The Vancouver 2010 Olympics

[Carrera75]

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve

Ok, just a disclaimer, this isn't a response to anyone here. More just a bit of a rant after reading some stupid article in the paper this morning.

You know, I gotta say... people just really like to bitch and find fault in everything. Aside from the luge incident, most of these problems are pretty minor in the big picture and many, the media especially, are losing sight of that. I used to be an event planner so I know what kind of crazy crap happens that you don't expect and I have to say that the organizers are doing a pretty good job at taking it in stride. Yeah, ok... they could have made a few better calls here and there but overall they're doing well.

I want to meet the guy who was able to reprogram that whole set-up to run with three arms in 30 seconds and give him a high-five and a case of beer. In show business, s*** happens but the show must go on.

So what if they had to cancel some tickets for Cypress, this isn't the first time that has had to happen for an Olympic venue. And this was done for safety reasons! I saw the standing area the other day and it wasn't looking to pretty. This was a smart call on Vanoc's behalf.

The luge incident is very tragic but it could not have been predicted. I agree that a safety wall would have been good there in the first place, though a rider coming out of the track at that part of the course is just... unbelievable. I was shocked. That was a freak accident. I feel absolutely terrible for him, his family and friends. I must say though he did make a mistake that lead to what happened. I say this not to point the finger elsewhere but more to the point that there were many factors that went it this other than some murderous sliding track that is appeased by death and destruction like it being made out to be.

One of my friends is on the Canadian Sliding team (He better win a gold!) and he said that though the track was a bit crazy he nad many of the riders actually enjoyed it as it IS challenging. He said that sliders are speed-freaks and the faster track was cool to them. He said that when you see the best of the best finding a course challenging (our track isn't the only fast one in the world by the way) it changes the dynamics of the competition. I only tell you guys this just so you can hear the other perspective rather than the one-sided story we usually get told.

And this... this really irks me. Media in London is trash-talking our Olympics, calling them the worst ever... and they are blaming us for all the things that are weather related! First of all, I think it's bad taste that an upcoming host city is bad mouthing the current host. Second of all, I have to apologize to London that we did not sacrifice enough goats to the snow god and that our wizard called in sick, so we couldn't make the weather perfect. Our bad London, our bad. I gotta say it, but when I look outside right now...

I think we are having a better summer Olympics than London will!

Ranting aside, anyone see Sean White's last run in the half-pipe? Holy S***! Dude is like Superman on a snowboard.

Later folks, I'm off to go have FUN at the Olympics!

I totally agree with you Kevin!
This city is not a mess AT ALL....it has been a lot of fun since the Olympics started. It is awesome so see all the people from different countries and the amazing energy that they have brought to this city.

If you don't like the games then stay away and stop bitching.

[BlueWorldAquatic]

Just finally got a chance to read this thread.

The "Own the Podium" ideal is when the Canadian sport technical program launched in January 2005 to prepare Canada to become the top winter sporting nation in the world by 2010. Most of the top countries already support their athletes in more ways then Canada has ever. Our athletes before this relied mostly on fundraising and corporate sponsorship.

If one of our athletes win gold, they are awarded $20,000 for the win. Other countries give their athletes a salary for life, as in Korea and Japan.

Incentive to be best in the world is always there, but financial incentives help more.

Among all Olympics there will be highs and lows, unfortunately in my personal opinion. The Olympics have become too commercialized, and they have forgotten the base roots of competition.

In '88 we seen the likes of "Eddie the Eagle" and the "Jamaican bobsled team", that is the true gift of the Olympics, the "Olympic" experience for all.

Unfortunately, as in all competition, everyone strives to be faster stronger, etc... they have weed out the likes of the above for safety reasons.

Furthermore they have taken the Olympic experience away from the regular person. You have to pay to see the medals ceremony from the spectators of that specific sport, awarding most of the medals at GM place at a cost of $20-$55 a person.

You cannot even get a clear picture of the Olympic flame because it is surrounded by a chain link fence, keeping the people away. Why didn’t they put it on a barge like they did the rings? At least this way it doesn’t make the common person feel like they are locked away.

Did anyone try getting tickets for any events? That alone was a horror story in itself. After the IOC, Vanoc, corporate sponsorship, what tickets were left available for the average person? Not many.

As for London, let them say what they want. We have better weather here in winter than they have in the summer. The British media always love a chance to criticize Canada for anything that they can. The probably do the same for Australia also.

Just my opinion,

Ken - BWA

[Veng68]

Originally Posted by Treebeard

It was much too close! But why did Babcock sit out Iginla for pretty much the entire third period? Babcock needs to get his lines set and quit juggling.

He may be injured........ took a hit and may have a concussion.......... I hope not.......... at least not until the NHL season restarts

Cheers,
Vic

[Crytone]

Originally Posted by Veng68

He may be injured........ took a hit and may have a concussion.......... I hope not.......... at least not until the NHL season restarts

Cheers,
Vic

I think he may have sat him out for the simple fact that there just wasn't the magic in the front line we saw in game 1. Canada looked a little sloppy and everyone seemed to be glory hogs (ie- going for that solo goal instead of passing). I think he was likely playing with the frontline to see what other combinations might work last night.

[Doug]

Hmmmmmmmmm. Wonder why its called skeleton? Why does it remind me of Chevy Chase?

I had a bigger sleigh when I was 5.

[Doug]

Well I thought yesterday was a bad day with our two man bob tipping while likely in 1st. and our two brothers short track skaters coming up short

but

guess this puts it all in perspective.
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/figure-ska...tml?cid=rsstsn

Just so sad after all she has been through. IMO and I have seen them all over the last 30yrs. One of our most resilient womens skater ever. Kept picking herself up and not quiting or just turning pro because you fall a few times at majors.

Now she is one of the worlds best and someone that the girls on all the rinks, wishing to compete at that level, can look up to.

My heart goes out to her and her family at this time. And a tear ran down my cheek when I read it this morning.

[Kryptic4L]

Originally Posted by BlueWorldAquatic

Did anyone try getting tickets for any events? That alone was a horror story in itself. After the IOC, Vanoc, corporate sponsorship, what tickets were left available for the average person? Not many.

Ken - BWA

I did, but I work for GE, I even had gold medal hockey game tickets sitting in my cart. But they were discounted 8% and were still 2 k for a set of 2.

So I passed on them, as I dont believe in buying ticket's for profit.

this whole thing goes back to the corperate sponsership.

Working for large corperation's who are very structured on pay, based on global average's etc... is more of a reverse union. Make's these prices out of reach for your average employeee.

[dsaundry]

How about some modifications for the next winter olympic's? Full contact curling? Roller derby rules for the short track speed skating?? Figure skating with the politics out of it?? Let the women ski jump! And finally have the ticket scalpers and huge corporations that bought out and overpriced all the tickets put in bobsleds that go off a cliff somewhere, so that regular people have a chance at tickets.As for the weather, Cypress was the only one really hit hard and they still did ok., Weather here is fantastic and nobody could have predicted these warm temps 4 years ago. As for the Georgian athlete, hindsight is 20/20, nobody could have seen that and it's amazing at those speeds there haven't been more fatalities. Opening ceremonies were a bit long, but overall entertaining even with the few faults. Seeing the Australian mens mogul athlete pouting was hilarious, he can go back to Australia and sulk there. Well he's worth millions so I don't feel sorry for him at all, What an A$$clown! As for all the nay sayers about the Olympics, this isn't the worst olympics and the spin offs should pay off in the long run. no point blaming the politicians, it's over and done with. The games are here and thats all. Could the money have gone somewhere else, you betcha, but we all vote the politicians in so stop crying about it. Time to move forward, cheer on your country and have a great time doing it....

[Doug]

[whatcaneyedo]

Originally Posted by yvr75

If you don't like the games then stay away and stop bitching.

Exactly. Our government is going to do what it wants regardless of what we (the minority) want so there is no point in getting all worked up over it. I believe that the Olympics and professional sports in general are a waste of resources. So I'm just not watching it.