2010 Winter Olympics

[Clawson]

It's day one and I already miss CBC coverage. CTV has shoved them Olympics down our throats so much I can't stand them already.

[sahyder1]

Took CTV an hour to announce he died after it was confirmed. Bravo.

They might have gone the route that CNN did here in the US. Wait for an official word from IOC. CNN for hours just said that he was injured.

[Crybaby Bunting]

I'm guessing they're needed to hold up the structure. But yeah, I'm sure they'll look into getting it padded.

I get the feeling that even crashing into something padded at 120 mph isn't going to protect you :/

[sahyder1]

Took a little stab on my blog at who possibly could light the cauldron tonight at the Opening Ceremony. Any guesses from you guys?

As an Olympics buff and being a Canadian on top of it I've been thinking the last couple of days about who the organizers from the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) have in store for us tonight to light the Olympic cauldron. As has become custom there is a lot of secrecy involved. <a href="http://blogs.canoe.ca/vancouver2010/general/will-the-firths-be-the-last/">VANOC CEO John Furlong said yesterday that Wayne Gretzky would not be the one lighting the cauldron</a>. Was that just a decoy?

I just had to put together a little list of people who could be the person to light the cauldron.

<ol>

<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Wayne Gretzky<span id="goog_1266015372152"></span></a> - Is there a more recognizable Canadian anywhere in the world? A legendary hockey player he never did win the Gold Medal as a player but he did put together the 2002 Gold Medal winning Canadian team that ended a 50 year drought. A recent poll showed that <a href="http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=406495.html?__source=rss&amp;cid=">25% of Canadians want him to get the honors</a>.&nbsp;</li>

<li><a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/">David Suzuki</a> - A prominent Canadian scientist who's done a lot of work studying climate change around the globe. He happens to be a Vancouver native. In 2004 he was <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/standings/">named the 5th greatest Canadian of all time</a> by the people of Canada.&nbsp;</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sc/barbara-ann-scott-1.html">Barbara Ann Scott</a> - She was a Gold Medalist at the 1948 Winter Olympics. She is one of the oldest living Canadian Gold Medalist and as far as I can tell she is the oldest Canadian Woman still alive who won Gold.&nbsp;</li>

<li>Betty Fox - A name most will not recognize but is one that has been floating around. She is the mother of <a href="http://www.terryfox.org/">Terry Fox</a>, who is widely recognized as one of the greatest humanitarians Canada has ever seen. He died of cancer but helped raise a lot of money for research running across the country even after one of his legs had to amputated. The IOC has already announced that they will give out a <a href="http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-news/n/news/vancouver-2010-terry-fox-award-to-honour-olympian-who-touches-world--with-courage--humility-and-extraordinary-athletic-abilities-at-2010-winter-games-_191146ui.html">"Terry Fox Award"</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=3152">Trevor Linden</a> - He played parts of 16 seasons for the Vancouver Canucks. He is well respected in the community for his charity work</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gr/nancy-greene-1.html">Nancy Greene</a> - She was voted <a href="http://www.caaws.ca/e/awards/article.cfm?id=95">Canada's Female Athlete of the 20th Century</a>. She won a Gold and a Silver at the 1968 Winter Olympics.&nbsp;</li>

<li><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkela01.shtml">Larry Walker</a> - A native of nearby Maple Ridge, Larry Walker played 17 seasons in the MLB. He is one of the greatest baseball players Canada has ever produced but with this being a Winter Olympics he is a long shot.&nbsp;</li>

<li><a href="http://rickhansen.com/code/navigate.aspx?Id=1">Rick Hansen</a> - Paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 15 he has gone on to become one of the greatest Wheel Chair athletes of all time.&nbsp;</li>

<li><a href="http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/h/howego01.html">Gordie Howe</a> - How can you go wrong with Mr. Hockey? His numbers more than speak for themselves.&nbsp;</li>

<li><a href="http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/h/hendepa01.html">Paul Henderson</a> - <a href="

one of the most famous goals in Canadian history</a>.&nbsp;</li>

</ol>

Who did I miss? Who will it end up being? One thing is for sure though. Whoever ends up with the honor will not top the greatness that was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8qMgJtm2bQ">Muhammad Ali's appearance at the 1996 lighting ceremony</a>.

[Guest DroMPHo]

Gretzky seems too obvious. I'd like it to be Betty Fox, Nancy Greene wouldn't surprise me.

What I'd like to see, although I don't think it's going to happen because I haven't seen it suggested anywhere: in Calgary in 88, some kid was chosen to light the cauldron to symbolize the future. Now that the future is here - both in the world and in Canada's athletic programs - why not bring back the Calgary kid, now a fully-grown adult?

[sahyder1]

Gretzky seems too obvious. I'd like it to be Betty Fox, Nancy Greene wouldn't surprise me.

What I'd like to see, although I don't think it's going to happen because I haven't seen it suggested anywhere: in Calgary in 88, some kid was chosen to light the cauldron to symbolize the future. Now that the future is here - both in the world and in Canada's athletic programs - why not bring back the Calgary kid, now a fully-grown adult?

I like the idea with the kid. Yeah, I'm afraid Gretzky is too obvious. I realized I forgot to mention Michael J. Fox.

[Toe]

CTV showed the video of the crash on air a little while ago. It actually bothered me a bit to see it.

[sahyder1]

CTV showed the video of the crash on air a little while ago. It actually bothered me a bit to see it.

It was aired on the Big 3 Network news tonight. NBC led off their Olympic coverage tonight with it too. As long as they warn the viewers before airing it I don't know a problem with them airing it.

[King Ellis]

I look forward to Chris Benoit lighting the torch.

[Guest DroMPHo]

This is the slowest national anthem ever.

[Toe]

I love our national anthem.

...and this is the special "THX" version with 20 minutes of added music.

Edited February 13, 2010 by Toe

[Guest DroMPHo]

I guess the crowd singing won't happen until the hockey games.

[Katsuya]

Note to organiser people: don't use the bloody echo effect on EVERYTHING/

[King Ellis]

Azarbijan has the best trousers.

Bermudan shorts!

[Guest DroMPHo]

Bermuda wins that race hands-down.

[King Ellis]

Czech! This is like a fashion parade.

That Finn is letting the side down in his fucking jeans. Have some class.

Georgians have a lot of black on them.

[Guest DroMPHo]

Bryan Adams? Ugh.

Yay for Donald Sutherland's voice though.

[King Ellis]

At least your great nation did us a favour and ate him.

[King Ellis]

Who let Ruki read poetry?

[Guest DroMPHo]

Beijing might have had artistic merit, but did they have POETRY SLAMS?!?