it would be extinguished later in the evening to signify the end of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Today was a big day for Vancouver and Canada. On a gorgeous Sunday February 14th; it was Valentines day and also Chinese New Year. Kristina Groves won a Bronze today in the 3000m speed skating. Finally Canada got its first gold on home soil tonight when Alexandre Bilodeau won it in men’s moguls! I was having Chinese New Year dinner at my parents with my family and when we won gold and I think the neighbors in the next province could hear us cheering. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR ATHELETES! It was a tear jerking moment seeing Alexandre Bilodeau hug his older brother Frederick Bilodeau at Cypress after he won gold.

I was at the Richmond Ozone today to see the sights and enjoy the events on the two large screens.

Lineup at noon to get into Richmond Ozone/Heineken Holland House

Clara Hughes on the big screen about to compete in speed skating. The crowd was ecstatic everytime Canada was about to compete!

A beautiful day to cheer Team Canada on

A dragon dances to bring us good luck for the new year

Ferris wheel outside of the Richmond Ozone

Jet streams across the sky over the Richmond Ozone

It has been a most happy day for Canada today. Makes you want to…dance in the streets!

video credit to youtube user masalaman112 for posting such a wonderful video

The 2010 Winter Olympic games have started, last nite I waited for 2 hours to get into LiveCity Yaletown and braved the cold and the rain in my Canada hoodie. It was quite a feeling when Team Canada walked out during the opening ceremonies, the crowd exploded in cheer! Congratulations to Jennifer Heil of Canada for bringing home the Silver medal in moguls! Canada is proud of you!

Vancouver City Hall lies in the background

The crowd at LiveCity Yaletown watching the opening ceremonies

I would also like to say RIP Nodar Kumaritashvili, the Georgian Luger that had a tragic accident on the luge track a few hours before the opening ceremonies.

After work today, I took transit to downtown in hopes of catching Michael Buble run the torch down the Burrard Street Bridge and along Pacific. Well I got there 2 hours before he was supposed to run through since I was anticipating a crowd. I anticipated too well since there was hardly anyone around at the time. That left me time to get some food and by the time I got back to my spot, crowds were starting to form. After an hour, there was several thousand people lining the streets of Burrard and Pacific. It was quite enjoyable to be part of the crowd! Unfortunately Michael Buble didn’t run the torch down, or at least we didn’t get to see him.  He was quite personable and took the time to take photos with many spectators as well as letting people rub the Torch for good luck! It’s like…an Olympic Torch Buddha!

*Correction, Michael Buble did run the torch in, the crowd I was in managed to miss him still grrr*

Running the Torch at the foot of the Burrard Street Bridge

Rubbing the torch for Good Luck

Cokemobile party truck

Make some noise Vancouver!

Fireworks over LiveCity Yaletown

Lights shooting into the sky at LiveCity Yaletown

Less than 1 day to go till the start of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. ITS MINDBLASTING!

Tonight there was a sneak preview of Ontario House and I decided to take the Skytrain down to Olympic Village to check it out. Unfortunately I got there too late as the exhibits were moved off the floor. The bar was ready to go and the band Down with Webster were already performing by the time I got inside. It was loud in there. I mean LOUD. Like..”MY EARS ARE BLEEDING!!” LOUD in there. I was only inside for 10-15 minutes before I decided to look around outside and save what was left of my eardrums.

Down With Webster performing at the Ontario House

The lights above the bar area of the Ontario House

Maison du Quebec

Maison du Quebec Part Deux

Outside the Russia House (aka Telus World of Science) is a countdown clock to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

Playing with the lights around False Creek and the Olympic Village

Today I went on a photowalk downtown to take in sights of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Elizabeth Manley and Katarina Witt were at Robson Square doing some performances. There was A LOT of media there, I saw Global TV,  News1130, Reuters, and Associated Press there just to name a few. Unfortunately I was too far away to get any good shots of them. We then walked down to the Telus World of Science which is now the Russia House pavilion which Russia will be hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics. I can’t wait to check out what they have in store in there during the Olympics. Here are some of the shots I took today

Close up of a Olympic Poster

Mural at Vancouver Art Gallery

Close up detail of the mural at Vancouver Art Gallery

Russian Press

A look at what the Telus World of Science looks now

Banners up at the Telus World of Science promoting the 2014 Winter Olympics

Only a month to go before the 2010 Winter Olympic games start in Vancouver. Excitement is building. I got tickets for some of the events where I will be attending with family and friends!

In other news, The Georgia Strait has chosen my “When dragonboats sleep” photo for their first Photo of the Week on the Georgia Strait website. Thank you Georgia Strait! Here’s the link