by @bsainsbury

March the 20th at noon was the Gold Medal sledge hockey game at Thunderbird arena.

@bwestly, @mande2, Rachelle and I were there an hour early. There’s no security issues, it’s just a hoot to be there early, make friends with the folks around you and soak up the atmosphere. It’s the USA against Japan.

The first group we met outside the rink were Japanese fans who were letting us westerners know how to cheer for Japan. Nippon! Cha-Cha-Cha which translates to GO Japan GO!! Once we were inside we were presented with small Japanese flags made by elementary school children in Steveson (near Richmond). My giant flag was given to me by one of the Japanese cheering squad.

Japan wasn’t even supposed to be in the finals, let alone the Gold Medal game, but they creamed the Canadian team to get there.

The sledge for Sledge hockey was invented in Sweden in the 1960s and came to Canada in 1980 and the USA in 1990. It was recognized as a Paralympic sport in the Lillehammer Olympic games in 1994. The Vancouver Paralympics is the first time mixed teams are allowed. Men and women can play hockey on the same team!!

The sledge is a seat with skate blades attached and designed so the puck can pass underneath. Make no mistake, this is just as intense as the hockey played by the USA and Canada for the gold medal.

At the Norway vs USA game as well as the Gold Medal round, we didn’t boo the Americans, we simply cheered like mad for the opposition. How Canadian is that eh?

Despite a few annoyances (the ATM machines at the rink only took VISA debit cards .. what’s with that? we get the credit card thing, but only VISA debit cards?) this was the perfect ending to our Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic memories. Well if the underdog Japanese team had won - but that’s just my type-A competitive nature clawing it’s way out.

All the competitors deserve our respect and admiration for their amazing talent and dedication to qualify to participate in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics/Paralympics.

Was that a party or what?

Bonnie Sainsbury is a Social Media Strategist and co-founder of Duet Media .. and an avid hockey fan!