Feb.13
Thursday was a long day which started at 7am andwent til 11-12pm and it was all training. First we were at UBC from 9 - 12 then 2 - 4:30 at CHP and then back to UBC for 5:00 pm for a training game. The game was of Midget girls and it was to make sure all the systems worked and we knew how to operate the computers and score clocks. It was the first time that I actually saw much of the campus of UBC and what a beautiful place and I saw only a portion of it. Friday was a litlle slower pace and not as long as Thursday. We toured downtown for a few hours and saw it first hand all the security around CHP and BC Place. There was 3 helicopters overhead and several policemen and police vehicles all over the place where the roads were closed and I think that many of the road closures were due to the torch run and the protesters. We then watched the opening ceremonies on TV and it was really something and with us seeing the rehearsal performance and now having it explained was really neat. The only difference was that on the rehearsal one they never mentioned any of the names of the people involved with the flag or the lighting of the caldron and I thought they made great selections.
Saturday. Game ON
Finally we start and my first Olympic game is Sweden and Switzerland and Sweden win 3-0 and they had 5222 people in the stands. The Swedish women were always in control although the Switz had several good chances. Security again was present and it takes a few minutes to gain entery to the Thunderbird arena. I was quite excited about working my first Olympic game and I can't wait untl Wednesday when I will work in the CHP which is Canada Hockey Place (normally GMPlace). It's funny how the politics work in the Olympic's as there is over 900 GM vehicles complete with Vancouver 2010 logo's all over them and yet they have to change the name of the hockey arena. On Thursday I have Russia verus Czech and then Canada/USA which should be a great day at the rink. My schedule changed a little as one of the fellows on our crew had a tragedy in his family with the death of his 21 year old son. I have the next 2 days off and then start on 4 days with 2 games a day at both UBC and CHP.