vanDoug Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Gauging reactions from the last winter games on this board I realize this is not a very popular event for most of you. I'm not the biggest fan either but some of the events do interest me. This time though, it's in my back yard - literally, so my interest level is up. My apartment overlooks Robson Square in Vancouver which is one of the celebration zones. Large screens, speakers, massive amounts of lighting, zip tracks, flame towers, ice rink, closed off streets, etc. It should be quite a party Vancouver. Spectacular setting bounded by water, mountains and the U.S. border. Not a big city by U.S. standards. 2 + million metro area. The largest city to host the winter games, it's about the size of Cleveland, but with a bigger downtown. Olympic events will take place in the city, the North Shore Mountains and in Whistler, a 90 minute drive north. Some people will love it here, some will hate it. Security. Easily the single biggest concern. Many people I know and work with are flat out scared about what might happen. But as you folks well know, you cannot let that affect your daily lives. Security will be everywhere and in many forms. I'm trusting they will do their jobs. Canadian Athletes. Canada has hosted the summer games in Montreal 76 and winter games in Calgary 88. In neither event did Canada win a gold medal. The pressure is on these kids to not only win many gold medals but to outright win the games. Anyway, I'm hoping it's a lot of fun. The opening ceremonies are tonight. The big question is who's going to be the last torch bearer and light the cauldron. Many are guessing Gretzky. I'll post some pics and some words about what's going on. If you want to look and read, great. Best of luck to your athletes thanks, d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Shame the first real news is the accidental death of a Georgian bobsledder. Certain Gretzky will light the lamp. Looking forward to some good hockey, that is, if NBC doesn't eff things up with tape delay and cutting in and out. It's completely lost on NBC that no one gives a sheet about the struggles athlete X had to get there with their sappy background crap rather than showing actual competition. NBC presents this like a 2 week soap opera. I want to see Team USA do good but suspect they will be overmatched against Canada, Russia and Sweden(The King will steal some games). Other than Parise doubt any US forward could amke the Canadian team. Any idea if Jagr is playing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 The video of the luger's death is shocking in the sense that they built this track with steel support girders right on the edge of the track, so that if any sledder leaves it on the straightaway there's gonna be a serious problem, and right as it comes out of a curve and into a straightaway. Not sure if other tracks are built like this but would think this is something they would have considered when they built it. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6202459n Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Banner Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I'm not watching it but I don't watch the summer olympics either. I think dropping the amateur requirement really killed the spirit of the thing for me. Or maybe it was the end of the cold war. If it was both, then I think bringing back the amateur requirement would be more practical than bringing back the cold war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanDoug Posted February 13, 2010 Author Share Posted February 13, 2010 I think dropping the amateur requirement really killed the spirit of the thing for me. I hear there's a strong possibilty that NHL players will not take part in the next winter games. As for the other sports, not sure how many are pros. If professional means getting paid, then I guess a lot of them get paid in some form. Anyway, Day 1 started off horribly with the accident in Whistler. You'd think track builders of this nature would have these things figured out. Sad. Not sure how much of the opening ceremonies got televised in the US, but we got the full meal deal up here. Some parts were quite good, but some of it was just........what? There are several pavilions around town from the various countries and Canadian provinces.....read huge beer tents and party places with massive screens so you can watch the games. Today seems like a good day to visit them and take in some culture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanDoug Posted February 13, 2010 Author Share Posted February 13, 2010 The view from my balcony last night during the opening ceremonies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanDoug Posted February 13, 2010 Author Share Posted February 13, 2010 If you look closely in the center of the picture you'll see the zip track start tower (blue) During the games, people can zip across Robson Sq for free. There will be huge lineups for this today. Fans of X-men movies might recognize the building on the left. One of the characters jumped and flew out of this building. Another grey day in Vancouver, no snow anywhere in the city. Hope all you folks with snow are keeping warm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montreal Jet Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 The view from my balcony last night during the opening ceremonies. Awesome picture. Enjoy the games, i love the winter olympics and CBC and TSN are going to do a great job !!! GO CANADA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybroome Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Awesome picture. Enjoy the games, i love the winter olympics and CBC and TSN are going to do a great job !!! GO CANADA I need to get North of the border to visit at least once in my life. I hear the fishing is awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montreal Jet Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I need to get North of the border to visit at least once in my life. I hear the fishing is awesome. Hope to go to Lake Louise Alberta next year and Vancouver, one of the nicest places in Canada. Btw, the fishing in British Columbia is supposed to be awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Sure it is off-topic but who is watching? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Doug I merged this and put it in the NFL forum for now, so more people will see it! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybroome Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Sure it is off-topic but who is watching? Not me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vudu Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Luge is the dumbest sport ever invented. Who was the dickhead that thought it was a good idea to have a human riding on a projectile going almost 100MPH with out a single fail safe or safety belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybroome Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Luge is the dumbest sport ever invented. Sorry Brown Sugar, but I think you have it confused with hockey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visajets Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 NY Jets \ NFL Talk Talk about the New York Jets and the NFL here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanDoug Posted February 14, 2010 Author Share Posted February 14, 2010 Sorry if some of you are pi$$ed off about this thread being here. Day 2 didn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visajets Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Its time the Canadian Fire Dept got out the fire trucks and sprayed those 200 protestors with high powered streams of water. Stay safe-------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanDoug Posted February 14, 2010 Author Share Posted February 14, 2010 Something many of you probably don't hear much about is women's hockey. The U.S. and Canada are the 2 powers in this sport and are probably on a collision course for the gold medal game. It's a great, but little known rivalry. Yesterday the Canadian women edged Slovakia 18-0. Today the U.S. women play China. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 18-0 was a disgrace. They should've called off the dogs at 10, but they didn't. I wathced the game from 6-0 on at the local bar, and wow, that was just sad. US should kill China today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crusher Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hope to go to Lake Louise Alberta next year and Vancouver, one of the nicest places in Canada. Btw, the fishing in British Columbia is supposed to be awesome We go once a year to Val-d'Or Canada for Walleye fishing. Place is absolutely amazing. Average size is like catching big ones on the lake I grew up on. Every year I've been their we've caught fish bigger than the year before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 18-0 was a disgrace. They should've called off the dogs at 10, but they didn't. I wathced the game from 6-0 on at the local bar, and wow, that was just sad. US should kill China today. 18 - 0 is a bit extreme. I didn't see it and I don't know what olympic protocol is for that sport. Seems a bit much though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crusher Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 18 - 0 is a bit extreme. I didn't see it and I don't know what olympic protocol is for that sport. Seems a bit much though. 18-1 is a bit gay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Thanks VanDoug Being a hockey fan I will watch that mostly- pressure is on Canadian teams to win this or all hell will break loose up there I am sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJ Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 The view from my balcony last night during the opening ceremonies. How blowaway is that? I'm happy for you brother - enjoy the events! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 I was just watching figure skating and then I realized I wasn't gay. Someone let me know when figure skating is over. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aec4 Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 We need an official watching the grass grow thread.. because that's more entertaining. I have a simple rule. A sport is something that you win by scoring more (or less) than your opponent, and for the most part, the outcome is objective (highest score wins, scores are made by doing something). An athletic activity is something that takes being an athlete, but someone JUDGES whether you win or not, and is EXTREMELY subjective. With few exceptions, the Winter Olympics is a group of athletic activities, not sports. (Hockey is one big notable exception. Speed skating is another... fastest time wins) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crusher Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 I was just watching figure skating and then I realized I wasn't gay. Someone let me know when figure skating is over. Thanks. Personally I'd like to see you in a uni-tard, but I like most have my own demons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCarl40 Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Sorry Brown Sugar, but I think you have it confused with hockey. Hockey = awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Personally I'd like to see you in a uni-tard, but I like most have my own demons. Again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillerPaul Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Hockey = awesome. Pay no mind to the Cinci fan my fellow Penguin loving friend. Their only off-season enjoyment is trying to keep Kentucky from over-ruling their city and the Carson Palmer corn hole classic. I don't count all their players running from the law as a sport. Same goes for Ocho Cinco attention whoring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bergen Jet Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 While I always pull for the USA... I wouldn't mind if the married couple from China wins the gold in pairs skating. Nice story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonEJet Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Just a side note..... CANADIANS HATE AMERICANS....another country living off our coat strings, yet they continue to bash us F-them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Have there been any more deaths? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanDoug Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 Women's hockey yesterday US 12 China 1 Talk about running up the score.......on a bunch of little Asian girls Bullies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.