Vancouver!
WINTER OLYMPICS!
What do you think of them so far? What do you expect? Did you watch the opening ceremony? Here's what I have noted of them so far!
THE DEATH OF NODAR KUMARITASHVILI
Hard not to take notice of this tragedy, it's been all over the news. For those of you who do not pay attention to Winter Olympics here's what happened: During a training session before the competition 21-year-old luger from the republic of Georgia, Nodar Kumaritashvili, crashed coming out of the 16th (last) turn and slammed into a steel pole while traveling nearly 90 mph. Although paramedics got to him in a matter of seconds and transported him to hospital Kumaritashvili didn't survive the accident.
Now, I think that if a skilled slider dies in an accident on Olympic track than something's wrong with the track. Especially since the "concerns about the course had been raised for months. There were worries that the $100 million-plus venue was too technically difficult, and a lack of significant practice time by everyone but the host nation’s sliders would result in a rash of accidents."
And there were accidents:
"Earlier in the day, two-time Olympic champion Armin Zoeggeler of Italy crashed, losing control of his sled on Curve 11. Zoeggeler came off his sled and held it with his left arm to keep it from smashing atop his body. He slid on his back down several curves before coming to a stop and walking away.
A Romanian woman was knocked unconscious and at least four Americans-Chris Mazdzer on Wednesday, Megan Sweeney on Thursday and both Benshoof and Bengt Walden on Friday in the same training session where Zoeggeler wrecked-have had serious trouble just getting down the track."
But according to the officials it's not their fault. (Although, I don't think the one who designed this track feels guilt-free now. In fact, whoever this poor man is, I pity him. The knowledge that you designed a track on which a man died? That must be horrible.) The officials say:
"Their investigation showed that the crash was the result of human error and that “there was no indication that the accident was caused by deficiencies in the track.”
In a joint statement they said Kumaritashvili was late coming out of the next-to-last turn and failed to compensate. “This resulted in a late entrance into curve 16 and although the athlete worked to correct the problem, he eventually lost control of the sled, resulting in the tragic accident.” "
source of the quotes and info
THE OPENING CEREMONY
To be honest I only watched the ending of a repeat of the Ceremony. But seriously, in Europe the live show started at around 3AM depending on the country. That's LATE. (And I was just coming back from a party then. No energy left for watching Eurosport then.)
But I caught enough to know Donald Sutherland carried the Olympic flag and that they failed to bring up one of the torches. Although at the time me and my brother just though they had problems rising the whole thing, what with them repeating the same song twice. We thought it was just that and that the person left standing with a torch, doing nothing, was the hockey player Wayne Gretzky, who later went to lit up the Olympic Light outside the stadium. But no, apparently he got to do it two times while speedskater Catriona Lemay Doan didn't. BECAUSE ONE OF THE CAULDRONS DIDN'T RISE. That's sad. Again, I pity the one who was responsible for this. Heads will fall.
THE KING IS BACK ( AND THE JACK TOO)
I'm a fan of figure skating. Especially the men singles. I'm not a big fan of pairs, but if I had to chose I would say I prefer skating pairs over ice dancers. And since, as I mentioned, I'm watching men singles I have to say I'm extremely happy that my beloved king of skates came back.
Evgeni Plushenko is my kings name and he's a Russian skater who already has one olympic gold and now came back from retirement to try and snatch another one for his home country. He already won the first tournament in which he competed after coming back and that were European Championships. So he's back and he's going strong. However, I don't know if I wouldn't like it more if he won silver medal since there's another guy who came back to compete in Olympics.
Stéphane Lambiel is his name and he took silver, was second to Evgeni, in this year's European Championships. He also took silver when Evgeni won his Olympic Gold in 2006. He's a cookie and a cute one at that. Hard not to like him and wish him all that's best, you know? And after all those silvers it's only fair he finally wins one gold, but as it is - Let the best one be the winner.
So I ask you again: What do you think of them so far? What do you expect? TELL ME!
[This pic has been shamelessly (shamelessly) stolen from keleosnoonna . (Because I'm to lazy to look for it elsewhere and it's cute).]