Let the Games begin

By: Gary Lawless Posted: 1:24 AM CST Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014

SOCHI - Jennifer Jones had a smile on her face that likely won’t get knocked off until she throws her first miss at these 2014 Winter Games.

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SOCHI - Jennifer Jones had a smile on her face that likely won’t get knocked off until she throws her first miss at these 2014 Winter Games.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/02/2014 (4284 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SOCHI – Jennifer Jones had a smile on her face that likely won’t get knocked off until she throws her first miss at these 2014 Winter Games.

Jones, an Olympic rookie, but no stranger to huge media events, was the lone Canadian athlete invited to speak at the Canadian Olympic Committee’s opening press conference on Thursday. She delivered with a mega-watt smile, fresh enthusiasm and a little touch of gold makeup.

“No, that’s not on purpose,” smiled Jones, when asked about the golden hue of eyeshadow she chose for this moment. “The rest of the girls were still asleep when I got up so I got dressed in the dark. But maybe it’s foreshadowing.”

Kirsty Wigglesworth / The Associated Press
The sun rises over the Olympic rings at the Biathlon centre before the 2014 Winter Olympics on Thursday in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. — Kirsty Wigglesworth / The Associated Press The sun rises over the Olympic rings at the Biathlon centre before the 2014 Winter Olympics on Thursday in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia.

Winnipeg’s Jones was introduced with a panel that included COC president Marcel Aubut and chef de mission Steve Podborski.

“I’m so thrilled to be here and thank you for including me this morning,” said Jones. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet most of the Canadian athletes in the village and I can honestly say I don’t think any of us have been able to wipe the smiles off our faces. It’s been an incredible 36 hours since we arrived and it just keeps getting better.”

While there’s been lots of talk out of Sochi about the lack of preparedness of these Games, Jones said she’s seen no sign of that.

“Our accommodations are spectacular. It’s more than we could have asked for. The food in the cafeteria has been great. We can walk to our venue. I can look at the curling rink from my bedroom. It’s incredible,” said Jones. “We can’t stop smiling. We’re all so excited to be representing Canada. To be here as the greater Team Canada, and to be in Sochi and the beauty of the mountains and waking up every morning to look at the Black Sea, it’s incredible. I can’t stop saying the words amazing and incredible.”

For Jones and her teammates, opening up their team bags on Wednesday was a special moment.

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeg curler Jennifer Jones was the lone Canadian athlete invited to an opening news conference to signal the beginning of the Olympic Games Thursday. — KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg curler Jennifer Jones was the lone Canadian athlete invited to an opening news conference to signal the beginning of the Olympic Games Thursday.

“We got our clothing from HBC and for us girls it was like Christmas morning,” said Jones. “The only thing I know is we are so excited to compete for Canada. The great team is ready. We’re ready to deliver and we can’t wait for the competition to start.”