The Australian team reception, on the eve of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, was filled with anticipation. In the next 18 days, dreams will be realised and broken, the best of winter sports will be brought to Australians and some will become household names.

One already has, snowboarder Torah Bright, who was named the flag bearer of the Australian team at the reception. Selectors grappled with the decision, considering the current team is the most certified in history. 

But Bright was chosen as she represents the youth and spirit of the team, in conjunction with her on-snow achievements including gold in the US Open, the X Games and the Saas-Fee World Cup in the past year alone.

The choice of Bright was popular with all, who gave a grounded message to her teammates upon her selection. “I just want to wish everyone the best of luck and to go out there and do your personal best, which is what it’s about”.

Almost 300 people arrived in the downtown Vancouver restaurant, mostly coaches, support staff, family and media to receive the Australian team, which is the most diverse and accomplished team of athletes Australia has ever sent to a Winter Olympic Games. 

For the first time, the number of females is equal to that of males (20 each), it is the most certified team, having collectively won 65 world cup or championship medals since the Turin Olympic Games, athletes are represented in almost every discipline and it is equal to the largest team (sent to Turin).

Chef de Mission, Ian Chesterman, said “We’ve come to Vancouver with medals on our mind”, saying he expected the team would act with “purpose, passion and above all, pride” before the Games conclude February 28.

One of the stand out elements of the team is the age disparity, ranging from freestyle skier Jacqui Cooper at 37 years of age and attending her fifth Olympic Games, to mogul skier Britteny Cox 15. The average age of the team is a youthful 26 years old. 

Cooper attended her first Olympics in Lillehammer in 1994, when Britteny was two and Olympics far from her mind.

Snowboard Cross competitor Damon Hayler summed it up best, saying “There are a lot of potential medallists here tonight, and there are a lot of future potential medallists”. Since 1998, when Zali Stegall won gold in the ski slalom at the Nagano Winter Olympics, there has been a concerted effort to develop younger Australian athletes in the arena of winter sports. 

Athletes travelled from Whistler and Cypress for the welcome ceremony in the Olympic Village and the team reception, the exception being those competitors who had training or events in the next few days. 

Each team member was called onstage and presented with plaques, before joining in with the National Anthem, sung by 21 year old Carly Champion.

Ian Chesterman  described the sense of suspense that filled the room on the eve of the Games.  

“It’s like the night you’ve been waiting for, but now it’s here, you’re just waiting for tomorrow”.

Flip Byrnes
AOC - Vancouver