The Paris Olympics withdrawl

EDMONTON — It’s like that colourful afghan, draped over the couch nobody sits on other than to watch the Grey Cup, or the annual Christmas Eve gathering where, like clockwork, everyone’s favorite uncle dozes off to sleep after his festive glass of red wine: his only alcoholic beverage of the year. Someone — through the act of pure mercy — covers him up with the normally docile afghan … its only use of the year. Other than that, the afghan just lies there. But, hark! — if it wasn’t there, things just would never be the same. Its comfort is something to be gravitated to.

That’s the way I’m feeling this evening. I suppose I could turn the television on for the supper time news. But. It wouldn’t be the same. Because this is the first full day I have not fully immersed myself into the CBC’s coverage of the Paris Olympics. There were millions of storylines as Canada left France with 27 medals, a great achievement, indeed. Regrets? Oh, sure. The drone scandal and the Canadian women’s soccer team is a black eye for our country. The soccer team did surprisingly well, considering the sanctions placed on them. Yet using a drone to spy on an opponent’s practice cannot — and, hopefully — be swept under the rug. It must be a learning experience only to be corrected.

Canada’s medal count needs to be celebrated. I had never heard of Summer McIntosh until two weeks ago. The 17-year-old is — and should be — a household name, and is a revered role model for young Canadians half her age and, even, twice her age. No, sir I have not been in the Moose Jaw Moonshine. Many of us have unpacked dreams, waiting for that moment of inspiration, which ignites a dream. When that happens a flame is ignited and has the potential to, one day, be in the same hallowed vicinity as the Olympic flame. Case in point: To dressage rider Jill Irving, who, at age 61, Canada’s oldest Olympic team member, made her debut in Paris. Age: it’s just a number, isn’t it?

And then, there was that hang-on-to-everything-within-reach men’s 4x100 men’s with a familiar name, Andre De Grasse winning a gold medal.

Over 2 ½ weeks, the CBC put out 3,000 hours of broadcasting on all their platforms. For me, it was my television. I had it on — not for the entire 3,000 hours. I think I missed, maybe, an hour. I didn’t pay attention to all of the events. But the sound of the Olympics — the announcers, the crowds cheering, the excitement of the athletes being interviewed minutes after accomplishing the ultimate athletic goal of a medal joyfully hanging around their necks, the heartbreaking anguish of coming oh-so-close to but falling short with tears of defeat. And the incredible stories, not of athletic performances, but of stories of sacrifice, of incredible discipline, of training before the sun rises and long after its graceful descent, of dreams and where they can triumphantly galvanize a spirit: the making of an Olympic athlete.

It’s a template, perhaps, we should all download as we endeavor to become the very best in our chosen field. The sounds and sights writers, producers, directors and announcers so eloquently provided from Paris from the CBC set with the iconic Eiffel Tower in the background are gone, now. And I miss them … I sincerely do. The Paris games and the television will forever remain in my mind’s video library and soundtrack as a highlight for me in 2024.

And like a colorful dormant afghan, it will never, ever be taken for granted.