2006 Winter Olympics

[SeanDMan]

2k6 faces to watch

Monday: Who to watch at the Olympics

02/05/2006

Turin

Alpine skiing

Giorgio Rocca

Country: Italy

Born: Aug. 6, 1975

Events: slalom, giant slalom

One of the favorites in the slalom has put two knee operations and a serious lack of self-confidence behind him. He opened the World Cup season by winning the first five slalom events, becoming only the fourth man in history to put together such a streak.

Rocca knows that a medal-winning performance in front of his home fans and the world's TV cameras could make him a star. While American Bode Miller has sponsorship deals with Nike and Italian pasta maker Barilla, Rocca wore a "for rent" sign on his helmet early this season before landing a deal to promote tourism in his home region of Livigno.

Biathlon

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen

Country: Norway

Born: Jan. 27, 1974

Events: 10 km sprint, 12.5 km pursuit, 15 km mass start, 20 km individual, 4x7.5 km relay

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, known as "King Ole," has won five gold medals: one in Nagano, four in Salt Lake City. He struggled through the first half of the 2005-2006 season, giving the Germans hope of knocking off the Norwegians in one of their strong suits. But Bjoerndalen beat a strong field in the last World Cup race before the Olympics. With a repeat of his performance four years ago, Bjoerndalen would pass cross country skier and countryman Bjorn Daelie's (no relation) Winter Olympics record of eight gold medals.

Bobsled

Todd Hays

Country: United States

Born: May 21, 1969

Events: two-man, four-man (driver)

Winner of the silver medal in the four-man event in 2002, Hays has had a strong World Cup season in both sleds. He is ranked the No. 3 driver in the combined standings and entered the final race before the Games in first place in the two-man.

Hays' success is notable given that he missed part of last season because of injury. The rear runner of his four-man sled ran over his little toe, which became infected and required surgery.

A national kickboxing champion in 1993, Hays also was a linebacker at the University of Tulsa.

Hockey, the only real reason to watch the winter olympics

2006 Winter Olympic Preview: Ice Hockey

By Matt Canamucio, Sports Network NHL Editor

(Sports Network) - For the third time in Olympic history, the men's ice hockey tournament will feature the use of National Hockey League players.

The format began with the 1998 Games in Nagano, and continued with the very successful tournament at Salt Lake City four years later. Led by Dominik Hasek, the Czech Republic won the '98 gold with a thrilling victory over Russia, but it wasn't until the '02 Games when the NHL-Olympic partnership was truly grasped by those in North America.

The '02 tournament watched Canada and the United States hop on a collision course with each other. Each team had its own subplots -- Canada's quest to end a 50-year drought and the Americans' attempt to capture Herb Brooks' second gold -- and the squads ultimately met in the gold medal game. Canada posted a 5-2 victory in the match, on the same date it won the nation's last gold 50 years earlier.

Canada's gold medal in 2002 sparked its resurgence as the dominant force in international ice hockey. Since the dramatic triumph, the Canadians have won a pair of IIHF World Championships and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

Overall, ice hockey in the Olympic Games dates back to 1920, when the tournament was part of the Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. The Winter Games then began in 1924 at Chamonix, France.

Twelve countries will compete in this year's tournament: Canada, United States, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland.

TOP CONTENDERS AND CURRENT CHAMPIONS

The Canadians will seek their first string of back-to-back gold medals since winning in 1948 and '52. The last team to win successive Olympic titles was the Soviet Union/Unified Team, which won in 1984, 88 (As Soviet Union) and '92 (As Unified Team).

The United States enters the tournament with a fresh group of faces, vastly different from the core group that helped win the 1996 World Cup and silver at Salt Lake City. Young head coach Peter Laviolette takes the late Brooks' spot on the bench, as the Americans attempt their first gold since 1980's Miracle on Ice.

Hasek and the Czechs will try to re-claim the gold they won eight years ago in Nagano. Once again Jaromir Jagr, who is back on the map as one of the NHL's elite, leads the offensive attack, while youngsters like Ales Hemsky, Petr Prucha and Martin Erat get their first tastes of Olympic action.

Sweden won gold with a thrilling shootout victory over Canada in 1994, but hasn't medaled since then. After opening the '02 tournament with a blowout victory over Canada, the Swedes' hopes were ultimately dashed by an upstart Belarus team in the quarterfinals. This year's roster has several holdovers from past Swedish teams, like Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund, Mats Sundin, Nicklas Lidstrom and Daniel Alfredsson, among others. Overall, the Swedes showcase a very veteran group, with only one player -- goaltender Henrik Lundqvist -- under 24.

Russia picked up bronze in '02, marking its first medal since the Unified Team's gold in Albertville. The days of the Red Army and winning 8-of-10 golds at one point are over, but that doesn't mean the Russians won't contend. In 2002 it was a phenom named Ilya Kovalchuk giving the team a teenage presence, while this year budding superstar Alexander Ovechkin will be the one to watch. One name missing from the '06 roster is Sergei Fedorov, who removed himself from consideration so he could rest a groin injury that has nagged him all season.

Finland will be led by a resurgent Teemu Selanne, who has re-ignited his production with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim this season. Finland never has what appears to be a top team "on paper," but usually finds itself in the hunt -- winning bronze in 1994 and '98. The Fins made their most recent splash on the international stage by finishing second to the Canadians at the 2004 World Cup.

UNITED STATES/CANADIAN OUTLOOK

All you need to know about the Canadian team is that Carolina's Eric Staal and Ottawa's Jason Spezza, two of the NHL's breakout stars this season, were relegated to being taxi squad members. Without Mario Lemieux in the fold, Joe Sakic will captain Canada's attempt for a repeat, and Pat Quinn returns as the head coach.

Todd Bertuzzi, whose selection was a controversial one, is among a pack of powerful forwards that also includes the likes of Jarome Iginla, Joe Thornton and Rick Nash. Executive Director Wayne Gretzky also accounted for the speed needed on the larger ice surface, tagging Martin St. Louis, Simon Gagne and Ryan Smyth for the lineup.

Defensively the group is very similar to the corps we saw in Salt Lake City, while Martin Brodeur returns as the starter in goal, with Roberto Luongo backing him up.

The Americans, meanwhile, return veterans like Chris Chelios, Mike Modano, Bill Guerin and Doug Weight, but many of the holdovers are on or near the downside. There is an obvious lack of superstardom throughout the rest of the roster, with mid-level stars like Brian Gionta, Craig Conroy, Brian Rafalski and Jordan Leopold being relied on very heavily.

The U.S. roster gets even less-experienced as you scroll down to the goaltender section. Neither Rick DiPietro, Robert Esche nor John Grahame have previously participated in Olympic competition.

WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY

Women's ice hockey makes its third appearance at the Olympic Winter Games in Torino.

The event debuted at the 1998 Games in Nagano, where the United States posted a shocking 3-1 victory over Canada in the gold medal game. Four years later, the Canada avenged the loss with a 3-2 decision in Salt Lake City, earning the nation the first half of its gold medal sweep in ice hockey.

The United States, however, enters this tournament as the reigning world champion. Last spring the Americans posted a thrilling 1-0 victory over Canada in a shootout, winning their first-ever IIHF World Championships tournament.

Overall, eight teams will once again compete for the gold at the Olympic Winter Games. In addition to the United States and Canada, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Switzerland and Italy comprise the field.

Preliminary action kicks off on Saturday, February 11, while the playoff round begins on the 17th.

TOP CONTENDERS AND CURRENT CHAMPIONS

Canada has been the dominant presence in women's hockey since it has taken to the international stage over the last 16 years. The Canadians have won eight of the nine IIHF World Championships held since the tournament began in 1990, with the loss to the Americans in 2005 as the only blemish.

The United States, meanwhile, hasn't dominated the Worlds like its neighbor to the north, but since winning silver in Salt Lake City the Americans have had moderate success on the international stage. Aside from last year's world championship, Team USA took home silver in the 2004 Four Nations Cup and '04 Worlds. The club also won silver and gold medals, respectively, at the '02 and '03 Four Nations Cups.

Finland has long been viewed as the third-best country in the world when it comes to women's ice hockey. The Finns won bronze in Nagano and finished fourth at Salt Lake City, losing to Sweden in the bronze medal game. In World Championship action, Finland has won the bronze all but two times -- with 2001 and '05 as the exceptions.

Sweden has emerged as a solid women's hockey team in recent years, winning bronze in both the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and the '05 IIHF World Championships.

UNITED STATES/CANADIAN OUTLOOK

United States head coach Ben Smith will stand behind the bench for this third Olympics, and he'll bring with him a team that possesses a strength of experience. Angela Ruggiero, Jenny Potter, Katie King and Tricia Dunn-Luoma will participate in their third Winter Games, while 10 other skaters will make their second straight Olympic appearances.

Ruggiero, a defenseman, enters the tournament as one of the American stars. Since Salt Lake City, the Harvard alum has won the 2004 Patty Kazmaier Award, which goes annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's hockey. She has also signed on to play for the Montreal Axion in the National Women's Hockey League.

Canada, meanwhile, returns 13 players who claimed gold against the U.S. at Salt Lake City. Only two players on the experienced roster have not represented the country in either the Olympics or World Championships.

The face of women's hockey in Canada remains forward Hayley Wickenheiser, who has been a member of the national team since 1995. Since Salt Lake, Wickenheiser made history by becoming the first female player to record a point in a men's professional game, as she played briefly for Kirkkonummi Salamat of the Mestis league in Finland.

And, since it's all I seem to be hearing about lately...

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) released today a new capital budget for the construction of venues and other infrastructure necessary to host the world in 2010. With $85 million in cost reductions already identified, VANOC reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous cost and risk management in the most challenging construction environment in Canada.

“We will stop at nothing to responsibly manage the risk of cost increases through rigorous venue planning and design, negotiations and cost controls,” said VANOC Chief Executive Officer John Furlong.

Vancouver 2010 confirmed that the 2010 Games’ venue budget is now estimated at $580 million or 23 per cent more than the $470 million venue construction estimate contained in the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation’s 2002 submission to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). That initial capital estimate was prepared, according to IOC requirements and bid rules, in 2002 dollars with no adjustment for inflation and/or potential rising construction costs. The Bid Corporation acknowledged at the time of submission that its bid capital estimate would require adjustments for these unpredictable factors in the future.

“Understanding the heated construction environment we are operating in, our team spent the past two years rigorously examining every potential savings and efficiency. We’ve identified $85 million in venue cost efficiencies so far,” said John Furlong, “and we will do everything in our power to find savings and manage risk until every venue is finished. We are determined not to return to the taxpayers of Canada for additional public funds to complete the venue program.”

VANOC has formally asked the provincial and federal governments to share equally ($55 million each) in the funding of the estimated $110 million increase in capital costs. The $55 million request to each government includes a contingency allowance of $26 million.

A March 2005 consultants’ report predicted that VANOC’s capital costs could increase by more than 41 per cent or $195 million, for a total of $665 million, through to construction completion unless significant changes were made to its venue program. VANOC undertook a comprehensive project-by-project review of the venue program, including: work completed to date, the status of venue design, tendering schedules, partner agreements and the impact of rising costs on construction materials, labour and equipment. This review resulted in the identification of $85 million in cost efficiencies, which have been reflected in VANOC’s revised capital budget. The review also included a line by line assessment of the risk of costs exceeding projections. This assessment helped VANOC to form the basis of its request to senior governments for additional support.

Discussions with the provincial government regarding the funding request are ongoing and will begin in earnest with the new incoming federal government as soon as possible. As these discussions will take some time and will include considerable due diligence by both BC and Canada government officials, an immediate answer to Vancouver 2010’s request is not expected.

“Our new capital budget represents the estimation of capital construction costs and details the extent of public funding required to build 2010 Games venues to the appropriate world standard,” Furlong said. “We wanted to communicate our new budget to the public as soon as possible after discussions with our partners.”

“We’re dealing with a highly-charged business and construction environment in BC that shows no sign of slowing down,” Furlong said. “Certain of our major venues are large, unique and complex structures with exacting safety and sport requirements that leave little room for adjustment. Some require not only extensive steel and concrete but also highly specialized and experienced contractors.”

“It is clear that until venue construction is completed in 2008 there will continue to be the risk of unforeseen cost increases. Our pledge to taxpayers is to limit their investment in these venues to $580 million,” he concluded.

Venue construction activity in 2005, which largely consisted of site preparation, was completed on-time and within VANOC’s revised budget projections. Vancouver 2010 is currently designing facilities and negotiating major building contracts and tendering contracts that will trigger the busiest year of venue construction activity yet in 2006.

To protect its negotiating position and secure the most competitive bids, VANOC will not provide a full project-by-project accounting of estimated venue construction costs until after major contracts for all venues are secured and signed.

So yeah. The Olympics suck, but at least the US should do okay at hockey.

[naiwf]

I hope Michelle Kwan finishes somewhere around 7th just so I don't have to see that bitch skate again. I don't really care about any of the particular athletes involved but I'll be sure to watch luge, bobsled, speed skating and ski jumping.

[Laice07]

Looking forward to the hockey of course and the skating competitions. Hell, I'll watch some of the Skiing stuff if I don't have too much work this month.

[SeanDMan]

Luge is class. I had a cousin who did skeleton/luge at the amatuer games over here. It's pretty intense.

I'd say that the Winter Olympics definitely make for "can miss" TV. Their only real redeeming quality is Olympic hockey, which is appointment TV if you have a good team. The Summer Olympics are even worse, though, with the Olympic Basketball being so dreadfully boring and predictable, and Olympic Baseball now being marginalized by the MLB's World Cup thingamabob.

But there are some interesting things to watch, if you're dying of cancer.

[LL!]

But there are some interesting things to watch, if you're dying of cancer.

No, there still isn't.

[ACCBiggz]

Shaun White should dominate the 1/2 pipe. Curling gets some national air time as well this Olympics. All USA hockey games are aired live and commercial free

Should be better than Salt lake.

[Dogbert]

... and Jordan Leopold being relied on very heavily.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Hopefully Sweden will win the Ice Hockey! I'll be cheering them on as usual!

Britain's main chances lie in the mens and womens skeleton luge (our woman is world number one) and the curling as usual.

Our downhill skiier is also improving and a top ten finish is more than possible.

We get more medals in the winter paralympics.

It's half term next week so I'll be home all day watching it cos competitive sport is the best thing on this earth.

[NobBe Nobbs]

I want to know why England/Britain never sends in a team for the Olympics. Some of our players aren't as shit as you might think, you know.

In the absence of a Home Nation team, I'll be cheering on any team with a Leaf in it, so primarily Sweden and Canada.

[gunnar hendershow]

I hope Kimmie wins a medal in figure skating since she lives close to me (15 minutes) and a lot of my friends actually know her. I also hope that we get as much Gretchen time as possible in snowboarding. Oh, and Canada will likely win in hockey... but never doubt the power of my avatar and Russia.

[Liam]

I want to know why England/Britain never sends in a team for the Olympics. Some of our players aren't as shit as you might think, you know.

Because we'd get pissed on by every team.

Plus I think there is some kinda qualification system.

[hugobomb]

and because they would need to send one as Great Britain which the Scot, Welsh and Northern Irish are against because about two of their player would make it into the side.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

There are pre-Olympics qualifications.

Although our British team is okay (not as good as our para-ice hockey team who ARE good) we normally miss out by a couple of places...

[Liam]

Our British team is ok relative to what?

We'd get wizzed on in the Olympics so badly, it'd be pointless sending them, to be honest. It goes past the point where it would be experience, as losing 15+ - 0 wouldn't be experience of any kind.

[Ananas]

As a point of reference, the United Kingdom is ranked 25th in Men's hockey and 20th in Women's. I'm not sure how the qualification system works, but one would assume the UK isn't exactly next in line to participate.

And although I know it's a guaranteed medal for Canada, is it obvious to anyone else that Women's hockey shouldn't be a part of the Olympics? We just saw baseball removed from the competition because it wasn't competitive enough, and if you haven't noticed while watching the Canadians absolutely massacring the Italians, Women's hockey isn't any better. It's a two horse race, and it's been that way since it debuted.

[ACCBiggz]

I think they want it to be a novelty.

[wCwCreator]

Women's Hockey: Canada kills Italy 16-0.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

The Sweden - Russia game was good. The Swedish captain played fantastically (for the little I know about Ice Hockey!)

I spent the afternoon watching Men's luge though - the 52 year old Venezualan guy was great!

Shame that it's pretty much guaranteed win for the Italian as it's his home track and has gone down it about 1000 times more than anyone else.

[Jester of Death]

Women's Hockey: Canada kills Italy 16-0.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Heehee short track speed skaing...

I love that clip of everyone wiping out in the final and the Aussie skating through from last to take the gold...