I had the wonderful opportunity today to attend a session on “personal energy management” sponsored by VANOC for volunteers of the Games.  The session was presented by Russell from the Human Performance Institute.  He was very funny with lots of great stories.  I learned a lot of important things (like your physical self needs to be well-cared for to accomplish your goals successfully, but that your values and spirit are the driving force behind change and endurance).  But besides learning some important tools for myself and for helping to ensure that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are the best we can make them it was great to meet so many other volunteers!

I met Mitch, Joyce, and Lisa among others and it is really a neat thing to be able to get together with other people that share my excitement and to learn about the jobs that they’ll be doing.  I have been assigned to the Vancouver Athlete’s Village and will be involved with the Plaza and Events in the Village.  Mitch is working with accreditation.  Joyce is working at BC Place and Lisa was involved in tonight’s event (she may be an employee of VANOC, I’m not sure, but she has Olympic spirit!).  The capacity of the theatre it was held in is 700 seats and there weren’t really all that many empty seats!  That’s a lot of Olympic spirit in one room!  Those of us taking the bus also managed to fill up a bus after the session was done.  It was pretty cool to be able to keep meeting new people pretty much all the way home.  I’m looking forward to future events related to volunteering (who am I kidding, I’m looking forward to all the upcoming events related to the Games!!).  Our volunteers are already looking forward to welcoming the world!!

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Other news – The count down until the Olympic Torch Relay is on!  In one month’s time the Olympic Torch will be lit in Athens before being flown to Canada for the Olympic Torch Relay to kickoff in Victoria, British Columbia on October 30th!  The Torch Relay will take 106 days and be more the 45,000 km long.  It is the longest single-nation route ever undertaken for an Olympic Games!  There will be more than 10,000 Torch Bearers along the way (including the Olympic Superstore’s Robyn!).

Lisa (from the session tonight) mentioned that she believes that the Medals will be unveiled soon, possibly tomorrow!!  I have not heard anything about this but will keep you posted if anything does happen.  What is happening tomorrow for sure is a test of the Olympic Torch Relay.  Tomorrow morning a test relay will tour through the Fraser Valley between 8am and 6pm.  The route has apparently not been released but there will be some temporary road closures, so keep your eyes open for them.

And last for tonight – Only 9 more sleeps until the Olympic Superstore opens in downtown Vancouver in the Bay downtown!!  It is going to be such an exciting day!!  We’re spending lots of time making sure everything is perfect!  There is going to be all sorts of fun!  There is even live music planned!  I will post up activities and news as it becomes available so that you know what the plan is!  I hope you’ll have a chance to stop by and see the new store on October 1st!

Oh!  And a contest – if you are on Facebook, check out COLD-FX2010.com’s group and enter to win VIP tickets to the Olympics!

Thank you, merci!

I was asked an excellent question by my friend Elspeth after yesterday’s post.  I had reported that a trial “Torch Relay” was to take place today in the Fraser Valley (sounds like it was very successful, with good learning points).  I also reported that the Olympic Torch will be lit on October 22nd in Greece before being flown to Victoria.  Considering our current air transportation rules where nail clippers are outlawed and shoes are x-rayed, how on earth do they get the flame from Greece to Victoria??

The Olympic Torch with (non-Olympic) Flame

So I’ve done some digging to explain the whole story a bit more clearly.  On October 22nd, the Olympic Torch will be lit in Olympia, Greece.  If the Torch lighting ceremony follows the same plan as the Beijing 2008  ceremony then the Torch will be lit at the Hera Temple of ancient Olympia by a priestess.  The Flame is lit from the sun striking a concave, burnished steel bowl.  The Torch will then travel through Greece on a short relay tour before being taken aboard a chartered plane operated by the Department of National Defense on October 29th.

The lighting of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch held by Maria Nafpliotou, a Grecian actress.

Before boarding the flight the Flame will be transferred to one or more small lanterns, much like a miner’s lantern, for transport on the plane.  The Torch and Flame have their own team of guardians to ensure that the flame does not go out (this is why more than one lantern may be lit).  It also helps that the Flame will be travelling on a chartered flight so it will be safe from prying eyes and have more space to itself.  The Torch Relay is quite the journey!  The Canadian portion of the tour will take 106 days and travel over 45,000 km!  Very exciting!!  I can’t wait for it to start!!

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Other news – Did you buy a Vancouver Sun today to support the Raise a Reader program??  If not, click the link to donate to this wonderful campaign to “generate funds for local literacy programs and increase awareness about the importance of encouraging family literacy”.  Folks from the Canucks, the Lions, the Whitecaps, the Vancouver Canadians, firefighters, police officers, Olympians and others all gathered in Vancouver to help to raise money and I’d like to thank them for doing so!  I have an ulterior motive for mentioning this event as well… In today’s Vancouver Sun they also did a 5-page spread on Olympic Venues which was neat.  Check it out if you grabbed the paper!

Oh!!  I just found out that my co-worker Krystal made it onto CTV news at 6pm!!  She was in line to get her catch-up CTV pin and had on her handmade Quatchi hat!!  I’ve been promised photos!!  I will post them once I get them!

Have you seen the “With Glowing Hearts” commercial on tv yet?  If not, check it out here!!  Every time I see this commercial I cry with excitement and joy.  I know that may be a bit lame but I really am that excited and hope that you are beginning to be as well!  With only the Olympic Torch Relay starts in Victoria and only 141 days to go until the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games… with only 160 days until the Paralympic Torch Relay starts and 169 days until the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games there is a lot to be excited about.  Check out the video and maybe some of the others on the Vancouver 2010 website, they’ll help you get in the mood!

"With Glowing Hearts" - The Official Olympic and Paralympic Posters

Thank you!  Merci!