As much as I was extremely happy for all the Canadian athletes at the Vancouver 2010 winter Olympics, especially the speed skaters, I’ve had this nagging feeling I want to get off my chest.

Maybe it’s too early to say it, but I didn’t like the blatant Canadian nationalism on display at the 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver. I would have been offended if the Americans had acted the same way in Salt Lake City, or the Italians in Torino. Or any other hosts.  Let’s collectively consider the nature of hosting for a second …

I’m glad Canadians were happy, friendly, involved, and by many accounts
created the most engaged Olympic atmosphere ever.  But we were hosting an international event that specifically doesn’t include the word “Canada” in its title because of a long history of global fellowship in sport.  This isn’t the FIFA World Cup, where mini-wars are fought between historical enemies, and players get shot by their own fans.  Nor should Vancouver be some American dollar store that’s draped in red, white, blue, and whatever colour soaring eagles are.  But I digress.

Hopefully I’m not the only person who feels this way, and these Olympics don’t set the bar for future shows of nationalism.