By Adam Michael Segal

Do you remember the funny flick from the early 90’s entitled Cool Runnings?

Starring the late Canadian iconic actor John Candy, the film loosely portrayed the real-life comedic tale of Jamaica’s national bobsled team and their odyssey at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.

Well, a new version of this funny and somewhat fascinating story is playing itself out and this time, all of the cool runnings are being done on behalf of Israel.

That’s right, Israel has its own national bobsled team and a key member of the group, who happens to be a Winnipegger, will be in Vancouver as part of the run-up to the 2010 Winter Games.

David Greaves, the team’s loan Canuck, is slated to appear at the Vancouver chapter of Magen David Adom Canada to be a keynote speaker.

The pre-Olympics event will take place on February 11 and attendees will include the Israeli Olympic team, as well as several dignitaries.

The so-called Frozen Chosen won’t be competing at this year’s Olympics, but they will share their special story, which dates back to 2002 when the Israeli Bobsled Federation officially formed.

Since then, the athletes, who proudly race in a bobsled sporting Israel’s colours, have competed at two world championships, endured countless crashes, became Israeli citizens(none are originally from Israel) and have proudly shown their devotion both to Israel and this fast-paced sport.

Although they won’t be racing down the track in Whistler, they are surely cool runners for all of us to admire.

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