Countdown Clock

It is truly exciting, if I was not so tired last night after my volunteer shift I would of stayed around to watch the torch go by very close to the Oval. But I had to go see a friend who is in hospital and that is more important. I saw the torch on television this morning.

Yesterday walking to the Canada Line from the Oval the excitement was palpable, everyone stopped us to ask us if the torch had passed yet? Wow the people seem generally excited now! It is nice to see that and to be part of it. Today most of the Volunteers are part of the “Rehearsal of the Opening Ceremonies” what a joy to be able to sit in BC stadium and have a sneak peek.
All volunteers were asked to wear white if they were part of the audience…

I met some incredibly nice Volunteers and I hope to see them there!

Flags in Oval

Roof Oval Richmond

Oval

Oval

Volunteer team

Volunteer Team

Dick & Gab

World Press at Olympic Oval

World Press Olympic Oval

With my daughter visiting the Art Gallery to see “Leonardo Davinci”
here are pictures that I took coming out of the art gallery

Ice Skating

TD Building Downtown

It was my first time taking the Canada Line and I was glad for Shannon’s company as it is not easy to know where to get out etc..
I saw this billboard and liked it instantly… at the Landsdowne station.

Bilboard Canada Line

I took all these flag poles along my walk at the Oval…

Hello Everyone,

Now the excitement has truly started, I feel ready to support my team and to support the athletes participating in the skating events at the Oval.
I found the people I met that are part of paid and volunteer personnel amazingly fun and upbeat, everyone has a common goal, to make their team into a success!
I met a young lady called Shannon who has a mother that is an Olympian, WOW that must be so awesome, she grew up with the excitement of bids and Olympics her whole life.
Are Volunteer team members come from all over the lower mainland and all walks of life, it is fun to get to know them.

I worked in the Mixed Zone with Dick Jansen today and I enjoyed the adrenaline and seeing the athletes come off the ice to go through the press …

Flags

Go Green Go Dutch

This event is about the Dutch Railway bringing over 400 bikes from the Netherlands here to RIchmond. It was a fantastic experience to sit once again on a real Dutch BIke, people forget how incredibly well the Dutch bikes are engineered.

Go Green Go Dutch

Gabriella Dutch Bike

Wow, yesterday morning a got a slight taste of what it is going to be like when the Volunteers head out to start there shift.
I was waiting a block away in line outside for us Volunteers to pick up our tickets for the dress rehearsal on Feb 10th, which I think is very exciting….
But what a line up.
A friend of mine tried in the afternoon to pick up his tickets without avail as he was 2 blocks away in a line up and it was a bit cold outside.

It gave us a taste of what is is standing in line…
But the true spirit of Volunteering and the Olympic prevailed…. I had the pleasure of meeting amazingly nice people; Eileen and her hubby David, Marian and Marinbo. they are great and we are all lucky to be seated close to each other during the ceremonies… Thanks for being fun, thanks for making the lineup seem fast, and above ALL; THANK YOU FOR HUGGING ME TO KEEP ME WARM.
That was greatly appreciated, I felt as frozen as the ice in the Oval.

The bottle of wine we received is sitting on top of my shelf and I am not sure I am going to drink it, it is like a reminder of meeting all of you lovely folks.

So, yesterday was the big training day of getting to know the venue where you volunteer and especially what you are allowed to do and not to do…
This is of course very dangerous when your name is Gabriella….
I have never understood rules & regulations and I cannot remember them either.

I was incredibly happy to see my entire team of the press and to see and meet every other team that also works in the Oval but that have different functions.
It was amazing to stand in the middle of the Oval even though it was short. Beautiful roof, WOW… it reminded me of the New Convention Centre as it had all the same type of wood and panelling.
Very impressive… I will try to come up with some pictures to show you on this post later today.

Thank you to everyone for following the Blog, feel free to leave comments online directly instead of sending personal emails to me. This way all your Comments can be read by everyone!

Oval Richmond

Oval Skating

I believe this is the 2010 theme song: