As the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games draw close, we can't help but reflect on and celebrate sport and its role within our communities. The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics was an unparalleled success for our athletes at a Winter Games and ignited Canadian pride across the country with countless memorable finishes to celebrate. For 17 days, Canadians from all walks united as one, for a common purpose - to celebrate sport in our country on the world stage and our athletes inspired a nation to believe in all possibilities.

Freestyle skier Alexandre Bilodeau proved to Canadians we had a sports culture to celebrate, being the first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal at a Canadian Olympic Games. We witnessed courage and dedication combined with thousands of hours of training come to fruition when figure skater Joannie Rochette gave the performance of a lifetime when struck with heartbreaking tragedy just days before her performance. A new hometown hero, Kaillie Humphries, showed Calgarians and Canadians alike that anything is possible, launching from her rookie season in 2007-08 to win Olympic Gold in bobsleigh, capturing one of the first Olympic medals in women's bobsleigh. And who can forget the feeling as the country erupted in celebration when Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal during overtime in the gold medal game, the ultimate finale to a game unmistakably Canadian.