2010 Winter Olympic Games

[Mr. Broken]

I find the winter games more entertaining than the summer, perhaps because of the speed involved in most of the winter events. I always look forward to the Hockey, and the ski jumpers, The Bobsled, and yes Curling.What is your favorite event?

[High Lord Tolkien]

When is it this year? Has it started yet? I like watching it but the American commentators are incapable keeping their mouths shut during an event and ruin it for me all the time.

[Mr. Broken]

Feb 12-28 in Vancouver B.C. What a great city I havent been there 18 years.

[Menolly]

First let me say I love your new avatar, Mr. B.

I'm one of those who love gymnastics, especially rhythmic gymnastics (the women's sport with the trailing ribbon or the hoop), in the summer and figure skating/ice dancing in the winter. But the X-game style sports that have made it in as officially sanctioned games are drawing my attention as well.

However, Opening and Closing Ceremonies are my favorite part of all.

I definitely prefer the Winter Olympics over the Summer Olympics.

[matrixman]

I find the winter games more entertaining than the summer, perhaps because of the speed involved in most of the winter events.

Yes, you nailed it. I always tune into the long track speed skating events - I am just in awe of those who do it, the stamina required. Back in 2006 at the Turin Games, I was on cloud nine due to hometown girl Cindy Klassen's incredible accomplishments.

The alpine ski events are just as exciting, particularly the downhill races: nothing like the sheer speed and spectacle of men and women plunging down the side of a freaking mountain, risking life and limb.

The ski jumps are pretty good, too, though I have no specific favorite memories.

[Mr. Broken]

I find the winter games more entertaining than the summer, perhaps because of the speed involved in most of the winter events.

Yes, you nailed it. I always tune into the long track speed skating events - I am just in awe of those who do it, the stamina required. Back in 2006 at the Turin Games, I was on cloud nine due to hometown girl Cindy Klassen's incredible accomplishments.

The alpine ski events are just as exciting, particularly the downhill races: nothing like the sheer speed and spectacle of men and women plunging down the side of a freaking mountain, risking life and limb.

The ski jumps are pretty good, too, though I have no specific favorite memories.

Man when one of those inside skaters goes down in the curve its like a ten car pileup at Talladega, only the skaters dont have cars wrapped around them to protect themselves from other skates. Bobsled crashes are pretty wicked as well, but the ski jumpers forget about it, these guys crash worse than any other sport. Hopefully nobody gets hurt though.

[Dromond]

I've always enjoyed the Winter games more, and agree, curling is pretty cool!

[Mr. Broken]

Does anyone even bother watching the opening ceremonies, I never do. Im not much of a parade fan.

[Harbinger]

The ski jumping is badass. Balls made of steel.

Did you see that a Olympic Georgian bobsledder died today while practicing? The course itself is under scrutiny.

[Menolly]

I like both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
But then, I like pomp.

However, a shame for the Games to be opening on such a note...

Joint Statement from IOC, VANOC and FIL

It is with great regret that we confirm the death of the Georgian luge athlete, Nodar Kumaritashvili, during the final training session at the Whistler Sliding Centre, this morning.

Mr Kumaritashvili died after crashing on the last corner of the course during training. Doctors were unable to revive the athlete, who died in hospital.

“Our first thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the athlete. The whole Olympic Family is struck by this tragedy, which clearly casts a shadow over these Games”, said the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge.

“We are deeply struck by this tragedy and join the IOC in extending our condolences to the family, friends and teammates of this athlete, who came to Vancouver to follow his Olympic dream”, said John Furlong, the CEO of VANOC, the Games Organising Committee.

For the International Luge Federation, President Josef Fendt said: “This is a terrible accident. This is the gravest thing that can happen in sport, and our thoughts and those of the ‘luge family’, are naturally with those touched by this event.”

An investigation is underway into the circumstances of the accident. Training was suspended and technical officials are now trying to establish the causes.

[matrixman]

A colleague told me the news as I was leaving work today.

Having read further on this, it seems quite a few lugers crashed on this course on their training runs.
Even defending Olympic champ Armin Zoeggeler crashed.

Other athletes had these comments about the track:

"I think they are pushing it a little too much," Australia's Hannah Campbell-Pegg said Thursday night after she nearly lost control in training. "To what extent are we just little lemmings that they just throw down a track and we're crash-test dummies? I mean, this is our lives."

American slider Bengt Walden also crashed in training.

"You're trying to let the sled run more and that's when mistakes happen," said Walden.. "Once you think you've got it figured out and you're being calm, that's when things like this happen."

Added Walden: "I don't think they're going to build more faster tracks than this. I think the (governing body) FIL was almost unhappy with how fast the track turned out to be."

[Mr. Broken]

A colleague told me the news as I was leaving work today.

Having read further on this, it seems quite a few lugers crashed on this course on their training runs.
Even defending Olympic champ Armin Zoeggeler crashed.

Other athletes had these comments about the track:

"I think they are pushing it a little too much," Australia's Hannah Campbell-Pegg said Thursday night after she nearly lost control in training. "To what extent are we just little lemmings that they just throw down a track and we're crash-test dummies? I mean, this is our lives."

American slider Bengt Walden also crashed in training.

"You're trying to let the sled run more and that's when mistakes happen," said Walden.. "Once you think you've got it figured out and you're being calm, that's when things like this happen."

Added Walden: "I don't think they're going to build more faster tracks than this. I think the (governing body) FIL was almost unhappy with how fast the track turned out to be."

This incident is very sad, I watched the run and found it very difficult, because I realized I was watching the final 48 seconds of that poor kids life. The crash itself wasnt spectacular, he didnt even bounce which is somewhat comforting because if nothing else good can be said about it he certainly didnt suffer. All I can think about now is his poor parents, what had to be one of the proudest moments of their lives turned into a tragedy, but perhaps this incident will prevent any more from occurring on Whistlers poorly designed 100 million dollar Luge run.

[Kalkin]

Surely the run was tested before the games? When people put themselves in a position were they have little control and they try to go as fast as they can, this is going to happen. It's a shame, but it's going to happen.

[Mr. Broken]

I guess one of the safety precautions that they will be taking is to have the men start from the womens platform so that the men will not be able to reach the 90 mph range, for what its worth, I saw that crash yesterday, and the way he hit that pole would have been fatal at 30 mph. They are also erecting wooden high walls to prevent atletes from flying off that side of the track. Its good that they are dealing with the problems, but one should also consider that luge, and Bobsled have always been considered deadly dangerous.

[matrixman]

Yes, it's a valid point that these are high risk sports we are discussing.
Nevertheless, people should not have to die for the sake of a sporting event - in today's world, at any rate.
Aside from the human tragedy, for me as a spectator it's a serious turn off.
(No, I haven't had the appetite to watch any of the luge since the accident.)

I've heard the argument that the Georgian luger was young and inexperienced, and that was what led to his more violent loss of control, versus the more experienced lugers who can "manage" themselves better if and when they lose control of their sleds. I leave it to you to decide how reasonable or harsh that argument is.

[Mr. Broken]

It wont keep me from watching, but I have stopped saying that it looks like fun.

[Kalkin]

You can't push your butt out over the edge and expect to pull it back unharmed every time. Just won't happen. I am a little sick of the blame-gamery the networks have been engaging in, though. It is inherently dangerous to slide down a hill at 90 miles an hour with pretty much no protection. People have and will die doing it, end of story. Just usually, you don't see it happening.

[StevieG]

Didn't he crash into an exposed steel beam? Perhaps that part of it can be looked at - making the areas of danger less disastrous.

Obviously it's a dangerous sport, but surely there are some precautions, like hiding those exposed beams, and creating a smooth surface if a racer comes off the track ...

Anyway, I'm not much of an opening/closing ceremony person either - saw the 30 second news story which was enough for me.

Really looking forward to most events though

[Kalkin]

Even if you hide beams he'd have hit something. Bad luck, pure and simple.

[matrixman]

On a lighter note, I'm with Menolly regarding the opening ceremonies. I enjoy an epic spectacle: I appreciate the planning and precise choreography involved in those huge productions. (I only have a problem if things get embellished through video trickery - ahem, Beijing fake fireworks, anyone?)

I thought Vancouver showed particularly imaginative use of light in its stage numbers. Thoroughly impressive!

I don't have cable TV, but I managed to watch the simulcast on CTV's website. Just too bad it got fairly jerky at times.
(I'm paying for broadband internet, and this is what I get? Bah.)