Own Every Podium
Despite leading the medal standings nearly one week into the Winter Games, the U.S. has betrayed an Olympic-sized inferiority complex. Credit for exposing it goes to the U.S. media. For the past six days, the U.S. press has mercilessly and relentlessly bashed Canada and Vancouver and their hosting of the Winter Games. The death of Georgian Luger Nordar Kumaritashvili, the technical glitch in lighting the Olympic flame, the spring-like weather, the unruly protesters, even the broken-down ice groomer. These, and other perceived missteps, have been cited by many U.S. observers in declaring, only six days after the opening ceremonies, that Canada is all but unfit to host the Winter Olympics.
Ostensibly, this raking over the coals is backlash from Canada’s early prediction to “own the podium” (and Canada’s inability thus far to follow through on that uncharacteristic boast). Yet, despite the world being in attendance, no other nation’s media reports seem as determined as the U.S.’s to bring Canada down a notch. And the U.S. media’s attempts in this regard have taken on the most juvenile of tones. That tone can be best illustrated by paraphrasing that most uniquely American of politicians Sarah Palin: “How is all that own-y, podium-y stuff going?”
Well to paraphrase someone that Sarah Palin has probably never heard of: “Methinks they doth protest too much.” On the streets and in the bars and restaurants of Vancouver, the Canadians and Americans have been trading jabs, albeit friendly, all week. Yet the barbs are not just about each country’s respective medal count. Instead, the festivities have a 21st Century, global-village feel to them not unlike the Copenhagen summit or the G20 conferences. And fans are taking advantage of this international celebration to talk about world issues. That includes the world economy, the global community, and humanitarian issues. When Canadians and Americans get together, Canadians cannot help but bring up the high value of their dollar, the absence of a Canadian mortgage crisis, and the absence of a Canadian recession. At this point, U.S. fans, in atypical fashion, slink away.
Ironically, America’s newfound insecurity can be traced to NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremonies last week. The introduction and tribute to Canada narrated by Tom Brokaw which aired at the beginning of NBC’s coverage was one of the most unique American TV moments ever. NBC did not just provide the well-known story about Canada’s important and close relationship with the U.S. Rather, it was intent on celebrating Canada’s far reaching influence and on shattering the myths about Canada that have long held sway in U.S popular thought. Here was a U.S. Media outlet that had unearthed the cold, hard facts about Canada’s significant economic, political, cultural, military and humanitarian contributions and reported them to U.S. viewers in all of their un-slanted, pro-Canada glory. No jokes, no jabs and no incredulous or condescending tone (i.e., no Stephen Colbert). It was an uncharacteristically deferential tribute that informed U.S viewers that Canada was not just a neighbor and friend but an equal.
Since then, what NBC giveth … America now scrambles to taketh away. The only possible explanation: the truth hurts. The U.S. has received a serious drubbing on the world stage in the past several years. It is painfully aware that its global stature and its power and influence have waned. It is also aware, as Tom Brokaw pointed out, that unlike the U.S., Canada is in tremendous economic shape. The last thing the U.S. wants is a young, brash, ambitious upstart right at its doorstep. Yet that is what is has. So, the Olympics have apparently now become a great opportunity for the U.S. media to launch Operation Discredit Canada. So far, this has entailed relying on what it considers the tried and true: sarcastic and snide slights about Canada.
Of course, this does not shake Canada one bit. In fact, what the U.S. doesn’t seem to get is that Canada loves to be in on the joke. Canada’s self deprecating attitude has held it in good stead and will continue to do so. It fuels not just the Canadian athlete but every Canadian. Let the U.S. continue to underestimate Canada. That is how Canada will own not just the top step of the Olympic podium but also the top step of the North American podium.