Author:  Lia Fletcher, fan and sponsor of Canadian snowboarder Alexa Loo

We are in count-down mode: One more day until Alexa's race!
 
Today, I went to Entrust to pick up the "Go Alexa Go" sweatshirts that Scott
Armstrong (Alexa's agent) ordered for all Alexa's friends and family who
will be attending her competition tomorrow. Shhhhh! This is supposed to
be a surprise for Alexa!

Author: Alex Ianculescu,  grade 12 student-athlete at the National Sport School in Calgary and competitive long-track speed skater.

The Olympics are now a totally different story than they were before, at least for me personally.  It's weird walking into the Richmond Oval and seeing people that I train with on a regular basis at the Calgary Oval.  It was exactly like a World Cup, except people were more excited for it and lots of Dutchies in the audience made it a carpet of orange and red.

 Author:  Garth Turtle, high school phys ed teacher & coach of Heather Moyse
 
I left PEI Monday morning and after a long but uneventful journey across the country landed in Vancouver at 4pm.
 
My daughter Kristen and I took no time at all to get our baggage and head into Vancouver on the new Skytrain. A very efficient and quick journey to downtown Vancouver to pick up our tickets and then we were off to my niece's apartment.  She has kindly offered us a place to stay, certainly appreciated as Vancouver is very expensive right now.

Author:  Frances Mitchell, sister of Shelley-Ann Brown, bobsledder

We arrived in Whistler after a scenic ride from Vancouver.  It was still my kind of weather although I was frightened into believing that it was freezing at the top of the mountain.  I dressed myself and my poor little son Andre as though we were ready to fight a war with the cold.  It turns out that it wasn't that bad at all, so we dressed down accordingly.

Author:  Frances  Mitchell, sister of bobsledder Shelley-Ann Brown

We're here and I think we'll be moving - what a lovely city!  We've been staying in West Vancouver and I feel like I am in the Caribbean.  Our view from our Host's home is of the Pacific Ocean... very beautiful and it is also very warm here - my kind of weather.  We arrived in Whistler last night and hope to catch a glimpse of our Shelley-Ann before today's event.

Author: Darcy Hollingsworth, father of Mellisa Hollingsworth, skelton

I'm Darcy Hollingsworth. I am Mellisa Hollingsworth's Proud Dad. She was
raised in the greatest country in the world.

When we left home to travel over the mountains I left some room in my
suitcase to bring home something from the Olympics. It would not take up
much room, so it was a small corner that I left open.

Author: Kent Zado is an English teacher at the National Sport School in Calgary 

The student gathering area is unusually abuzz. On a typical school day, you could expect to see a handful of students spread around the tables, laptops open, catching up on school work or reconnecting with classmates after returning from training or competition. Overlooking the tables and chairs is the school credo, "Achieving Excellence," reminding both students and staff why they are here.

Author:  Cara Moir, cousin of Scott Moir

Author:  Adina Szalai, sister-in-law of Christine Nesbitt, Gold Medalist 1000M Speed Skating

There is so much to say about yesterday - if I took the time to type it all out I probably wouldn't get to anything else today. So, I think this blog will be "highlights style".
 
The day started with a CBC-TV interview with Heather Hiscox. Doug and I were really impressed by the lovely staff at CBC. We were a bit nervous about timing - doing an interview before the 1000m race and then getting out to the Olympic Oval -  but we needn't have worried, as everything was smooth as can be. We also did a radio interview with Mark Forsythe for the BC Almanac while we were in the studio. 

Author: Darcy Hollingsworth, father of Mellisa Hollingsworth, Skelton

Yesterday was extremely tense. We made it to the track in plenty of time.The walk up was long and slow but my every thought was about Mellisa. She had called the night before her race. She sounded very relaxed.

Author:  Melanie Gow, fan of Jennifer Heil and hopeful Olympian

Seeing Jennifer Heil win silver at the 2010 Winter Olympics made my dream of becoming an Olympic gold medalist realistic. I have met Jennifer many times in my life and she is a great and humble person. She has given me many tips on how to focus, relax and how to be confident in myself. She is such an inspiration in my life because she is also studying commerce at McGill University, which means she wants a business career after she is done skiing. I also want to pursue a business career after I am done freestyle skiing.

Author:  Cameron Hodgson, Principal of the National Sport School in Calgary

I have had a very fortunate few days. 

On Sunday  my wife and I were in attendance as Canada won its very first Gold Medal on home soil. The next two days, as we took in more events at the Olympics, it was quite evident how very important is the work that our teachers undertake  with Canada's current and future Olympians at the National Sport School.

Author: Darcy Hollingsworth, father of Mellisa Hollingsworth, Skelton

Hi I'm Darcy Hollingsworth, the Dad of  Mellisa Hollingsworth.

We are waiting for Mellisa to race tomorrow afternoon. Time has slowed
down to a slow crawl. There is so much to see and do, but it's hard to get
away from the thoughts of the next two days.

Author: Danielle Greenberg, best friend of Hayley Wickenheiser

Good ol' best friend Hayley.  The conversation went something like this:

Hayley: "Can you get out of work next week if you really had to?"

Danielle "Maybe.  What for?"

Author:  Glen Kennedy, brother of curler Marc Kennedy

We watched Kevin Martin and the rest of Team Canada have a great game against Norway's Thomas Ulsrud.  The guys controlled the game from start to finish, with a great draw to the button to win in the extra end. 

 Author:  Adina Szalai, sister-in-law of Christine Nesbitt

Author:  Glen Kennedy, brother of Marc Kennedy, Canada's Olympic Curling Team

Hello to all the Olympic fans & curling fans out there!!  My name is Glen Kennedy, brother of Marc Kennedy, who plays second on the Team Canada Curling Team (a.k.a. Team Kevin Martin).  I am absolutely honored to have been asked to blog during the Olympic men's curling event.

Author:  Cameron Hodgson, principal of the National Sports School, Calgary, Alberta

Hi, I'm Cam Hodgson, the Principal of National Sport School in Calgary and the  Vancouver Olympics are creating quite a stir at our shcool! 

Author:  Katie Hicks, Principal, Summerland Middle School, Summerland, B.C.

Well, it's here!  It's Competition Day for Kristi Richards!!  As I sit and reflect back on the journey we have taken, while today is important, it's the journey that is key. 

Author:  Kathy Gregg, mother of Olympians Jamie Gregg (speed skating) and Jessica Gregg (short track)

The last few days here in Edmonton have been crazy trying to organize everything for our trip to Vancouver!

Author:  Lia Fletcher, fan and sponsor of Canadian snowboarder Alexa Loo

A couple of years back, I recall coming across an article in the Richmond Review about a local Olympic snowboarder who was in need of funding.

Author:  Karen Vogt, Aunt of Jessica Gregg and Jamie Gregg

When I think of Jessica and Jamie competing in the Vancouver Olympics, images of them as small children at the family cottage on Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba come flooding back.

Author:  Garth Turtle, Heather Moyse's high school gym teacher

Bobsleigh Canada has announced the team for Vancouver 2010 and Heather Moyse has been selected to be the brakeman for the Canada 1 sled.

Author:  Frances Mitchell:  sister of Shelley-Ann Brown

Why Bobsleigh? With excitement in my voice I've been telling people at work that my sister Shelley-Ann Brown made the Winter Olympic Team. Their reaction usually starts with "Wow, that's amazing", and then the question, "What sport?"