Paralympic Skiing Opemning Ceremonies

The Paralympic ski team that came to my school started their games this week.  Monday night was the opening ceremonies and I got invited to the dinner to hand out the racing bibs to the athletes.  My mom
, my aunt and I got to go for dinner together at Panorama Ski Lodge to watch it.  It was pretty exciting for me to see all these wheelchairs all over the place.  I was in my own little world!  Josh Dueck was there and I went up and said hi to all the athletes.  The only downfall was most of  the athletes were from all over the world.  They were cute boys there but most of them couldn't speak English.  ha ha!  It was still pretty awesome.  One of my friends I met in Whistler on my big Paralympic trip was there.  She helped set me up a spot on the stage to hand out the bibs.  There was a ramp to get all the wheelchairs up onto the stage.  I had to get my wheelchair up the ramp and kind of maneuvered to the very back of the stage and practised handing out the bibs.  There was a certain way I had to do it.  The ceremony was great!  Tere were a few speakers who went up on stage to say how great the games were going to be.  They told the athlete's  they were proud of they were of them and how excited they were for the next couple days.  then it was my turn to go up there and hand out bibs.  I was on stage.  The coordinators were on the floor beside me.  They passed me the bibs and i got to pass them to the athletes.  |It was amazing!  there were so many athletes from all around the world!  Every time I would hear an athlete come up from a different country, I would jump and get all excited.  It was pretty incredible.  There were people with no arms or no legs and the all were just so energetic and excited.  They were very inspiring. Most of them could walk before but the got into an accident.  You'd think a tragic accident would keep you down but they find out a way to adapt the sport they love to do with their new needs, and they just keep doing what their doing.  That really sends the message never give up and follow your dreams to me  Laren Woolsentcroft was the host.  She was at the Paralympics when I was there.  She has an amputated leg and arm.  She is one of my Grandma's friend's granddaughter  We didn't get a chance to meet her in person at the Paralympics but we did here so we were pretty thrilled with that.  Our middle school in town has a ukuleles group called the Silver strings.  They came out to play a couple songs.  They do really well and the teacher is very dedicated to helping the kids with music.  I haven't heard them play in a while, so I was excited to hear them!  They were great!  We got to stay for dinner which was spagetti and a brownie for dessert, which is one of my favorite meals so that sure topped the fantastic night!   I love going to events like that!  It's exciting and inspiring for me.  It opens up my world, as my mom says.  She's right!  Many exciting opportunities ahead!  Go athlete's go!  Let the games begin!