And the gold medal goes to…

Well, not me, that’s for sure.

Last weekend I had my audition to perform in the opening/closing ceremonies of the 2010 Olympics. And I’m just relieved I survived.

Was I nervous? I think I might have been if I had had time to even think about it. As it turned out, the ominous DUN-DUN-DUNNNN didn’t start playing in my head until I arrived and, while waiting in line to get registered, saw this parked outside:

Um… yeah.

So how did it go? What did we have to do?

I probably sort of knew somewhere in the back of my mind that I probably wouldn’t be able to blog much about this experience. I mean, the opening and closing ceremonies are supposed to be a huge delicious gift for the world and we all know that gifts that are surprises are the best kind. But I guess this didn’t really hit home until we were reminded of this during the introduction.

Suffice to say: I went, I grinned like a dork, I jumped around like a complete idiot, and I zigged when everyone else in my group zagged. Oops.

But it was exhilarating.

Since I answered the call for volunteers for this gig, I’d been only medium-excited. I knew it would be an amazing experience to take part in the ceremonies and that’s why I applied, but I think it didn’t really sink in until I sat there at the audition this weekend, watching the video montage of past Olympic ceremonies. I’d forgotten how truly amazing they were – the music, the costumes, the dancers, the fireworks, the choreography – everything was so intricate and beautiful. And then, as we bounded into the ‘movement room’ (a.k.a. gymnasium) for our try-outs, an Olympic theme was blasting out of the loudspeakers.

And my heart… swelled.

It was weird, really. Since 1988 when I lived in Calgary and the Winter Games were going on (and I didn’t have much of a choice but to be completely engulfed in all things sporty) I haven’t really paid too much attention to the Olympics. They’re cool and all, but only in a “hmm, what’s all the commotion about in the office… oh, the gold medal game’s on… sure, I’ll watch if it means a break from my computer” sort of way. Not like my friend Andreas who’s traveled all over the world to attend them and who, when it was announced the Games were coming to Vancouver three years ago, emailed me right away to reserve a spot on our couch. (Yes Andreas, I haven’t forgotten.)

I know I’m lucky to be able to live through the excitement of the Olympics in my hometown not once, but twice. So I sort of felt like I had to do this.

Now, I genuinely want to.

There’s also one new reason why I want to do this. After two hours of squatting and leaping and dancing this Saturday, I realized that being chosen would pretty much mean four free months of fitness training. And as my sore butt would tell you if you asked it today, some regular exercise would do me some good.

I’ll know by September whether I’m one of the lucky ones. Even if I don’t make it, I’m glad I that I tried.

And that I didn’t require the services of those highly skilled ambulanciers.

For your viewing pleasure:

Olympic Opening Ceremonies – Beijing 2008
Olympic Opening Ceremonies – Athens 2004
Olympic Opening Ceremonies – Sydney 2000
Olympic Opening Ceremonies – Calgary 1988 (woo-hoo Hidy and Howdy – best mascots EV-ah!)