For the Olympic athletes, the Olympic Winter Games' opening ceremonies  are not what you think they are. The celebration, the smiles, the waving, the I'm-really-here-at-the-Olympic Games is what you see. But inside every athlete is one pervasive thought.

"This is nice, but I'm really here for some hardware."

As an athlete competes year after year they drive for excellence. They attempt to be better at their sport. They love to win! All want to achieve a personal best. Each learns from losing. The Olympic Games are a bigger stage for the the same big goal, 'How well can I possibly do?' and 'Wouldn't it be cool to win a gold medal?'

Today I'm an Olympic motivational speaker, but at the Olympic Opening Ceremonies I was just a skier who got lost in the middle of a bunch of hockey players.

Hours before the event, all the athletes stage in a large facility beside the stadium. For the Olympic athletes it is an eternity between staging and walking into the stadium. The Olympians get there early, only to miss the first part of the ceremony. 

Finally, when they enter, they announce the country names in alphabetical order. Greece is always first and the host country is always last. 

By the time we rounded the stadium and headed up the stairs my skier buddies were elsewhere and I was surrounded by a large collection of hockey players. I felt like a Hobbit at a basketball convention. 

We were all starving. Then, in a deep voice the guy on my left said, "Wanna cookie?"

"Are you kidding? YES!"

"My mom made me bring a bag to share with my friends. She shipped them over. Homemade. Pretty good, eh?"

Definitely a Canadian hockey player.

As the bag of cookies were finished we watched the bizarre show put on the Olympic Host Committee in Albertville. Still, one thought was pervasive, as it is for the Olympians in Sochi.

"This is nice but I'm here for the hardware."