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Post by usaapfan on Feb 20, 2010 3:35:29 GMT 1
Parties Earn Gold Medal from Visitors
By Lena Sin, Sam Cooper And Katie Mercer, The Province February 19, 2010 Who knew it would take an Olympic flame to leave Vancouver's "no-fun" banner in ashes?
From a tutu-clad superwoman to a dance machine known as Spandy Andy, B.C.'s best buskers are throwing the block party of a lifetime.
And the crowds are responding.
The queues at the official pavilions may be endless, but the parties on the street are free, spontaneous -- and, most importantly, lineup-free.
They're even impressing athletes.
"That was really fun. She's crazy, but it's really fun," said an exhilarated Gwendal Peizerat, a French Olympian who had just taken in a street performance by veteran Victoria busker Sharon Mahoney. The handsome ice dancer -- a 2002 Olympic gold medallist and 1998 bronze medallist -- drew whoops Wednesday as he pulled red pantyhose over his head and danced as a volunteer in her street skit.
Afterwards, he told The Province that Vancouver's party scene completely outshines his experience at Nagano and Salt Lake City: "There's more activity in the centre of the city. Salt Lake was spread out everywhere, but here, you can really feel the fun, people are always outside on the streets -- and I love the Canadian way of receiving people and welcoming us. It's really cool."
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Post by usaapfan on Feb 22, 2010 23:39:26 GMT 1
“Gwendal, give me your picks for the podium.” “I can’t really pick because I haven’t seen any of the Free Dances. I haven’t even been to any practices.” “Come on.” “OK, I think it’s going to be the same order as the original dance but if I had my wish, I would have my friend [Ben] on the podium.” “During the original dance, did you see any team that had the same emotional connection as you and Marina had?” Gwendal thought for a few seconds…”No.” I agreed with him. “All the teams are very technically proficient but they don’t have that connection that used to make fans wonder if you were a couple off ice. Do you think this is because they don’t look one another in the eyes?” “They don’t have time to!” Gwendal added, “Davis and White’s twizzles are crazy!” (fast) “Gwendal, are you sick? You sound congested.” “Yes, I caught a cold while I was here.” “What events have you seen besides the OD?” “I went to the Ladies Super G on Saturday. I then went skiing. I took some pictures. I’ll have to send them to you.” It was a fairly short conversation as Gwendal was getting ready to go somewhere. I could hear him zipping up his back pack.
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Post by kok0112 on Feb 23, 2010 10:42:06 GMT 1
“During the original dance, did you see any team that had the same emotional connection as you and Marina had?” Gwendal thought for a few seconds…”No.” I agreed with him. “All the teams are very technically proficient but they don’t have that connection that used to make fans wonder if you were a couple off ice. Do you think this is because they don’t look one another in the eyes?” This is exactly what I miss so much since Marina and Gwendal left!
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Post by tasucar on Feb 23, 2010 18:11:09 GMT 1
Yeees, I saw the finals of Ice Dance yesterday, and really, really miss Marina and Gwendal's connection, and they fluid movements, and they energy, and ... ALL - I miss ALL of them.
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Post by sandy on Feb 23, 2010 22:57:29 GMT 1
Thanks so much for yours reports, Michelle Could you ask Gwendal about the results of the french couples?? And about Delobel&Schoenfelder's retreat? I agree: I MISS THEM ALL THE TIME. Michelle, could you say Gwendal that: we miss them all the time, in all competitions. Thank you!
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Post by usaapfan on Feb 25, 2010 5:01:50 GMT 1
...Michelle, could you say Gwendal that: we miss them all the time, in all competitions. Thank you! Done!
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Post by usaapfan on Feb 25, 2010 5:08:10 GMT 1
Gwendal and I exchanged a few text messages during the Free Dance.
After Virtue and Moir completed their FD, he wrote, “Yes, there was passion there”.
Regarding his earlier podium picks he wrote, “Am I good or am I good?” ;-)
I replied, “Damn good!!!”
Gwendal concluded that Virtue and Moir were “Legitimate successors as Olympic Champions”.
He was at the Ladies SP yesterday.
Today, I returned to the hotel a bit early and turned on the TV. I watched the last 5 minutes of the USA – Switzerland hockey game. As typically happens, a question popped into my head.
“Have you been to any hockey games yet?”
“Going today.”
I quickly perused the schedule and saw that the second game was Canada vs. Russia. I picked up the phone.
“You’re going to the Canada – Russia hockey game???”
“Yeah baby!”
“How did you score tickets to THAT game? Aside from the gold medal game, this has to be the hottest ticket at the Olympics.”
“Because, I am me!” (jokingly)
Gwendal was laughing because I sounded so disbelieving.
The song from the musical Camelot immediately came to mind. “C’est moi, c’est moi.”
“OK, so who will you be cheering for?”
Without hesitation, “I will cheer for the team that is playing the best.”
“Well that was a very diplomatic answer. Have you ever thought of going into politics?”
“Michele, I am serious. As a sportsman, I appreciate the effort that goes into a good performance. If someone is doing their best, that is who I will cheer for.”
After the first period when the Canadians were leading 4-1, I asked, “You are going to cheer for Canada then?”
Gwendal replied, “Well, don’t have to. Game is over.”
Like his ice dance podium picks, he was correct about the hockey game as well. Next time, I’ll ask him for his Mens Hockey podium picks. :-)
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Post by usaapfan on Feb 26, 2010 4:05:14 GMT 1
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Post by sysi on Feb 27, 2010 23:32:24 GMT 1
Million , I really love your reports!!! And it's great for Gwendal that he can have a good time there And sadly,I have to agree.Me too I miss Gwendal and Marina so so much. There are some teams I liked,I like Davis/White's dances,I like Virtue/Moirs OD and Belbin/Agosto's FD, but no one of those teams have the chemistry that Marina and Gwendal had....they were so special...
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Post by sysi on Feb 28, 2010 14:28:45 GMT 1
Imoprtant!!!!: Michee could you please ask Gwendal about theirs skating plans I didn't find it possible,but some French fans said they're still announced for Etoiles de la Glace. And it was also said that they're on the posters for some gala in the April or June...the fan couldn't remember when,but said it was written in the Patinage magazine Thank you in advance
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Post by usaapfan on Mar 3, 2010 4:47:05 GMT 1
Imoprtant!!!!: Michee could you please ask Gwendal about theirs skating plans I didn't find it possible,but some French fans said they're still announced for Etoiles de la Glace. And it was also said that they're on the posters for some gala in the April or June...the fan couldn't remember when,but said it was written in the Patinage magazine Thank you in advance E-Mail sent. I will be talking to him Sunday so if I don't receive a reply (his laptop died in Vancouver) I will ask.
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Post by sysi on Mar 3, 2010 11:23:14 GMT 1
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Post by usaapfan on Mar 5, 2010 0:27:55 GMT 1
I need to check my E-Mail more often. Gwendal's reply from yesterday... "As for June we indeed have a show planned. It is the show done by the club of Marseille that we already participated in last year when Marina was pregnant." There are no plans to skate in Les Etoiles.
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Post by sysi on Mar 5, 2010 11:24:59 GMT 1
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Post by usaapfan on Mar 28, 2010 1:46:31 GMT 1
Friday, February 26, 2010
I phoned Gwendal while I was sitting in the Knoxville airport waiting for my flight back to Tucson. I asked if he saw the Ladies FS on Thursday. He said that he only saw the last two groups. Gwendal was at Whistler Olympic Park watching the Men’s 4 x 7.5km relay Biathlon while we were talking.
I asked him how he typically got tickets for the events.
“The French Olympic Committee gets tickets. There are many tickets so there are always spares. I get one of the spares. Last night, I got into the Ladies FS using my credential and the old SP ticket.”
“Are people stopping you and asking for autographs?”
“Actually, I’m getting asked for more photographs than autographs.”
“Will you be attending the Closing Ceremonies?”
“Yes, after the party at the French House. I saw this band playing on Granville Street. It’s a mixed rock and roll band. I thought they were good so I hired them to play at the party. Michele, how did you know that I had red panty hose on my head?”
“One of the Canadian papers wrote an article about the street performers entertaining during the Olympics. They mentioned the lady who asked you to volunteer but they also mentioned that her volunteers wore red panty hose during the performance.”
Gwendal said that he was not going to the Men’s gold medal hockey game (because of the party) and that he was flying back to France on Monday.
While waiting in Atlanta for my connecting flight, my cell phone rang. It was Gwendal.
“Michele, I forgot to tell you about the other party at the French House.”
“The other party?”
His tone of voice was excited like ‘How did I forget to tell you this?’ And, like he was very pleased that everyone had a good time at the party.
“We had another party at the French House after the Free Dance but before the Ladies Free Skate. A lot of the USA ice dancers attended. They had a great time dancing and partying.”
“Excellent! Did you get to see Ben?”
“Of course. Ben came with Mary [Ben’s long time girlfriend]. Meryl was dancing up a storm. Emily and Evan were there. The Reeds came too.”
“Oh right. The team that was born in the USA, but competes for Japan. I’ve seen them a few times.”
“Their little sister came too. She’s 15 years old and competes for Georgia in Ice Dance.”
“Gwendal, didn’t any of the French team come?”
[Sounding a bit dismayed] “No. The French team lacks heart. The French team is separate. They are not together as a team.”
“That’s too bad. I remember how it was when you and Marina were competing. On a happier note, what are you doing tonight?”
“I’m having dinner with the French Minister of Sports.”
“Whewwwwwwww!!! Very impressive. Have fun! I’ll give you a call after the Closing Ceremonies to get the final update.”
“OK. Bye”
[NOTE: I tried to contact him today while he's in Torino to get the final installment of the Vancouver report but wasn't able to reach him.]
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