Never having to say you’re sorry, for one.

By Tony Wilson

I learned a number of things during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

I learned that an Italian ski jumper could be thrown out for having the wrong outfit on! Seriously! The country that gave us Zegna, Prada and Armani had its ski jumper disqualified the day I was there because he was wearing the wrong clothes! Apparently, ski jumpers have to wear skin-tight outfits because if there’s too much fabric, the clothes will act as a sail and give a more sartorial competitor additional lift or distance. I did not know that!

I learned the British news media were so toxic toward Vancouver during the first few days of the Games, I wondered if they were even here, or simply watching streaming video from some pub in London with the paparazzi. The Games were a transformative, amazing and wonderful event for us. By the time they ended, the entire British news media looked silly, uninformed and petty. When “glitches” hit the London Games in 2012, (which they will… I mean, have you ever eaten the food there?), just smile politely and sing that “Whoa Vancouver” song to yourself.

I learned that there were originally four mascots with strange names, but there must have been a trademark problem with a boot manufacturer back east. I heard a lot from “Quatchi” but I never heard a peep from “Mukmuk.” The lawyer in me rather liked “Sue-me.”

I learned how much I enjoyed all the French I heard at the events, at the victory ceremonies, at the live performances, on the Skytrain and on the streets of Vancouver. I heard Quebec athletes who won medals tell fellow Canadians how proud they were “to be Canadian.” It was nothing short of inspiring. I also learned that the word “GOAL” on the Jumbotron at the two (count’em two) hockey games I saw is “BUT” in French.

I learned that if you were an anti-Olympic protester in Vancouver, you could protest peacefully and our police would generally show restraint and respect your democratic rights. But the moment the more militant anti-Olympians started breaking windows and splattering paint, (as they did on February 13 in front of the Bay when I was there), the movement lost all credibility with the public.

I learned that the Canadian way to accept a Gold Medal is to jump on the podium with both arms spread wide and walk around Whistler with a big smile and a jug of beer. And despite what anyone says, I learned the way to celebrate victory after your women’s hockey team wins Gold, is to go out on the ice when the stadium is empty, smoke cigars and drink champagne. Life is short. Those moments are gifts.

I learned that a lot of medals could be won on Cypress with snow imported from Manning Park. (But I sure want a deal on my season pass next year). I learned that 50,000 well-behaved people could celebrate the Olympics on Robson Street every night without getting obnoxious or violent.

I was there to see Maëlle Ricker get her Gold Medal and learned how “Oh Canada” should really be sung.

I learned how good it felt to cajole some of my old Victoria pals to come to Vancouver for the day to soak up the Olympic atmosphere, even if I had to put them up for the night. “You gotta be here,” I kept telling them, echoing the hype. And they came.

I learned how good it was to shatter myths about what it means to be a Canadian and that we shouldn’t have to say sorry to anyone about being pushy or wanting to own podiums. We are no longer a people who have to say thank- you to bank machines anymore.

And I learned that for two weeks in February of 2010, this really was the best place on Earth.

However, my timesheet, my Visa card and my liver are relieved it’s over.

Tony saw Ski Jumping, Women’s Hockey Semi’s, Men’s Bronze Medal Hockey and three Victory Ceremonies. He chased Gretzky’s truck on opening night in time to see the cauldron lit, and was downtown most nights during the Olympics. He has enrolled in skeleton lessons at Whistler to augment his shark diving hobby.

Vancouver Franchise Lawyer Tony Wilson practices at Boughton Law Corporation in Vancouver, and has written for the Globe and Mail, Macleans Magazine and Canadian Lawyer. twilson@boughton.ca | www.boughton.ca/people/lawyers/tony_wilson

This article was published in the April 2010 issue of BarTalk. © 2010 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.