Where do I start....

The following will likely feel like disconnected thoughts. I'm just going to write about "stuff". Mostly random.

Only one practice on the Main court

It's 9 pm. I'm sitting in the clinic chatting with colleagues and now that it's quieter, I decide I might as well write something. I didn't write anything yesterday, just a few pictures. It's not that I am very busy, so busy that I don't have time to sit down and write anything. I have had that experience at other Games when I blogged and only had a chance to get to my computer and m,y picture downloads after 11 at night. These Games are different. Seems like the physicians are around, we head to venues covering athletes at their practices and return to the clinic and spend lots of time "not seeing patients". This is a positive comment. The physiotherapists and massage therapists are keeping their athletes fine tuned and regular treatments take place daily. We get involved when more serious issues arise, illnesses develop or any medical concern needs clarification. It seems like athletes are coming into these Games in better health which could be a reflection of the budgets allocated to National Sport Organizations for medical series not only for these events but the 4 years leading to them .Better training and better health leads to fewer injuries and hopefully less illnesses.
What is inevitable are viral respiratory problems. It is already here. Someone has a cold then it spreads like wildfire. What is interesting is it seems people still ask for us to "to do something about it" and the next day comment they are "still feeling congested and unwell". I think they still assume we can cure it......It is one of the most common issue that seems minor but becomes a big stress. I heard to was the same for our Olympic colleagues who just let here.

It feels like I have been here for a long time....today marks the first week! Everyone is feeling it. People are getting restless, especially athletes.We have to get these Games started, Training and practices get tiring until the main reason to be here begins. We have to get the Opening Ceremonies done though. That's tomorrow. i hope you will have watch. We can't wait.

Every country gets an official "welcome" in the Village. It is a celebration making the statement the country is here. It is when the Canadian flag is raised and we was a large delegation make a lot of noise telling everyone :Canada is Here! We start with a big red and white (of course!) rally at our building then march behind our Chef de Mission, Chantal Petitclerc, to the Village Plaza. It was quite noisy and there was no doubt Canada is here to compete.

The women's national Wheelchair Basketball team. I have been the team MD since 2010. A great bunch to work with

It's not flapping in the windless night but the Canadian flag is up!

Chantal Petitclerc, a Chef de Mission who easily motivates every athlete to compete and give it their best effort

Today was also the other big highlight of every Games: who will carry the Canadian Flag and lead Team Canada at the Opening Ceremonies?We had our thoughts which were all wrong. I purposefully didn't read the team nominations in advance. I get that information as I am part of the Core Leadership for these Games. All year we have been preparing for these Games. Some of the email communications included the team submissions. The honour went to David Eng, a leading member of the Men's Wheelchair Basketball team since 2004. He was part of the Gold medal winning team 4 years ago in London.

David, with the Assistant Chef de Mission Norm Orally on his right and Chantal Petitclerc on his left

He is a leader who will also have no difficulty engaging every Canadian athlete to fight for the podium.

So, on another disconnected thought, sometimes funny things happen and just catch everyone by surprise and gets us laughing which, if seen by unsuspecting eyes, can be misinterpreted as not very nice. Like when Rosalie backed her chair and got it caught on the little slope at the outside of the practice gym's floor and flipped herself effectively getting caught and unable to get herself up. Basically she turtled. Since she was laughing and saying "I'm stuck", we couldn't help but laugh and I even took the time to capture the moment. Here is Rosie trying to hide her face from my camera.I was able to convince her to smile...