I remember how it all started...

Years ago there was debates and votes and badges to support having the olympics here, or reject it. I personally thought that it would be cool to have them here, but ultimately it could ruin our city and just bring us into too much debt. I wasn't disappointed when they where announced to be held here. Just concerned.

As they drew closer our city started to have quick fixes for the homeless problem in Vancouver and hired many people to run the new Vancouver to Richmond Canada Line skytrain. We started to see more and more people in Vancouver, and in Richmond. I thought that during the olympics it would be so gridlocked in Richmond that I wouldn't even be able to make it to school. We built new buildings like the Oval and new things started to appear all over Vancouver and Richmond. There was suddenly Canada flags everywhere, on buildings, attached to cars, on shirts, on mugs, everywhere. There where stages built in Richmond and Vancouver had free concerts and me and my friends where starting to get excited for the Olympics. It meant free things.

They finally started and there where people everywhere. In richmond there isn't much of a night life, everyone is usually gone by 7, but not anymore. There where always people to meet, always something to do, always somewhere to be. With the free shows a lot of people got to see bands/artists that they never would of been able to see. The spirit was amazing. The Canadian spirit started to rise.

A lot of people dressed up in canadian colours, and on a skytrain back to richmond after an event you could be guaranteed to hear "Oh Canada" sung at least one time. But to me, that did not mean we where patriotic. That meant we, Canadians, liked free stuff.

I watched the very last hockey game. It was actually the only Olympic event that I did watch and enjoy. I watched it in the movie theater I worked at. Everyone in the theater was silent, and as we went into over time the excitement grew. Everyone was completely and fully supporting our team. We knew that if we won this, we would have the most gold medals out of everyone. We in a sense would "win" the olympics. When we scored that goal everyone went running out of the theater cheering and yelling and jumping, it was like we ourselves had just won that game.

That is when the partying began, I went downtown to Vancouver and the city was alive. Everyone was cheering and everyone was happy. Songs where sung, and flags where absolutely everywhere. Everyone was in love with Canada. Everyone was cheering and cars where honking and not a single person was upset. It was the first time in my life that I have ever felt truly patriotic.

I always have loved Canada. But I never had felt the urge to tell the world I love Canada. I never wanted to boast and, well, have pride. After that day I have a new found love for my country. One many other Canadians have found.

Now we are in debt, we are going to have problems, but, I think it was worth it. Hearing "I miss the Olympics" constantly makes me have no doubt that it was worth it. I am a proud Canadian and I am very happy the Olympics happened in Vancouver. They not only allowed us to see bands, go on ferris wheels, go on zip lines, bring us Coca Cola tents, see beautiful lights, meet many new people, have amazing nights, every night, bring us closer together with our friends, they allowed us to have something to be truly proud of. Our country has now done something that we can boast about, allowing us to be as patriotic as we want to be. As we should be.

I love Richmond, I love Vancouver, and I especially love Canada.

So even now as the people are gone, the stages are gone, the free stuff is gone, the extra people in the light blue Olympic jackets are gone, our love is not gone.

Thank you 2010 Vancouver Olympics, we will not forget you.