Canadian Aboriginal Influence on 2010 Olympic Winter Games

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An inukshuk on the Whistler Summit, British Columbia, Canada
Daniel Walsh photo @ courtesy of http://www.trekearth.com/

The Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C., had some remarkable influence of Canadian aboriginals. These influences were quite visible to the world.

Some of The Aboriginal Influences on the Olympics

Planning and Hosting of the Games: Out of 198 First Nations (indigenous people groups) in the province of British Columbia, the Chiefs and other members of the Four Host First Nations (of Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh) directly participated in the planning and hosting of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games with the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee.

Olympic Emblem (Logo): The Vancouver Olympic Games emblem depicts an inukshuk, a symbol used by Inuit (Eskimo) people of Canada's Arctic regions. This inukshuk represents an "eternal expression of the hospitality of a nation that warmly welcomes the people of the world with open arms every day."

Non-Inuit aboriginal groups criticized the acceptance of this Olympic emblem because they feel that the symbol did not reflect the native art and culture of the Vancouver region or the rest of the British Columbia where the actual Olympic games were being held.

Olympic Mascots: Each Olympic Game chooses its mascot (a person, animal or object that is supposed to bring good luck) according to some local legend or culture. The Vancouver Olympic Games chose Quatchi (the sasquatch -- also called the bigfoot -- is a large, hairy, apelike creature that roams the forests of North-West USA and Canada), Miga (the sea bear), Sumi (animal spirit) and Mukmuk (happy marmot -- a burrowing rodent), drawn from the First Nations legends and mythology. The Vancouver Olympic Games mascots were drawn by aboriginal artist Meomi.

Arenas, Cultural Centres and Pavilions: Some of the Sports arenas, cultural centres and pavilions were built following aboriginal architecture and arts.

Olympic Medals: Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals have aboriginal design of an orca whale.

Opening Ceremony: In this ceremony four aboriginal totem pole like large statues were displayed. Totem pole figures represent ancestors or supernatural beings. In addition, the chiefs of Four Host First Nations were present in both opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games with other VIPs. Members of many aboriginal groups also participated in the welcoming ceremony with their traditional costumes and head-gears by singing and dancing.

Olympic Games Telecast in Eight Aboriginal Languages: Canada has the Aboriginal People's Television Network (APTN) that is owned and run by indigenous people. It was launched in 1999. The eight languages, used in the telecast of Olympic news and events, were: Attikamek, Mohawk, Mi'kmaq, Ojibwe, Cree, Ogi-Cree, Micips and Inuktitut. This is the first time in the history of Olympic Games that sports broadcast or telecast was in any aboriginal language.

Anti-Olympic Sentiments and Demonstrations

Even if a good number of aboriginal groups gave their full cooperation in the planning and hosting of the Olympic Games, some aboriginals and their non-aboriginal supporters, from before the Olympic games, were against the winter games in Vancouver, B.C. They were vocal in expressing their sentiments against holding of the games. They felt that Olympic Games were capitalist machinations for making more profits at the cost of the common and poor people. They said that the games were being held on aboriginal lands with no real benefits to them.

There were some protest demonstrations with violence, followed by arrests of some of the protest activists.

To know about some of these anti-Olympic activities and protests, you may visit the following sites:

• All Out Against the 2010 Winter Olympic Games!
  
• Anti-Olympic Protesters Use Internet to Get Message Out
• DN! Vancouver Activists Prepare Anti-Olympic Protests
  
• Olympic Protests
  
• No 2010 Olympics on Stolen Native Land
• Olympic Resistance Network
• Vancouver Media Co-op
  

2010 Olympic Winter Games Comes to an End with Canada's Pride

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The closing ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver, B.C.
Photo courtesy: http://www.vancouversun.com/

With Canada's 14th gold medal win in the ice hockey, the 2010 Olympic Winter Games at Vancouver, B.C., came to an end yesterday, February 28. Canada defeated the US hockey team 3 to 2. Mirthful Canadians all over the country have been in Cloud 9 dancing, shouting, partying and enjoying the prideful win in their own way.

The official end of the Olympics came with the impressive and colourful closing ceremony in Vancouver. Canada was the first host country ever to win maximum number of gold medals in the Olympic history. The top ten medal winning countries are as follows:

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
United States	9	15	13	37
Germany	10	13	7	30
Canada	14	7	5	26
Norway	9	8	6	23
Austria	4	6	6	16
Russian Federation	3	5	7	15
Korea	6	6	2	14
China	5	2	4	11
Sweden	5	2	4	11
France	2	3	6	11

One Sad Episode: Death of a Georgian Luger

Nodar Kumaritashvili, a 21-year-old luge slide player from Georgia, died in a deadly high-speed crash on February 12 in a pre-Olympic practice run at Whistler, B.C., just a few hours before the opening ceremony. The Olympic officials sadly remembered the departed Olympian and publicly paid a tribute to him.

Modern Olympic Games Have a Roman Catholic Connection

According to weekly The Catholic Register of Toronto, the modern Olympics have a Catholic connection. Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937), was a French Catholic educationist and historian. He was the founder of modern Olympics. He strongly believed that an international sporting event could promote peace through fostering of brotherhood across cultures, races and religions. He studied under the Jesuit priests. He chose as the Olympic motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger" from a phrase coined by a Dominican priest. He founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894, and, in 1896 modern Olympic Games were established in Athens, Greece. Pope Pius X (1835-1914) was an early supporter of Pierre de Coubertin's Olympic idealism. For more than 100 years, Baron Coubertin's ideals are in practice throughout the world.

2010 Olympic Winter Games Start Today in Vancouver, B.C.

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The official logo of the 21st Olympic Winter Games
in Vancouver, B.C.

The 21st Olympic Winter Games start today in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, with an impressive and awe-inspiring ceremony at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time). Canada's Governor-General Michaelle Jean will officially inaugurate the games at the British Columbia Place Stadium. The 16-day events will conclude on February 28 with participation of more than 5,000 athletes from over 80 countries. Seven sports (ice hockey, curling, skating, sliding, skiing, snowboarding and ski jumping) will be covered in 86 events.

Paralympics (Olympic competitions for athletes with physical and visual disabilities) will also be a part of the winter games. The 10th Paralympic games will be held separately on March 12 to 21.

This is the third time that Canada has been hosting Olympic games on its soil. The first hosting was the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and the next one was the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.

Canada has taken extraordinary security measures in ensuring the safety and security of the Olympians.

The Pope's Greetings for the Olympics

Pope Benedict XVI in a message on December 30, 2009, to Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver, British Columbia, and also to Bishop David Monroe of Kamloops, British Columbia, greeted "the participating athletes, the organizers and the many community volunteers who are generously cooperating in the celebration of the significant international event."

"Such an important occurrence for both athletes and spectators allows me to recall how sport 'can make an effective contribution to peaceful understanding between peoples and to establishing the new civilization of love,'" Pope Benedict added quoting his predecessor Pope John Paul II.

"In this light," the pope said, "may sport always be a valued building block of peace and friendship between peoples and nations." In the conclusion of the message, the pope invoked the abundant blessings of Almighty God.

Vancouver Archdiocese Extends Hospitality to Athletes

The Archdiocese of Vancouver under Archbishop Michael Miller, CSB, extends 'radical hospitality' to the athletes by opening two hospitality centres. In a letter to the athletes, the archbishop says: "While you are here, we hope you will consider visiting one of the archdiocese's downtown hospitlity centres for athletes." One of the centres is the Holy Rosary Cathedral and the other one is at the archdiocesan offices at the foot of Robinson Street."

"We think you will find these places to be sanctuaries while you take a break from the rigours of competition. We hope you will find a common language in the love of Jesus Christ."

The archbishop also invites all athletes to participate in the coming Ash Wednesday Mass on February 17.

Websites and Blogs Dealing with the Olympics

For daily Olympic events and updates, you may visit the following websites and blogs:

• Vancouver 2010 (Official Olympics Website)
• CTV Vancouver 2010
• NBC Vancouver 2010
• Vancouver Now
• Blogs on the Olympics