Thursday, January 31, 2002
Dream close to happening
By AL RUCKABER -- Calgary Sun
Mere days before embarking for the Salt Lake City Winter Games, there is great anticipation, excitement and nervousness amoung Team Canada's Olympic athletes.
Those emotions rang out loud and clear yesterday, as many of the Olympic-bound athletes gathered for a special luncheon in their honour at the Telus Convention Centre.
"I have butterflies. I have bursts of tingles going through my body. I'm so excited, knowing the time is near," said women's bobsledder Christina Smith. "You have to feel it. I am so focused. I've got to go there so determined, seeking the podium."
Cassie Campbell, captain of the women's hockey team, which will likely battle Team USA for the gold medal, says the anticipation is building.
"I am really excited. I want to stay focused. I really, really want to be there," Campbell said. "What better country to have the Olympics in, especially for us, considering that the Americans are the team to beat (in women's hockey). Fortunately, the pressure is not on us. They are the defending Olympic champions. The pressure is all on them."
Campbell says despite the Sept. 11 tragedies in the U.S., which will make security ultra tight at the Games, she has no trepidation about competing in Salt Lake City.
"They'll be prepared for every situation. They're not over-reacting. They have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario," she said.
Luger Grant Albrecht sees his upcoming Olympics experience as a real eye-opener.
"I'm 21 and I'm very young for Olympic competition in luge," he said.
"The average age in my sport is between 30 to 36. So I guess there is not a great pressure to win a medal. My goal is the top 10 but if I put together two real good runs, I could make the (medal) podium."
Jeff Pain, a skeleton competitor, says the idea of competing in the Olympics is just starting to set in.
"For me, it's a mixture of adrenalin and calmness. It's just starting to hit me," he said. "There's a lot of work and effort that's gone into this."
Women's luger Regan Lauscher may have summed it up best, saying: "I'm very excited to be able to represent Canada. I feel very honoured but at the same time, I feel a little pressure."
HELPING HAND: The Canadian Olympic Development Association has stepped in with both feet to help its B.C. neighbours win the 2010 Winter Olympics bid.
Yesterday CODA announced it's contributing $1 million in cash and "in-kind services" to the Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Games bid committee.
"There is a chance here to bring the Winter Olympics back to Canada sooner than later. This is an important step for CODA to do our part to help make that possible," said CODA president John Mills.
"It is very important to have a partnership with the Vancouver committee."
Mills described the $1 million package as, "a $250,000 financial component and the remainder in expertise component."
John Furlong, chief operating officer for the Vancouver/Whistler bid, warmly welcomed CODA's support, saying it is necessary his organization have strong backing across the country.
"It's easy to see why it's so important for us to have a relationship with CODA. The 1988 Winter Games (in Calgary) are spoken of internationally as one of the greatest Games ever staged,' Furlong said.
"The route to first place in the bidding for 2010 will go right through Calgary. Our bid has to be an All-Canadian bid. So our first step was CODA. They have the expertise we need. Their affiliation with our bid makes it all the stronger. The support for our bid in B.C. is huge. Now, we will try to get support all across the country."
2002 Games News Coverage
