Vancouver will welcome the world in just a few weeks, as our friends to the West get set to host the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The biggest question – just who, if anyone, will win Canada's first Gold Medal? Whoever it is, will make history as Canada has never won Gold while hosting the Olympics – coming up short in both Montréal and Calgary.
We'll talk more about the medals and athletes once the games begin but for now, there are two issues to debate: Canada's Flag Bearer and Who should light the Olympic Cauldron… Today, we start with the Flag.
CANADA'S FLAG BEARER
Who should get the honour of being named Canada's Flag Bearer during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympics? It's a tough question as there are tons of great and deserving athletes who would be perfect for the role.
Right off the bat, let's eliminate the Men's Hockey team. They're professionals and it would kinda take away from the "Olympic Spirit". We can also eliminate any of our figure skaters as Skate Canada has decided not to nominate any of them for the position.
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Some names that have come up include Jeremy Wotherspoon, Clara Hughes, and Pierre Lueders. I'd scratch both Hughes and Lueders off the list after they declined the chance at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Nothing against that decision, I fully understand their reasoning to want to keep their entire focus on the games. With that said, I'd take them off my short list.
Jeremy Wotherspoon is a good choice. He's an Olympic veteran and one of the best male Canadian speed skaters of all-time. He was born in Humboldt so it would be nice to see him not only representing our country but our Province of Saskatchewan.
But if I were in charge of making this decision – I'd have no hesitation in making this pick…
Brian McKeever.
(Photo: www.teamvisa.ca)
He's a cross-country skier and there's no one who embodies the Olympic spirit more than him.
In Vancouver, Brian McKeever will be the first Paralympian to compete at the Winter Olympics as well. The 30-year old from Camrose, Alberta, is legally blind with Stargardt's disease. As a result, he has just 10% vision and it's all peripheral.
There are so many who are unable to cope with such a disease, or any disease or disability. What Brian McKeever is doing, is proving that there are no limitations in life. No matter the obstacle in front of you, there is always a way to get around it. McKeever has refused to let Stargardt's disease define who he is – it's a part of him, but it's not all of him. He's still an athlete and he's been able to find a way to keep his passion for competition and his Olympic dream alive.
He's a role model, an inspiration and because of that – there's no question in my mind, that Brian McKeever should be Canada's Flag Bearer at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
The announcement will be made on Friday afternoon at 4:30pm (Sask Time).
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