Arctic Winter Games Opening Ceremonies
Good Morning from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada! Let me tell you about last night's opening ceremonies.
Awesome! Wonderful! Grand! Those would be appropriate adjectives to get you thinking in the right direction, but certainly do not do the night justice. The Opening Ceremonies of the 20th Arctic Winter games are a tribute produced by the Host Society of Yellowknife to the games and the athletes. The sold out crowd enjoys the outcome of two years of planning by the host society. It is an extraordinary evening. While the crowd fills the seats around the Olympic size Ice rink , the athletes begin assembling in a second ice rink in the same building. Though the ceremony begins at 7 the athletes began organizing in the rink at 4:45. Getting more than 2,000 kids to be where they are supposed to is quite a feat! As a preschool teacher I struggle with 12! Each of the nine contingents has all their athletes and coaches in their uniforms and looking impressive. The Arctic Winter Games are a Northern Circumpolar event for the peoples of that area. Participants include, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, Northern Alberta Nunivit, Greenland, Russia (Yamal), Sami (Northern peoples of the Scandinavian Peninsula) and Alaska. During the waiting process the athletes mingle, laugh, get to know one another but most especially they trade pins. W will talk more about that on another day. Spontaneous out breaks of chants celebrating their countries ripple round the rink. A snake of athletes in different uniforms winds it's way through the crowd laughing and “high fiving” as they go past. It is loud, colorful, exciting and full of anticipation. When it is finally time to march in to the ceremony, each contingent has a sign bearer and a flag bearer whom they follow 2x2 into the arena. As the Alaska contingent enters, each of us waving Alaska's flag. The crowd is on it's feet cheering and yelling as we stride quickly to our designated assembling area. Each contingent is greeted with great enthusiasm and you can see in the crowd where they friends and family sit as their flags pop up and wave wildly as they enter. Alaska's athletes come by the VIP stage and LT. Governor Sean Parnel reaches out to shake each of our hands. Alaska has nearly 350 athletes, coaches and staff here representing our great state. He greets each of us.
It is exciting that there are 5 of us from Delta Junction, standing proudly behind our starry flag preparing our hearts and minds for the week of competition ahead. Jacob Schultz, Brett Smith and Annie Grossmann our athletes are all wided eyed and smiling. As the crowd pays tribute to the athletes and the games we all join in a celebration of friendship and healthy competition. Tomorrow the games begin and our hearts and minds will be focused on our sports and our team. But tonight…at these ceremonies, we are all united.
Stay warm…from windy sunny Yellowknife
Dawn Grossmann
Awesome! Wonderful! Grand! Those would be appropriate adjectives to get you thinking in the right direction, but certainly do not do the night justice. The Opening Ceremonies of the 20th Arctic Winter games are a tribute produced by the Host Society of Yellowknife to the games and the athletes. The sold out crowd enjoys the outcome of two years of planning by the host society. It is an extraordinary evening. While the crowd fills the seats around the Olympic size Ice rink , the athletes begin assembling in a second ice rink in the same building. Though the ceremony begins at 7 the athletes began organizing in the rink at 4:45. Getting more than 2,000 kids to be where they are supposed to is quite a feat! As a preschool teacher I struggle with 12! Each of the nine contingents has all their athletes and coaches in their uniforms and looking impressive. The Arctic Winter Games are a Northern Circumpolar event for the peoples of that area. Participants include, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, Northern Alberta Nunivit, Greenland, Russia (Yamal), Sami (Northern peoples of the Scandinavian Peninsula) and Alaska. During the waiting process the athletes mingle, laugh, get to know one another but most especially they trade pins. W will talk more about that on another day. Spontaneous out breaks of chants celebrating their countries ripple round the rink. A snake of athletes in different uniforms winds it's way through the crowd laughing and “high fiving” as they go past. It is loud, colorful, exciting and full of anticipation. When it is finally time to march in to the ceremony, each contingent has a sign bearer and a flag bearer whom they follow 2x2 into the arena. As the Alaska contingent enters, each of us waving Alaska's flag. The crowd is on it's feet cheering and yelling as we stride quickly to our designated assembling area. Each contingent is greeted with great enthusiasm and you can see in the crowd where they friends and family sit as their flags pop up and wave wildly as they enter. Alaska's athletes come by the VIP stage and LT. Governor Sean Parnel reaches out to shake each of our hands. Alaska has nearly 350 athletes, coaches and staff here representing our great state. He greets each of us.
It is exciting that there are 5 of us from Delta Junction, standing proudly behind our starry flag preparing our hearts and minds for the week of competition ahead. Jacob Schultz, Brett Smith and Annie Grossmann our athletes are all wided eyed and smiling. As the crowd pays tribute to the athletes and the games we all join in a celebration of friendship and healthy competition. Tomorrow the games begin and our hearts and minds will be focused on our sports and our team. But tonight…at these ceremonies, we are all united.
Stay warm…from windy sunny Yellowknife
Dawn Grossmann
posted by Delta News Web at 3/11/2008 02:53:00 AM
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