Let them drink beer

With our medal count improving dramatically over the last few days, I have to say spirits around here are pretty high (although at the moment most are nail-biting over the impending game with the Slovaks, I know I am).

Still, Olympic fatigue is definitely setting in. The traffic — which, it bears saying generally has not been bad — is starting to get to people, as is the increasingly annoying CTV “believe” theme song, I’ve already laid down my rant on drunken rounds of Oh Canada, and then there are the crowds. Oh the crowds.

Having people here from out of town has been great, don’t get me wrong, it’s just the amount of people everywhere. All the time. Remember, we’re Canadian, we’re used to a small population in a large amount of physical space. It’ll be nice when there’s room to breathe again.

Meanwhile, I continue to be impressed by our athletic showing, particularly the fact that 80 per cent of our medals have been won by women. There’s an interesting article about that in today’s Globe and Mail. The Canadian Olympic Committee says it will be looking into why it was our women win more medals, which has been the case for five of the past seven Olympics. One reason is that the field of competitors in women’s events isn’t nearly as deep as in men’s, but it’ll be interesting to see what comes of inquiries into the mental preparedness of our women.

Personally, I feel pretty well represented by our female medal-winners. I mean, just look at these women:

Bobsled ladies - gold and silver

Strong, capable, competitive, some with families and children and, like, totally gorgeous too boot. These are my countrywomen and I love it.

But in another stunning example of gender-based double standards, today the IOC wagged its finger at the women’s hockey team for celebrating on the ice with — shock and awe — beer and cigars.

Yeah, you celebrate

Apparently it’s not OK for gold medal winners to celebrate in public (and yes, I know one was underage but barely — and not in Alberta or Quebec) but no one blinked an eye when skeleton gold-medalist Jon Montgomery walked through the streets of Whistler chugging a pitcher of beer on live TV, contravening both a law against public consumption of alcohol and CRTC regulations. See comparison here.

Not that I mind much, I think both rules are positively draconian. But I have a really hard time believing the men’s hockeyteam will be chastised for engaging in similar behaviour when (yes WHEN) we win the gold on Sunday. Underlying message: it’s fine for women to bring home the lion’s share of the glory, but not to revel in it and yes, get a little rowdy.

Thumbs down, all around. Team Canada: no apology necessary.