As one of the youngest athletes on the NS Field Hockey Team, (17yrs) and being the first time I was going to represent my Province at such a “big event”, I would have to say it was pretty exciting to be on Team Nova Scotia during the first ever Canada Summer Games. I had absolutely NO idea what to expect. That was probably a good thing, I wasn’t experienced enough to get nervous, I was just in awe!
I was a student at Queen Elizabeth High School and even though the Games were taking place, we were still required to write Provincial Exams. Unfortunately, on the day of the Opening Ceremonies I was scheduled to write my trig/algebra math Provincial exams, much to my dismay. So, I had to get dressed in my “formal” Nova Scotia Team “walking out” uniform which included, dressy white sling back shoes, a white sleeveless dress, Nova Scotia Blue Blazer and off I went. As it turned out, ALL I could think of were the Canada Games and how to defend against a field hockey attack … so, up I got and proudly put on my NS Blazer, passed in my partially blank pages and off to the Opening Ceremonies. I KNOW math never crossed my mind for 2 weeks during the Games and surprise, surprise I had to write supplemental exams.
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| Judi Rice (on right). |
The Nova Scotia Field Hockey Team placed 4th in the 69’ Games, a feat I am sure that no one but our Team expected from us. If I had to describe the overall experience in one word it would be “surreal!” There was a special pride in being a member of the Nova Scotia Team, hosting the first Canada Summer Games in your home town, hard to beat that excitement. It was “OUR” Olympic Games.
I have to say that the moments that I recall with the most fondness are the times spent meeting athletes from other Provinces, especially in my sport. Field Hockey was in the growing stages in the Atlantic Region so we were in awe of the athletes from “away” and as it turns out, meeting athletes from “the big Provinces” Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta was very important as these are “friends” in Field Hockey I STILL have today, 40 years later.
I have been fortunate over a 20 year period since those 69’ Games, to be involved in just about all aspects of the games, Athlete (1969 NS Field Hockey team and 1971 NS Basketball team), Spectator (1973 in Burnaby, BC), Technical Official (for Field Hockey in 1985), Coach (1989 NS Field Hockey team) and Volunteer. I suspect I will be involved in the Halifax 2011 Games in one way or another, time will tell.
I think the greatest legacy of the Games are the Nova Scotians who contributed to the huge success of the Games as Athletes, Coaches, Volunteers, Officials, Parents, and Spectators. Many of these people are still around today and still contributing.
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