Victory for blind ambition

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/01/2010 (6031 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bits and pieces

“ö Grab the popcorn, Mabel, the bobsled event is starting! Yes, for the first time, you can watch the Olympics on a truly big screen: the local Cineplex. In high definition. With surround sound, no less. Check the local listing near you. At least, if there’s a screen that’s not playing Avatar.

“ö The City of Vancouver last week released a guide listing the top 10 ways to be a good host during the Olympic Games. The list-topper, according to the CBC radio show The Current: RCMP will set their TASERS to “fun”… The city also released a sobering bulletin on its website Wednesday: How to prepare for an earthquake. In fact, residents were invited to free information sessions, triggered by the devastating and tragic earthquake in Haiti. “There is a high potential for a serious earthquake in this area of southwest B.C.,” the release said, “and the devastation and damage in Haiti are painful reminders of the need to have adequate water, food and other supplies on hand to last for the three or more days it will take for emergency help to arrive.” Gulp. Speaking of Haiti, several Olympians have been urging fans to donate to the ravaged country, including Team Canada’s women’s hockey captain, Hayley Wickenheiser. “Had a successful trip to Edmonton and won 2 of 3. Seems pretty insignificant watching CNN and the images coming of out Haiti,” Wickenheiser Twittered. “Haiti is one of the poorest nations on earth, these people need desperate help.” According to CTVOlympics.ca, Team USA veteran Angela Ruggiero used her Twitter page (@AngelaRuggiero), to encourage her more than 31,000 followers — a number that has ballooned from 8,000 since last week — to donate to the Red Cross.

Brian McKeever is on the cusp of history. More than a decade ago, the 30-year-old cross-country skier was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, which eventually robbed McKeever of his central vision. Undaunted, the Canmore, Alta., native went on to become a seven-time medallist at the Paralympic Games.

This week, McKeever made history when he was named to Cross-Country Canada’s 11-member Olympic team. Five athletes have previously competed in both Paralympics and Olympics, but all of them have been summer-sport athletes.

“It’s a message of hope for the Paralympics,” McKeever told reporters, upon the announcement. “In the past, the Paralympics has been seen as a sideshow, not by the athletes, but the attention that it gets.

“It shows if you dream big dreams, you can get there, no matter what.”

McKeever’s older brother, Robin, competed for Canada at the Nagano Olympics in 1998, then served as his brother’s guide at Paralympic competitions. But the younger McKeever, who only has peripheral vision, will be on his own in Vancouver.

McKeever sealed his spot on the Canadian team by winning a 50-kilometre NorAm race last month in Canmore, one of four Olympic trials.

“I knew I’d done my part and done my best,” he said. “But we weren’t sure about the number of spots (Canada would have on its Olympic cross-country team). It’s exciting to have the opportunity to do both the Olympics and Paralympics. It’s a neat thing.”

No, it’s an historic thing. And a victory for blind ambition.

Randy Turner
Reporter

Randy Turner spent much of his journalistic career on the road. A lot of roads. Dirt roads, snow-packed roads, U.S. interstates and foreign highways. In other words, he got a lot of kilometres on the odometer, if you know what we mean.

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