GO CANADA GO

GO CANADA GO

GO CANADA GO – www.vancouver2010.com Official Government of Canada site for the Paralympics. It provides up-to-date schedule-changes due to weather factors; ticket purchasing and some live feed for selected events that might NOT be broadcast by CTV. Canadians across Canada and Americans are frustrated that there is not more televised coverage for these games. 95% of the events (Alpine Skiing, Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing) are held at various venues at Whistler. VANOC/IPC were forced to make schedule changes due to weather conditions especially in the Alpine Skiing events. The forecast is predicted to be sunny and cold starting this coming Wednesday increasing visibility. Affected event account holders will be refunded following the conclusion of the 2010 Winter Games. Note: refunds will not be issued at the ticket box offices. The sea-to-sky highway no longer requires a permit. So, purchase your tickets online or call 1-800-TICKETS (1-800-842-5387). Make the trek to Whistler regardless of weather conditions. Every day the metal ceremonies stage commences at 7:00pm: Fee entry includes complementary hot beverages and followed by live entertainment. The best part is that you can see ALL the athletes up close! NOTE: THE CLOSING CEREMONIES TAKES PLACE IN WHISTLER ON MARCH 21ST.

We won three silver metals yesterday and we are tied with Austria.

1. Colette Bourgonje from Saskatoon in the Women’s 10 km, Sitting in Cross-Country Skiing. Colette will always be remembered to be the first person to win a metal on Canadian soil. Back in 1980 she suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident. She has been inducted into the Saskatoon Sport Hall of Fame in 1998 and in 1996; Colette was named the Saskatoon Athlete of the Year. Her first Paralympic Winter Games was 1992 in Tignes-Albertville, France, then 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. Highlights: In 1998; 2 silvers (5km and 2.5km cross-country in Japan). In 2006; 2 bronzes (5km and 10km cross-country in Italy. Her occupation is a Grade 4 – Teacher.

2. Viviane Forest from Edmonton in the Women’s Slalom – Visually Impaired – Alpine Skiing and her Guide was Lindsay Debou. Viviane’s debut was in the 2007 and the highlights of 2009 World Champions: Ranked First in Super Combined – Visually Impaired and Ranked Second in Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super-G and Downhill. Her motto: “Always try to reach for the moon, because even if you miss you will reach the stars”.

3. Josh Dueck from Vernon in the Men’s Slalom – Sitting – Alpine Skiing. Before his accident he completed in freestyle skiing at the Provincial level and now Coaches. Josh has several nicknames: Duey, Rajun Cajun Popman Dueck and Duck! Career highlights in 2008 World Cups: Super-G, Super Combined and Downhill – Sitting.

By Nina Halliday-Thompson