You're Fired!

It’s sort of old news but in case you haven’t heard, VANOC (Vancouver Olympic Committee) put together a closing show at the 2006 winter olympics that was full of pathetic Canadian stereotypes. This show was recently in the news again when BC’s premier, Gordon Campbell, slammed VANOC in the media.

From what I understand, VANOC displayed Canadians as a bunch of ice-fishing, mukluk-wearing, ski-dooing people of equal-opportunity. I think this article sums it up nicely. I highly recommend that you click on the link BTW. In case you’re wondering why I made a reference to “equal opportunity”, you can read the Closing Ceremony Colour Commentary Information document which outlines the whole spiel. It also supplies the names of the people that are responsible for the event… I find it odd that “The show begins in Canada’s vast north, representing our huge land of equally huge opportunities,” and that five of the six honoured guests are from First Nations (corresponding to the territories of Aboriginal peoples where events will be held). This has got to be the only “equal opportunity” provided to First Nation people in Canada. I suppose it’s a start.

Enough of the background, on to the the task at hand. Who is getting fired and why are they getting fired? Well, I couldn’t help think of the tv show “The Apprentice” when I read about the closing ceremonies. Imagine that the closing ceremony was a task handed out to VANOC. It’s not hard to then imagine that VANOC would have lost the task. Some pointed questions would have been asked, such as: Trump - Who’s idea was it to include ice-fishing, because I think that’s a terrible idea. George, have you ever ice-fished? George - No I haven’t. Carolyn - I’ve ice-fished, but I didn’t ride in a ski-doo. I don’t like fishing. George - I don’t even like killing fish. Trump - I built a fishing lodge called “Trump Resort”, but that’s in Florida. VANOC, does anyone in Vancouver ice-fish? Is ice-fishing an olympic event? Isn’t there some good skiing in Vancouver? Carolyn, Canadians are good skiers aren’t they? Carolyn - Yes, why didn’t you show some skiing, or snow-shoeing? Everyone loves skiing. George - I love skiing. VANOC, don’t you think it’s kind of embarrassing to depict Canadians as ice-fisherman? and so on… In the end, we all know what would happen. VANOC, you’re fired!