With the Winter Olympic Games taking place in Vancouver this time around, watching the athletic events ended up being only one part of the whole Olympic experience, albeit, the main one. Marketwire’s Senior Vice President, Sales Canada Judy Hutchins, based out of the Vancouver office, was among them, along with her husband and friends. Below, she provides a first-hand account of the Olympics “in action,” not only as a spectator, but as a patriotic Canadian.

Watching the Olympic events was but one part of the whole Olympic experience, the main one being the actual athletic competitions.  But, like any Canadian, I wanted to make sure that I had the “right” gear before heading up to Whistler for the women’s giant slalom and the men’s bobsleigh races that weekend – February 20-21, 2010. Mittens were de rigueur, as were scarves, pullovers, children’s clothes, men’s garb, red Canadian hoodies and T-shirts. It was estimated that C$1 million would be spent daily at Hudson’s Bay where official Olympic retail items were sold.  Before the Olympic Games commenced, lines to enter the department store were non-existent. Once the Games were underway, it took a several-hour wait just to get in the door! (more…)