As has been said so many times by so many observers, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games proved to be
a huge success story. Maclean’s magazine, in its commemorative issue on the event, called them “the greatest games ever” and “an unmitigated success”.
In that same issue, Macleans reminded readers that the Games were the most watched ever with some 32 million Canadians and 3.5 billion people worldwide tuning in. John Furlong, the CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC), noted at the closing ceremonies of the Games that “if the Canada that came together on opening night was a little mysterious to some, now it no longer is.” Speaking at the closing ceremonies, Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, remarked “I’ve seen a fantastic atmosphere of respect. The behavior
of the crowd in the venues was absolutely outstanding, something you do not see very much, so this is all to the credit of the Canadians.” For Canadians especially, there were many reasons to be proud. Over and over again, Canadian athletes showed the world that
they are great competitors. Day in and day out over the course of the seventeen day Games schedule, Canadians showed our visitors that we are warm and welcoming hosts, we know how to have a good time, and we have an enormous sense of national pride.
