As the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics close, and the torch passed to Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics, Canada and the world in general can congratulate themselves on a very successful two weeks.

The Olympics started off on a sad note, with the death of the luger from Georgia.  It was a very unfortunate accident.  However, despite the tragedy, the Games went on and Canada found themselves with a record gold medal total of fourteen when all was said and done.

Even though Canada’s final total medal count was not as high as officials may have liked, they have to be thrilled with the fact that more than half of the medals were gold.  Our final total medal count was 26, surpassed by only Germany (30) and the United States (37).  From what I understand, the government in the years leading up to the Olympics had increased funding for amateur sport, and it would seem that the results are beginning to bear some fruit.

Unfortunately, however, the tendency with the government tends to be to ease off of the gas pedal once they see results.  It is my hope that they do not do this.  I would argue that they should increase funding for sport, as I mentioned in my previous article.  Our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, is a big fan of amateur sport and on the remotest of possibilities that he reads my blog I would urge him to take my advice into consideration.

As it stands, the Winter Olympics were the most successful ever for Canada, and perhaps for a host nation ever.  As the Games are friendly sport, in that light I would wish Sochi, Russia good luck in hosting the 2014 Winter Games.