We Are?

I am sure you have heard. Today marks the 1 year anniversary of Canada's historic day at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. In case you were stuck in a mine for the past 13 months - on this day - 1 year ago - Canada's Olympic Men's Hockey Team won Olympic Gold which elevated Canada's Gold Medal count at the 2010 Olympic Games to 14 - a Winter Olympic Games record.

The success of Canada's Winter Olympians prompted some renewed enthusiasm for future Olympiads, including London 2012. "Team Canada is going to be a different team (going forward), who see winning as something acceptable, correct and something they feel they could achieve," COC President Marcel Aubut said. "I think that's going to be a big difference with the kind of team going to London, Sochi and Rio."

Unfortunately the results from the 2011 Commonwealth Games tell a different story. For the first time in the history of the Commonwealth Games - India topped Canada in the overall medal count. Australia won as many gold medals as Canada did medals, England nearly doubled Canada's medal tally and Canada itself won fewer medals at these games than at any time since 1974.

Of course the argument can be made that many of Canada's best athletes did not attend, and to an extent that is true. But the same can be said for other many competing nations. Furthermore, Canada did send some of tis best divers, swimmers and track & field athletes to these games, sports in which Canada expects to win Olympic medals in 2012.

Another excuse trotted forward is that the Commonwealth Games are not the Olympics. After all, some of Canada's best medal producing Olympic sports are not contested at the Commonwealth Games. True, but make no mistake the Empire Games as they were once referred to have historically provided a preview of thngs to come. Lets hope that this time around history does not repeat itself. We shall see.