Alimilner.com » Olympic Torch http://www.alimilner.com Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:30:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 And What a Day it was… http://www.alimilner.com/2010/02/06/and-what-a-day-it-was/ http://www.alimilner.com/2010/02/06/and-what-a-day-it-was/#comments Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:12:09 +0000 Andrea http://www.alimilner.com/?p=289 Unbelievable experience.  We were walking to the bus stop to go into Whistler to hear Ali Milner and her band play at the Olympic Torch Lighting celebration.  As we got to the corner the torch was actually going by!  A life experience.  Made me cry.  So rather than wait at the bus stop, we followed it out to the highway.

Ali on the big screen at the Olympic Torch Lighting

Ali on the big screen at the Olympic Torch Lighting

When we got into town, we went over to Skiers' Plaza.  Huge stage.  And absolutely enormous crowds.  Finally we saw the flame coming in from up the mountain, driven by our friend Julia Murray on snowmobile.  Julia is the daughter of Crazy Canuck, Dave Murray, and she will compete on the Skier Cross team this Olympics.  She handed the torch off to another Crazy Canuck and also a good friend, Steve Podborski who skied down the mountain with it.  I cried again.  Steve handed it off to Tyler Allison, a grade 12 student here in Whistler, who is a future Olympic hopeful for the London Games.  Tyler lit the cauldron.  Ali sang O Canada, and guess what,  9000 people in the Plaza sang along with her.  What a moment!

After some speeches,  Ali and the band played a terrific up beat set that had the crowd dancin' on the snow.  Lots of folks were filming.  I hope it ends up on YouTube.  Let us know. Then Ali grabbed her keyboard and raced over to the Whistler-Canada Olympic House to play for another party with the Premier.  An absolutely fantastic night.  We are all caught up in Olympic fever.

]]> http://www.alimilner.com/2010/02/06/and-what-a-day-it-was/feed/ 0 Ali…before the Olympics even start http://www.alimilner.com/2010/02/03/281/ http://www.alimilner.com/2010/02/03/281/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:14:45 +0000 Andrea http://www.alimilner.com/?p=281 Living in Whistler is definitely living in the middle of the Olympics.  New stuff happening every day.  Even new bus stops,  new hydrogen buses,  new fences, new stages,  army guys in fatigues, helicopters, F18's....I mean Wow!  So how does this impact a 19 year old redhead who grew up here and who everyone knows as the go-to-girl for entertainment.

Just to give you a sense,  I'll tell you about Feb 5th and Feb 6th.  Feb 5th of course is the day the Olympic Torch comes to Whistler and the cauldron is lit.  We have watched it cross Canada, excitement mounting all the way.  So you can imagine how our little town is lining up to welcome  it.  We expect up to 9000 people at Skiers' Plaza.  And guess who will be playing with her band when it gets here.  How exciting is that?!

As soon as the Torch Ceremonies are over,   Ali has to grab her keyboard and race over to the Whistler Canada Centre (formerly known as the Whistler Library)  for a post Torch VIP reception hosted by the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation.  Now it's actually difficult to race when you are hauling a keyboard, so this should be something to behold.

Next morning, she is up for another reception at the Whistler Canada Centre which takes her to mid-afternoon.  And then, she may just have time for lunch before a special Olympic car picks her up to take her to Athlete's Village where she will perform for the world's best.  How cool is that!

So 4 gigs in 48 hours...and the Olympics don't even start for a week after that.

FUN!!!

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