As Lao Tzu says “The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step” which is an appropriate representation of Kwame’s incredible journey from novice skier to Olympian.  The roller coaster ride over the last 6+ years is so extraordinary even the greatest literary giants couldn’t invent it.  Standing in the tunnel waiting to enter the Olympic Arena as Ghana’s first and only Winter Olympic competitor was a great moment for a great man.  Kwame turned to his closest lieutenants, Denis and Richard and with a mischievous grin shouted “ Spartans….Are you ready…This is our time” and with that the Ghana Ski Team advanced to a rapturous welcome.  The opening ceremony was electric with great music, poetry and lighting and the team took the opportunity to enjoy themselves. “Canada did themselves proud and opened their hearts to the watching world with an awesome show” said Richard, Ghana Ski Team Manager.  In particular the cardboard drums provided with each ticket took a real hammering as Kwame, Denis and Richard showed their percussion skills.

Apparently on the TV coverage it was said that “Here is the Snow Leopard and the Ghana Ski Team who are almost receiving more coverage than the Canadian team”.   Of course for Kwame and the team media is our vehicle to highlight the African potential and build a legacy for a future Ghanaian ski team.  “To do this we need support, funding and coaching for a grass ski slope in Ghana and an academy for young racers to get them training and competing on the world circuit.  I am a guinea pig and an experiment but I believe a skier from Ghana could compete at the top level with the right support and a little time” Kwame commented.

So other than the opening ceremony the team have been settling in after moving from their training base in the Comox Valley and on Mount Washington. “It feels like we have lived a lifetime since we have been here and the hospitality shown to the team has been amazing.” – Kwame.  The World media interest has been off the scale and the team have been doing a host of daily interviews with media from almost every continent.  On one particularly day our global reach included homepages of CNN and Time Magazine as well as an article in the UK’s Financial Times.

The Ghana Ski Team extends a massive thanks to the amazing generosity of some extraordinary individuals who offered their homes to accommodate the technical team and Kwame’s family and Leopard cubs.  In particular David and Maureen Lunny who provided their Celtic Mansion, Drumkeeran House www.drumkeeran.ca/ in Pemberton which now acts as a team retreat and home for their family.  Also Greg, Rudy and Camillia who have provided a chalet in Whistler to house the technical team. It is a far cry from the situation facing the team as they left for Canada with airline Canadian Affair with no fixed abode.  The band of brothers that is the Ghana Ski Team had displayed great faith that things would work out and this faith was repaid by human spirit.