Well yesterday was the PNE Pinewheel Classic golf tournament.  The elusive tournament has some good hardware and more bragging rights.

The forecast was for rain and cloud but the day was beautiful.  In perfect PRP form we showed up looking the part. Originally we thought our golf skills might not hit the mark so we strutted our stuff in full-fledged golf attire. We were looking hot.  Then we pulled out the clubs and the real heat came. Apparently we are quite good!

Not only did our team birdie a few holes, Ruth’s putting was wind worthy, Jay can drive like were cruising down Main street and Diane’s straight shot kept the fairways rolling.

Back to some of those bragging right, it seems there are 4 trophies up for grabs in this skilled tournament along with the overall cup and good old PRP brought home 2 of the 4!!!!!

I had a stellar game and quite nicely I now get to carry the trophy for longest drive and KP. Yes sir I took home both women’s prizes.  LPGA Watch Out!

The Olympics may be coming in 2010 but the real test of athleticism will be holding our titles in the 2010 Pinwheel Classic.

If it weren’t so real it would be comical. As I was innocently minding my own business on a 4 hour layover in Taipei, I got a skype message from Rob Sondergaard “are the volcanoes going to delay your flight?”. My first thought was what a lame joke. It’s something Rob would say as a joke given my recent travelling record. But it only took a quick look on-line to confirm my worst fears. I quickly got a hold of an Air Canada representative in Canada. She informed me, yes my flight is cancelled and there is a 4-5 day back log to get on a flight in Seoul to Vancouver. I informed her I was in Taipei and had already checked that there was a code share flight with Eva AIr the next day (at 11:35pm). She was able to get me on that flight.

Believe it or not this is where things went south. I was all set to head into Taipei and explore for a day and a half but that was not to be. As I had been booked on a flight to Seoul, I had officially left Taiwan already and there is now no way I can leave the airport according to customs. My only options to leave the airport were to go to Seoul or back to Kaohsiung. Neither option gets me closer to Vancouver. So after some attempted negotiating to get on any flight to North America, I’ve resigned myself to spending 40 hours in “The Terminal”. I do have a few advantages over Tom Hanks. I am able to use the Star Alliance Lounge (although they tried to stop me as my flight is not today- I convinced them they should let me spend some of my many hours in their lounge). I also have located a Transit Hotel where I will be able to get some zzz’s.

Singapore Airlines Lounge- Taipei (Hour 5)

Things got a little tense a couple of days ago as I was enroute to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. I had to transfer in Shanghai and upon arrival six Chinese medical staff in full haz mat suits came aboard our Korean Air flight and took everyone’s temperature. After a lengthy delay it was announced that ’some’ passengers had high fevers and were H1N1 risks. At this point the chances of making my flight to Taiwan were dwindling. After a half an hour it was decided the front of half of the plane could exit (I always like to sit near the front). I had 20 minutes to clear customs, get a boarding pass, go through security and make the gate. Luckily the flight was in the same terminal but I did need to go all the way out to the Departures Hall. I did this without a visa which was surprising as I could have just walked out of the terminal. As I was at security they did the final call for my flight. I ended up running to the furthest gate. I got there just in time but was totally sweating (H1N1 risk?). There were medical staff at the door to the plane but I just put my head down and made it by them and made it to Taiwan.

This afternoon, Heather and I attended the Luncheon Event at the 2009 Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) Congress.  Hosted by CTV Sports Anchor, Perry Solkowski, the luncheon celebrated the many achievements of Canadian Paralympians and reflected on the continuous growth of the Paralympic Movement.  Canadian Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc, with her astonishing twenty-one Paralympic medals - including a recent five gold medals at the Beijing Games, was the highlight for both of us.  Listening to her dedication and determination as she recounted her journey to victory left us both inspired (and reaching for the nearest box of tissue).

Heading back to the office, we drove by BC Place Stadium.  It’s hard to believe that in just nine months, the entire world will gather there for the start of the Olympics, and one month later as we produce the Opening Ceremony for the Paralympics.

For more information on the Paralympic Movement, please vist the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

One of the things I enjoy while traveling is getting out for an early morning walk. It’s a luxury I rarely find time for at home. I take a stroll through the neighborhood as I regularly wake up around 5am and need to fill the time until Starbucks (or Coffee Bean) opens and the breakfast buffet begins. Korea is known as the “Land of the Morning Calm”. Today Patrick and I wandered up to the Royal Tombs at Samneung Park. On the way back to the hotel we ran into the familiar Olympic Rings at a Tire Shop. It seems the Olympic brand crack down is a much bigger issue before the Games comes to a City rather than after. In Seoul the rings can be seen in some odd locations.

Seoul Olympic Freedom Gate

I had the opportunity this morning to visit Seoul Olympic Park. It is a gorgeous park right in the city. It still features many of the sporting venues but is also a huge greenspace. There are also hundreds of thought provoking statues throughout the massive grounds. These art installations began before the 1988 Olympics and they continually add more.

As I was walking, I got to thinking how many Olympic cities I have been to, and what the Legacy of the games have been. Of the 30 Summer Olympic Games, I have been to 25 of the cities. I have not been to Stockholm, Helsinki, Melbourne, Moscow and Barcelona. In many cities the Games are now becoming a turning point into development and exposure. Calgary, Seoul and Beijing are all good examples. Seoul used the Games as a springboard for development. The World Cup in 2002 was a continuation of this massive growth. They actually built a brand new stadium for that event even though the huge Olympic Stadium was only 14 years old. You can always get a smile and a story when you mention you are from Canada and say “didn’t Ben Johnson  do well at the 1988 Olympics?”. Seoul’s Olympic Park likely has the most natural beauty of any of the Olympic Parks I have visitied. I always enjoy visiting the Olympic Parks to see the Legacy. Sydney’s park has amazing sporting facilities. Atlanta’s Centennial Park is a great gathering spot in the centre of the city. Calgary has the winter based Olympic Park which promotes participation close to the city centre. It will be interesting to see what happens with Beijing’s Olympic Green but the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube are amazing legacies in their own right.

I think it is a shame the Vancouver has not developed a large public gathering site after Expo 86 or the 2010 Games (Plaza of Nations does not count in my opinion). Vancouver and Whistler will have improved transportation, nice new housing, and improved and additional sporting venues. the Richmond Oval will likely be the most obvious legacy. It would be nice to see a Museum develop post Games in that area. However, one thing Vancouver will not have is a lasting Olympic Park which would have made for a great Legacy for the people of the city

Beijing Bird's Nest Stadium

Sydney Olympic Cauldron

Day 1 of the Expo here in Seoul is in the books. After the Opening Ceremonies we got to business and met some great people from all over Asia (and Africa and Australia). We are handing out ‘clap banners’ that can be heard throughout the Expo Hall and of course having fun in the process.

We had a surreal day today as we headed just over an hour north of Seoul to the de-militarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. We were able to go into the South Korea Military Area after passport checks. From certain areas you can see North Korea (no photos allowed). It is amazing how tense and real the situation is around the border (and how close tourists can get). At the edge of the DMZ you cannot leave the road area as there are still many unexploded land mines. Barbed wire and guard towers dominate the landscape. You also see ‘tank traps’. These are overpasses/tunnels on the freeway to Seoul that are packed with explosives designed to be exploded to slow tank traffic to Seoul. There are 9 of these each designed to delay movement by only 3-5 minutes each. We saw a border where South Korean trucks deliver goods to a ‘industrial area’ just over the border in North Korea. In this area South Korean companies do manufacturing with cheap North Korean labour. It is one of the few areas of cooperation. These trucks must hide their license plates so the North Korean people do not know these trucks come from the South as they are under the impression that South Korea is impoverished.

Given the heightened tension all train traffic has stopped but it is still the desire for South Koreans to have unification. They just say it will take time. They have built a large train station at the border in hopes of opening a Gateway to North Korea and then the rest of Asia.

All in all, it was very interesting to learn more about the history of the conflict and the countries and get an understanding how it affects things currently.

After returning safely from the ‘front’ we set up at the Conference and are all set for the Grand Opening of the 2009 IAAPA Conference.

Patrick, Anna and I are in Seoul. We are at the International Association of Amusement Park and Attractions Asian Expo. http://www.iaapa.org/expos/asian/  We arrived Sunday and enjoyed Korean BBQ and then explored the city today. After visiting the Gyeonghuigung Palace, (Patrick and Anna took a shift standing guard), we headed to Insa-dong and strolled through the cultural shopping district. Tomorrow, before we set up at the Convention, we are off to the North Korean border to see if we can help settle some issues.

We welcome Jay Matte to the PRP Team. Jay joins us a Project Manager and will be working on numerous projects. In a previous life Jay has performed with us at the PNE and in Torino. You’ll see by the photo how successful Jay was in Torino.