I've been to a number of memorable sporting events during my time on this earth, but being in Vancouver during the Winter Olympics is an experience I'll remember for the rest of my life.

I had the privilege to attend the festivities during week one of the event and left the west coast flabbergasted at the entire city's state of euphoria. The excitement on the streets was clearly evident.

It all started at a small pub in North Vancouver, watching country after country make their way onto the grounds at B.C. Place, all the while listening to a jacked-up crowd anticipating a Canadian entrance during the opening ceremonies. When Canadian flag bearer Clara Hughes made her presence felt, it was deafening. The capacity crowd of about 150 people at this pub made the floor shake.

We proceeded to walk outside and could see the fireworks from the ceremonies in the distance. The streets were flooded. People were crying, laughing and cheering. It was emotional. The Games of the 2010 Olympiad had officially begun and Vancouver let it be known that it was ready to host the world.

The next couple of days consisted of a lot of walking and sightseeing. If only I had brought my Nike runners, I wouldn't have had to deal with the pain in my knees that I'm currently enduring. But that's the bit I guess when you decide to spend five days under big city lights wearing low-grade office shoes. The pain is and was well worth it.

From witnessing the massive Olympic Cauldron to walking down major streets (Robson and Granville) and seeing nothing but red Team Canada hockey jerseys — it all made me feel like I was part of history in the making.

Trash talking with people from different countries (all in good fun mind you) — to wearing a t-shirt outside in plus-16 weather, having to pinch myself to remind me that I'm actually at the Winter Olympics.

Then came the actual events we had tickets for. Witnessing first-hand just how remarkable Olympic athletes are, and in the process, noticing just how passionate each and every individual is about their respective countries. I saw fans from all over the world waving flags and sporting their country's colours.

My fondest memory may surprise you. It wasn't actually at an event (although I did see the Norwegian men's curling team wear a very “different” pair of pants — a memory that will probably never go away — the pants actually started a chant from the crowd). No, what I'll take away from this experience is a country coming together to share a common bond — to cheer for its country's athletes and I could not believe how an entire city — that big — could invoke such patriotism.

Win or lose, the sea of red consumed a large majority of the grandstands at the Olympic events, making for anyone and everyone associated with this country proud to be Canadian.

So with that being said, you pulled it off Vancouver. Two thumbs up. Will Sochi, Russia in 2014 be this patriotic?

Time will tell the story.