Posts Tagged ‘Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics’

February 17, 2010 – Whistler

Friday, February 19th, 2010

I keep thinking it can’t get much better. I think today may prove it.

Julie and I were invited by Sen. Nancy Greene Raine – Olympic Champion, Canadian Female Athlete of the 20th Century, and one of the four people selected to light the Olympic cauldron – to watch the women’s downhill.  That on its own would have been enough.  But to join her in watching Lindsey Vonn win the gold and Julia Mancuso win the silver in a total thriller was something I will not soon forget. Then we went down to the finish to congratulate Lindsey and Julia as they walked off the mountain!!

With BC Senator and Olympic legend Nancy Greene Raine and US Ski Team winners Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso

With BC Senator and Olympic legend Nancy Greene Raine and US Ski Team winners Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso


Afterwards we met up with Sen. Mike Duffy and went up the Mountain and across on the Peak-to-Peak gondola. The views were inspiring.

We got home in time to go to the Medal Ceremony. In addition to the women’s downhill winners we saw Maelle Ricker get her gold. When they raised the Canadian flag and played O Canada the crowd went wild.

All in all about as good as it gets.

DJ

February 10, 2010 – On the Plane to Vancouver!!

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Canadians have waited for 7 years since Vancouver was awarded the Olympics. I can only claim to have counted the days since last spring when President Obama nominated me to go to Canada. In the White House my attendance at the Winter Olympics was the source of several jokes about my athletic abilities and perhaps a little envy. And when the White House Press Office released my name as part of the Official Delegation a week ago, the jokes began anew. None of that has dissuaded me from being very excited to spend the next 17 days in Vancouver and Whistler.

After getting home late last night from Montreal we had to complete the most complex packing job imaginable. Try stuffing 2 ½ weeks of clothes in a suitcase that will get you through fancy dinner parties, standing on mountains watching skiing, warm clothes for Whistler, rain clothes for Vancouver, clothes for meetings with dignitaries from around the world, hockey games, and whatever you are supposed to wear to opening and closing ceremonies.

We then got up at 5 am to finish packing and to get to the airport. When we arrived we ran into a group of friends who were on our plane including former Prime Minister Jean Chretien and his wife Aline, British High Commissioner Anthony Carey, Netherlands Ambassador Wim Geerts, and Australian High Commissioner Justin Brown, his wife Caroline and their adorable 1 ½ year old son.

Travelling to Vancouver

Travelling to Vancouver


We have events today and tonight until 11 pm Vancouver time (2 am back in Ottawa). Hope I brought the right clothes. Time for a nap!
DJ

February 2, 2010 – Ottawa / Olympic Delegations

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

It’s official. Vice President Joe Biden will head the U.S. Delegation to the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics. I have known the Vice President for a long time and I can tell you — he loves sports. He was a great football and baseball player when he was younger. He is an outstanding golfer these days. The Vice President will be coming with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden.

Also in the delegation is Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama. I have known Valerie since the days 30 years ago when we were both associates at my former law firm in Chicago.

The Opening Ceremonies Delegation will have its share of U.S. stars from past Winter Olympics. Peggy Fleming, the 1968 gold medal figure skater, will join us along with Mike Eruzione, the captain of the 1980 US gold medal hockey team that beat the Soviets in the famous Miracle on Ice game, and Vonetta Flowers, the 2002 gold medalist in women’s bobsledding and the first black athlete to win gold at the Winter Olympics.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will head the delegation to the Closing Ceremonies. She will be joined by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius as well as UN Ambassador Susan Rice (whose husband is from British Columbia). The Closing Ceremonies Delegation will also include Peter Axelson, an Air Force veteran and World Champion Mono Skier; Bonnie Blair, who has 6 Olympic medals including 5 golds; Manny Guerra, the 2002 Paralympics gold medalist in Sledge Hockey; and Kristi Yamaguchi, the 1992 gold medalist in Figure Skating.

The Delegation to the Paralympics Opening Ceremony will be headed by the Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs, Gen. Eric Shinseki. That delegation will also include Lisa Jackson, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; my friend and former White House colleague, Kareem Dale, the Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy; Jim Martinson, a Vietnam Veteran and 1992 Paralympic gold medalist in Downhill Skiing; Mike May the 1984 Paralympic bronze medalist in Alpine Skiing; Bonnie St. John the 1984 Paralympic medalist in Slalom and Giant Slalom; and Melissa Stockwell, Iraq War veteran and 2008 Summer Paralympic athlete.

I have to say it’s really personally important to me to attend these Olympics. Not just to support Team USA and cheer on our athletes but to share in this moment with Canadians. To celebrate the Canadian effort and enthusiasm that went into planning and executing the Games and to have fun together. Our countries are linked in so many ways and the Olympics only serves to remind me how close we truly are. I imagine I’ll learn a thing or two from my Canadian friends about winter sports too!

I am excited to be a part of all three delegations. Julie and I are getting Olympic fever. We’re going over the schedule of events. Making our packing lists. Ten more days until the Opening Ceremonies!

DJ

December 12, 2009 – Ottawa

Monday, December 14th, 2009

I was out buying Christmas presents this afternoon and had quite a thrill. As we were leaving one of the stores there was a big commotion on the street. We saw a bunch of Olympic trucks going past. And then the Olympic torch bearer.

The Olympic Torch Bearer in Ottawa

The Olympic Torch Bearer in Ottawa


The crowd was very excited with lots of “go Canada” cheers. Made us very excited about the Olympics. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.
DJ

December 2 – Whistler

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

This morning I appeared on Fanny Kiefer’s morning TV show Studio 4. We had a great conversation ranging from Afghanistan to my childhood. Somehow she got a copy of a picture of me in a football uniform when I was about 5. Very embarrassing. Unlike the interview on CTV last night we were in the same room. It’s a lot easier to be relaxed when you are talking to a live person, not a dark room.

Host Fanny Kiefer of Studio 4 in Vancouver interviews Ambassador Jacobson.

Host Fanny Kiefer of Studio 4 in Vancouver interviews Ambassador Jacobson.


After the show we drove up the Sea to Sky highway from Vancouver to Whistler to check out the Olympic venues. The ride is about the most beautiful I have ever seen. While there are many places with majestic mountains, there aren’t too many that have those mountains against the backdrop of the Strait of Georgia. The drive is definitely worth the trip.

We had lunch with Mayor Ken Melamed of Whistler and MLA Joan McIntyre who represents the region in the BC Legislative Assembly, and Fiona Famulak from the Whistler Chamber of Commerce. We talked about the Olympic bid process, all the work that goes in to the preparation and the fact that the whole world will be watching.

What they will see is something very special. If there is one word that comes to mind about the Whistler Olympic Park its “impressive.” This place is first rate. I had looked forward to the seeing the sliding venue and it did not disappoint. People have to be either crazy or brilliant to slide down these slopes at speeds illegal on most highways. They go past so fast you can barely see them.

Ambassador Jacobson and Mrs. Jacobson in Vancouver at the 2010 Olympics site

Ambassador Jacobson and Mrs. Jacobson in Vancouver at the 2010 Olympics site


We also had a chance to visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center and visit with Chief Gibby Jacob and a group of young people who put on a performance for me and Julie. I am excited about the Olympics!! Can’t wait for them to start.

DJ