The Vancouver 2010 Olympics

sphelps · #1 02-17-2010, 03:04 PM

Oh come on Doug, don't get me wrong I don't have a problem with curling, it's a fun sport but along the same lines as bowling which I really do enjoy playing. But honestly if you can watch curling on TV and get excited by it then yes IMO you need to get out more, just saying. As far as an Olympic sport it just doesn't make sense to me, we might as well add bowling to the summer Olympics, or actually even better let's add lawn bowling.

Rather than bringing in curling they should have brought in something like, I don't know, WOMENS SKI JUMPING!

Crytone · #2 02-17-2010, 05:24 PM

I have mixed feelings about curling. I consider it more a winter activity than a sport. It does take a certain amount of talent and planning though. I believe it was added more to the Olympics to get a certain crowd to watch, who aren't into the higher adrenaline sports to watch (my parents and grandparents love curling!).

I'm pulling for the 100m Downhill Crazy Carpet for the 2014 Winter Olympics!

BTW, Hockey last night wasn't even a fight. But Team Canada had some really nice plays! I think we have a great line this year with Nash, Crosby and Iginla!

Lance · #3 02-17-2010, 05:37 PM

I'm a huge fan of the Olympics and enjoy pretty much all the events. Hockey, skiing and speed skating being my favourites but I can happily sit through a curling match as well.

Lance · #4 02-17-2010, 05:38 PM

We have to find a Canadian hockey player named Stills to replace Iginla. Than that line could be Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Doug · #5 02-17-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crytone

I'm pulling for the 100m Downhill Crazy Carpet for the 2014 Winter Olympics!

Alrighty. Looking forward to that.

Veng68 · #6 02-17-2010, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

Alrighty. Looking forward to that.

You should have seen the young Russian women at the Sochi House promoting the 2014 Winter games

Cheers,
Vic

trilinearmipmap · #7 02-17-2010, 11:08 PM

I have mixed feelings about these games.

First of all the Canadian team have come out quite outspoken about "we are going to own the podium". There have been interviews where people from the Canadian team are predicting Canada will place first in the medal standings. I think they are shooting themselves in the foot. If they place first they come across as braggarts, if they don't they look foolish. It all seems too American for me. Underpromise and overdeliver, don't tell me how good you are, show me.

Second the Georgian luge competitor decelerated from 80 mph to zero in maybe a tenth of a second. If there had been a barrier running lengthwise alongside the track between the track and the metal posts, he would have hit the barrier longwise and at an oblique angle and slid along it rather than stopping immediately. Instead of being dead he would have maybe survived with serious injuries. I don't know if the track is dangerous or if it was just a freak accident, it just seems obvious that you don't place large immobile objects next to a high-speed track just waiting for someone to smack into them.

Third the Roman Empire kept its citizens happy by providing circuses, gladiatorial combat etc. rather than attending to the people's true needs, providing food, education, health care etc. It seems like more of the same to me. My spouse is likely to lose her job thanks to healthcare cutbacks, meanwhile we are blowing ? how many billion dollars on pageantry to entertain the mob for a couple of weeks. Some may be fooled by this, I hope some are not.

Chase31 · #8 02-17-2010, 11:48 PM

now the speedskating is having troubles with there timer... wow

Ron99 · #9 02-18-2010, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trilinearmipmap

I have mixed feelings about these games.

First of all the Canadian team have come out quite outspoken about "we are going to own the podium". There have been interviews where people from the Canadian team are predicting Canada will place first in the medal standings. I think they are shooting themselves in the foot. If they place first they come across as braggarts, if they don't they look foolish. It all seems too American for me. Underpromise and overdeliver, don't tell me how good you are, show me.

Second the Georgian luge competitor decelerated from 80 mph to zero in maybe a tenth of a second. If there had been a barrier running lengthwise alongside the track between the track and the metal posts, he would have hit the barrier longwise and at an oblique angle and slid along it rather than stopping immediately. Instead of being dead he would have maybe survived with serious injuries. I don't know if the track is dangerous or if it was just a freak accident, it just seems obvious that you don't place large immobile objects next to a high-speed track just waiting for someone to smack into them.

Third the Roman Empire kept its citizens happy by providing circuses, gladiatorial combat etc. rather than attending to the people's true needs, providing food, education, health care etc. It seems like more of the same to me. My spouse is likely to lose her job thanks to healthcare cutbacks, meanwhile we are blowing ? how many billion dollars on pageantry to entertain the mob for a couple of weeks. Some may be fooled by this, I hope some are not.

I agree. The expense is excessive given all the other problems that need dealing with and a lack of funding for health care and education. I have nothing against the games in principle but why does it have to be such a big expensive show and have caused so much inconvenience for Vancouverites for the last few years. Why not light a torch, let the athletes compete and that's it? Instead we have to always have one upmanship with respect to the last olympics and put on an even bigger more impressive show and get to spend the next 30 years paying for it. Let's not forget that Montreal just finished paying off the last debt for the '76 games a year or two ago

saltcreep · #10 02-18-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron99

I agree. The expense is excessive given all the other problems that need dealing with and a lack of funding for health care and education. I have nothing against the games in principle but why does it have to be such a big expensive show and have caused so much inconvenience for Vancouverites for the last few years. Why not light a torch, let the athletes compete and that's it? Instead we have to always have one upmanship with respect to the last olympics and put on an even bigger more impressive show and get to spend the next 30 years paying for it. Let's not forget that Montreal just finished paying off the last debt for the '76 games a year or two ago

You can't compare 2010 to 1976 at all. First, the summer games are much larger and come with a greater cost. The Montreal games were held prior to massive sponsorship and tv rights money being infused to help offset the cost of hosting the games.

The money paid for the 2010 games would never have gone into health or education. It's not like the money spent is being flushed down the toilet.

It can be debated to death about the need to upgrade the sea-to-sky but the Canada Line was well needed and will be used for generations. Again, debate the need of the convention centre. The NDP turned down Steve Winn years ago when he offered to pay for the convention centre with his own private money with the contingency that he was allowed to include a casino. Look at all the casinos in town and it makes you shake your head (yes, I know that it wasn't the NDP who allowed that expansion).

Speaking of the NDP, the champions of health care and education....they were the party in power that got the ball rolling with the bid.

Aside from Canada Line and S2S, what inconveniences did it cause for the last few years? Both of those are infrastructure investments that will be beneficial moving forward.