Tracy’s Olympic Blog – Part 5

My brother, Jeff, said it best when I was trying to describe to him the melancholy feeling here in Vancouver yesterday- the day after the Olympic flame was extinguished.

“Is it that awkward, someone turned on the ugly lights type of vibe?”

Yes, Jeff, that is exactly what the feeling is here. I couldn’t have described it any better.

These past 17 days have left me with such a feeling of national pride. Never have I felt so honoured to be a citizen of this country as I do after participating in what is being labeled as one of the most successful Olympic games in history. Letters of gratitude and thanks from all over the world are being published in both the Vancouver Sun and The Province, and it is virtually impossible to read through them and not well up with tears.

I remember so clearly when the clock struck midnight this past New Year’s Eve and it really began to sink in that I was going to be a part of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. I began to jump up and down and tell everyone who would somewhat listen that I was going to the Olympics. It was like I was attending the games as a potential gold medal winner, but for me, this opportunity was identical to any athlete in training.

One main thing I am going home with is a new appreciation and respect for this insane industry I am studying to enter. Without the army of photojournalists who spent up to 20 hours a day marching the streets of Vancouver and Whistler to showcase the exuberant energy, the rest of the planet would not have been given the open invitation to attend the celebrations via these captured images.

There have been a lot of kudos sent out to various “unsung heroes” of these games. The city workers who did an impeccable job of keeping the streets of Vancouver clean had a tribute written about them in the Sun and Jon Furlong read a beautiful speech at the closing ceremonies to the blue coat volunteers (which made my parents cry and me to throw down an impromptu happy dance). But, nothing is ever mentioned about those who spend countless hours capturing the moments that will last a lifetime.

Because of the photojournalism industry, residents in small town Cape Breton Island are able to watch their heroes bring home gold and hopefully one day, I will be able to graduate from my blue coat to the true unsung hero of the Olympic Games.

Until then, my blue coat will be displayed just a proudly as any gold medal and the memories I have made will last just as long as the images that were captured.

~T

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