Winter Olympics

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Wow. I was watching speed skating and a hockey game broke out. What a check!!! And then they did a nascar pit stop on some guy's skate.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

True enough, but these are labeled as the Olympic Winter Games, not sports.

I'm not a really fan of judged competitions, and that eliminates probably at least 1/3 of the events being staged at P.F. Chang.

Well, the Olympics ARE in Asia.

http://people.com/food/chicago-news-station-pf-chang-olympics/

 

[Julie's Haircut]

Big day for Canada so far!

Let's Go Canada!!

I've noticed that the rise of Canada and the US as powerhouses in the Winter Olympics is almost entirely due to the introduction of new sports and events. Snowboarding, moguls, curling, women's hockey, short-track, team figure skating, etc. If the same program existed today as at Calgary in 1988, Canada would currently have two medals and the US one, And luge medals at Calgary would have been unthinkable for Canada and the US.

I'm glad the IOC increasingly has added events to even out the field and prevent runaways by the European countries in the medal counts.

Call me weird, but I really enjoy biathlon. There’s such strategy - ski too hard and you’ll be out of breath & miss your targets. Ski too slow and you lose the race. And it’s such a goofy concept for a sport anyway! Loved seeing the 50th ranked guy take the silver!!

I'm weird too and have enjoyed biathlon for decades.

As for goofy concepts, the IOC should include more hybrid sports. How about bobsled slope-style? Or a speed skating/curling combo?

Heck, if biathlon can combine winter Olympics cross country skiing with summer Olympics shooting, why not luge archery?, shooting arrows at targets while sliding down the track.

 

[Disney_Alli]

I'm not sure I'd call curling "new" it was in the Olympics as far back as the 1920s, removed, then reintroduced 8 years ago.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm not sure I'd call curling "new" it was in the Olympics as far back as the 1920s, removed, then reintroduced 8 years ago.

Well mixed doubles curling is new this year.

But normal curling has been in and out of the olympics. No it's not new perse but it's not been consistently in the olympics. Without that aspect it's something of a newer-ish event especially when you consider strengths and weaknesses of countries and specific sports and medals count.

Curling was in the 1924 and 1932 olympics and wasn't back in until 1988--that's a very very long break. Then it was in the 1992, 1998, 2002,2006,2010,2014 and 2018.

ETA: Before 1998 it was considered a demonstration sport and wasn't added to the official program until 1998. That means it's only been a part of the official program for 6 winter olympics.

 

[declansdad]

I've noticed that the rise of Canada and the US as powerhouses in the Winter Olympics is almost entirely due to the introduction of new sports and events. Snowboarding, moguls, curling, women's hockey, short-track, team figure skating, etc. If the same program existed today as at Calgary in 1988, Canada would currently have two medals and the US one, And luge medals at Calgary would have been unthinkable for Canada and the US.

I'm glad the IOC increasingly has added events to even out the field and prevent runaways by the European countries in the medal counts.

That is part of it for Canada. Before the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, a group was created called Own The Podium. It's goal was to use targeted funding to develop athlete with medal potential. The goal was to get to the top of the medal table, we were close...won the most gold and were 3rd overall in total medals.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

That is part of it for Canada. Before the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, a group was created called Own The Podium. It's goal was to use targeted funding to develop athlete with medal potential. The goal was to get to the top of the medal table, we were close...won the most gold and were 3rd overall in total medals.

I remember hearing about the Own The Podium program. By the standards of most of the world, Canada DID top the medal standings in Vancouver, based on most golds, not total medals.

Canada might possibly top the world in another statistic: fourth place finishes. I've read records of the Olympics going way back, both summer and winter, all types of sports, and it's amazing how often Canada just missed making the podium.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Remember back when there was the debate about what color was the fastest to wear for long track speed skating?

Some people said it was blue. Some people said that was hogwash.

Well I was right. Whatever color the Dutch decide to wear is fastest.

 

[declansdad]

Remember back when there was the debate about what color was the fastest to wear for long track speed skating?
.
Some people said it was blue. Some people said that was hogwash.

Well I was right. Whatever color the Dutch decide to wear is fastest.

It's not the colour, it is because it is there primary mode of transportation. Well that's what I heard.

 

[ronandannette]

Big day for Canada so far!

Let's Go Canada!!

Yep! Our results in the Winter Olympics every 4 years almost makes living in this hellish, ice-covered nightmare 7 months of the year worthwhile. Go Canada Go!!

 

[kimblebee]

Yep! Our results in the Winter Olympics every 4 years almost makes living in this hellish, ice-covered nightmare 7 months of the year worthwhile. Go Canada Go!!

Yikes! Tell us how you really feel..

 

[ronandannette]

Yikes! Tell us how you really feel..

Ask me next week after a Chinook blows through...

 

[RedAngie]

I was surprised with the very credible performance by the North Korean figure skating pair. I suppose I was expecting something barely passable.

 

[Action City]

I was surprised with the very credible performance by the North Korean figure skating pair. I suppose I was expecting something barely passable.

They did amazing. Johnny Weir said they were the only ones who made the team due to merit.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

A Muzaked version of the beatles? That's blasphemy. Trash performance. I award you no points, you are hereby suspended for the next two Olympics. And may God have mercy on your souls.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I was surprised with the very credible performance by the North Korean figure skating pair. I suppose I was expecting something barely passable.

They beat our pair.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

BOOOM!!! WE OWN THE HALF PIPE!!!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

A Muzaked U2 song? You can join the Beatles Usurpers in purgatory.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

14th place in the pairs. Oh yeah!!!!

 

[ronandannette]

LOVED Shaun White!! Has anyone heard how badly that little fella from Japan was hurt on the half-pipe? What a horrifying fall.