Own the Podium

Interesting phrase that.  How does one own a podium?  Do they go out and buy it?  Do they build it themselves and set it up in their back yards?  Aparently the Canadian Olympic hooha's decided that was a good phrase to use to help 'encourage' the Canadian Olympic team to bring home all kinds of medals.  Problem was, the commitee didn't really specify which podium the team should own.  Or how much it might cost.  Or where it was to begin with.  The implication is, of course, it will be the gold medal podium, but it doesn't really say that.  As an English teacher I would point out that words have power and specific meanings when used in context.  To say we should own something implies that we actually can achieve it - or pay mega bucks for, which it would seem Canadians already have done given the cost of hosting this "illustrious" event.  So technically we already own the podium - and the stadiums, the ice, the snow (or in the case of B.C. this year, lack of), and the rather interesting and artfully arranged giant sticks for the Olympic flame.  Maybe that's what the organizers meant.  Not that we'd actually have a ton of gold medals, but that we would have all the stuff that comes with the event, including the podium.  Maybe.  Which brings me to another point.  There are now a number of non-snow countries competing in the winter olympics.  Personally I think they should all get a medal just for having the guts to show up to compete, given that the closest thing many of these countries have to snow is thousands of miles away from their actual location.  Take India for example.  The closest thing to cold in winter is 20 degrees. Plus. Celcius.  Not exactly a temperature to incite one to dig out one's winter jacket.  The closest place for snow is the Himalayas at the north end of the country, and I'm not sure that there is a lot of downhill skiing or luging going on there, but I could be wrong.  Same goes for the Cayman Island team, Jamaica's bobsledders and any other country where cold comes from a close encounter with a freezer.  Like I said, they should get a medal just for participating.  And maybe that's what the winter olympics should really be about.  Not the hot shot winners, but the teams with the courage to get out there and defy the odds.  Just my humble opinion.  Which reminds me.  What ever happened to the boxing Kangaroo team?  Other than the flag controversy, things have been a little quiet for them as well.  Guess it has to do with that whole lack of snow thing agan.  Until next time.