CANADA II
Sunday night, after competition and after most spectators had gone, the last two spectators asked me if the medalists were going to come out and sign autographs. I had to explain to this very sweet looking 12-year-old boy and his cowboy-hat-wearing dad that the medalists were in Doping Control and then had press conferences: they wouldn't be out for a long time. The boy then asked if any other Olympic athletes would mind giving an autograph.

Just then I saw a weeping skater walking away from an interview and thought maybe these two needy individuals could do each other some good. I motioned to the skater and she looked at the kid. She walked up to him, saw what he wanted and then proceeded to look past him -- as if he just wasn't there. Then she just walked aimlessly away. Everyone around me sucked in a little breath. It was one of the coldest things I've ever seen.

As I was giving up on humanity, two Canadians came up the stairs. I walked over to the skater and explained (quickly) that there was a boy waiting who was desperately in need of an autograph. She walked out, talked to him about how she skated that day, how she thought others did and wrote him a note on the front of his ticket.

The traces of the earlier snub were immediately gone from the kid's face and Canada had a new best friend.
All was right with the world.
Oh, Canada!