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Hold onto your hats! The world is coming!
The Olympic torch is doing its rounds and Whistler had its moment of glorious celebration. With it came the inevitable crowds and the town was awash with a huge variety of media crews.
For a few brief hours the crowds rocked across the village. The crescendo of the planned events culminated when the former Olympian and Canadian 'hall of famer' Steve Podborski (also one of the original 'Crazy Canucks' from their famed heyday back in the early eighties) skied down to the base of Whistler mountain and passed the flame to a future local Olympic hopeful to light the cauldron. The crowds went wild and for a while, there simply was no getting around anywhere in the village... I valiantly tried, but was forced to retire unsuccessful as the crowds beat me down.
The events don't formally start in Whistler until the 12th, but for most, this was the start of one of the most spectacular events they will ever have the opportunity to be this close to. The teams are now all headed into town, the athletes are, or will imminently be, ensconced either in the athletes village or lodgings around town. The variety of national outfits being worn by athletes, team staff and tourists alike, are now becoming increasingly visible with every day that passes. The various 'national houses' will open the doors to the public in the next few days, inviting them in to mingle with them, sample their national menus and perhaps share a tipple or two.
Perhaps one of the most eagerly anticipated openings amongst many here is the 'Swiss House'. Anticipated for a number of reasons, but not least because of the daily handouts of free chocolate and the skilful chocolateers who are being flown in to make, craft and design daily samples of offerings to tingle our taste buds and induce our endorphins – also to put Canadian chocolate to shame! Actually this 'house' officially opened on the 6th to a huge line-up of eager-beavers all keen to get their hands on the tantalising goodies of chocolate, cheese and booze. I'm happy to celebrate with them if they keep this hospitality up!
Otherwise, for the locals final few moments of sanity in the very maligned lull before the inevitable storm, this has been the perfect chance to tear up the mountains without having to share it with any visitors. The slopes have officially been 'dead' and just what every Whistlerite would wish for. In fact, the suggestion is that this may well be the way the hills stay as the hoards of visiting hundreds of thousands will typically be momentarily here for the events before being whisked away back down to Vancouver or associated or attached to the various Olympic teams or work groups established to manage the flow of foot traffic, etc and altogether too busy to go skiing. In other words, thousands of visitors and workers, but few actually here to ski or board.
If the torch lighting event is anything to go by, there will be a few (probably quite a few) changes or 'inconveniences' (said with tongue firmly in cheek!) to get accustomed to. Those in the village that presented themselves as the 'neediest' of individuals and groups, were the media. Regardless of what was going on with paying guests around them in the various hotels, etc, they needed, or wanted our services first and behaved like it was a divine right of theirs.
They wanted somewhere to store their equipment, they wanted somewhere to sit and download stories, etc after the ceremony, and they wanted the attention ahead of anyone else and appeared to think their jobs merited the attention. Now I know these guys have got a job to do, which will be pivotal in showcasing Whistler and its events, however, manners and courtesy will always take you a lot further, especially when dealing with me.
I can't stand ignorance from anyone in any walk of life – Simply no need for it! So let's hope they recognise that there are others around them that are perhaps paying for services, such as those guests of hotels, who quite rightly deserve the attention first and foremost.
People around here are always happy to help others out and will often go out of their way to do so. It's the way things work and what keeps this town ticking over, but we have our limits guys. Work with us, not against us!
Another by-product of the media and a minor inconvenience, but because so many worlds reporters were trying to download material and send this back to their various broadcasting networks and papers, the internet systems around town virtually ground to a halt. I'd liken the effect to trying to send a text after midnight on New Years Eve and getting nowhere for an hour or so. We've just got to smile and be happy its all here. It was what we pushed and fought for several years ago after all.
Actually, I think the torch ceremony was perhaps a little bit of an eye opener for us all. For an hour or two, whole sections of the village were simply impassable. Its probably quite clear now that we're all going to have to leave a lot of time to get anywhere and be prepared to get there early and stand in line.
Even trying to get into one of the usually quieter bars yesterday to catch some of the Super Bowl was hard work, with many establishments turning people away. All we wanted to do is be parted from some of our hard earned cash. I'd just come back from a day's cat skiing in the back country and simply wanted to sit my weary butt down and chat with a few friends on the trip over a cold brew about how good it was and give ourselves a congratulatory pat on the back. Was it too much to ask for one bar, just one of many here, to have a few seats for some winter enthusiast who felt they'd deserved a refreshment? I guess we all feel we deserve certain treatment at times. We all have a divine right to something, right?
Its going to take most of our revered laid back Whistler attitude and approach to stay on top of things. The world is here and despite a few moans and disgruntled locals here and there, we really wouldn't have it any other way. The stages are approaching readiness, as are the finely tuned athletes preparing to put their years of hard work and dedication to the test. We all need to just go with the flow, take a deep breathe and join the party. There is no point fighting or resisting it anymore!
Its here, like it or not and for most of us, we will never get to see the like again. Savour the moments, enjoy the ride and perhaps I'll have a frosty one or two for you all back there as we raise a glass to team GB... if I can find a seat anywhere!
So share with me if you will. Salut! Prost! Slaine! Na zdravi!
• Who is Ashley McMillan, click HERE for a short biography.
• Click HERE to visit Whistler's local newspaper website
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Weather for Eastbourne
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
