With June well underway it’s time for an update.

Last weekend was pretty cool. On Saturday I played in the Burnaby Play On! street hockey Celebrity Media game, on behalf of Act Now BC. Great event. I was out there with the likes of Ian Hanomansing, our mayor Gregor Robertson, and my fellow Act Now BC ambassador Sian Bagshawe. Our team was particularly strong on this day, I attribute that to Gregor’s fine work on the point. We had a lot of fun.

This week I have been busy with both NG Farrell, Green Grads and my role as Young Ambassador.

There are some special things happening at NG Farrell. Next month, one of our favourite clients Josh Beamish will be showing off his contemporary dance rock concert “Sold Doubt” at the Vancouver Playhouse, July 9^th and 10^th. Pretty cool concept. All the classics from No Doubt paired with dance.

With the Green Grads site up and running, it has been a busy week getting everything in order and letting our clients know about the change. I like the site, but it will need some improvements over the summer to get to where I want it to be. I like to ensure that the vision is apparent in everything I do. Good exterior cleaning service, in an eco-friendly way, by responsible and honest students.

Finally, the first fifteen athletes were named yesterday to Canada’s Youth Olympic Games Team! Pretty amazing to actually meet those athletes for the first time online, introduce myself, and get them engaged on Facebook. It’s cool to see the names, and sports, and be a part of the beginning of their journey in international sports.

If you want, follow the athletes on Twitter @CDNYOGTeam

I was getting out of bed today and wondering…why? I have plenty of reasons. What are yours?

Is it the fear that something will not happen if you don’t?
Or is it the excitement of what WILL HAPPEN if you do.

The Republic of Korea

A few days later, I am quite sure that there isn’t any way of describing Friday night. But I will try. It was more exhilarating and magical that I could ever have imagined. Upon arrival at BC Place, there was an electric atmosphere among our little group of placard bearers. We have all developed a degree of camaraderie and so it was nice to share the evening with some familiar faces.

The few hours in holding flew by, and before we knew it we were lined up ready to accept our placards and march into our ready position. To be honest, all day I was anxious, but as soon as I was in my costume everything changed. I was just excited. I mean, what did I have to be nervous about, I had to walk in a circle and I’d done in about 20 times.

About an hour before show time, there was a rumble down ring road in BC Place. It wasn’t Gretzky, it wasn’t Steve Nash. They had already elicited a cheer hours earlier. This time, it was a country. It was Greece. The athletes.

For the next hour or so, the athletes poured into the building, each with their own anxiety and nervousness. Before long it was time to cut in between them, and line up on the inside of ring road. The athletes actually cheered for us! I can imagine the wonder at seeing those “frozen” placards all labeled with the countries about to walk the floor.

I practiced my Korean in line, and by the time I was united with my team, The Republic of Korean, and the flag bearer Kang…I was ready. Rounding the corning to the entry point, with blue and silver light spilling onto the ramp, I couldn’t help my heart from literally pounding through my chest. The choreographers waved me up to the standby point and I proudly raised my placard into position, I could feel the air coming off the flag behind me and then, “whoosh”, down drops the arm of the stage manager and off I go.

It wasn’t so much the noise of the crowd, the lights or the grandeur of the stage. For me, it was leading a group of athletes into the beginning of a beautiful moment. It was being a part of an experience I never had myself, and sharing their abundance of joy and pride.

It was amazing.

Part ONE

The Olympic city is getting louder.

The village opens tomorrow, and will welcome all the athletes, coaches and support staff, many of whom are already in the city!

I am excited. Sort of anxious, but looking forward to what the next three and a half weeks will hold. I have rehearsal tonight, as it becomes crunch time for the Olympic Opening Ceremonies crew to pull off what will be an amazing show.

Not only that, but yesterday I had an inspiring meeting with one of my clients, Georgia Simmerling. She was added to the Olympic Alpine Ski team last week. Yes, a newly minted Olympian.

Georgia just returned from speeding down hills in St. Moritz, just in time to go rip down some more hills in Alberta, (Nakiska for training), before it will be race time in Whistler. It’s a really exciting time for her, and an honour to be helping out.

It was great to get a sense of her anticipation and remember what it was like to behold the Olympic dream. It can be an overwhelming thing, but she seems content, and focused on what is next. Racing for Canada.

I am going to be writing a lot over the next while, as well as at http://www.ngfarrell.com/blog so keep updated here and there. And get out there! It’s going to be fun!

Georgia Simmerling, Olympic Alpine Ski Team