Sunday, February 14, 2010

The Winter Olympics are off...

The Winter Olympics in Vancouver are up and running and despite the unfortunate death of Georgian luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili, the games are set to promise much. As always the Canadian media are gearing up for double medals in both the men and women's hockey event. Since women's hockey is generally a two-horse race this is entirely probable. On the Men's side the calculus is not as simple - I wouldn't write off the Yanks, Swedes or Russians, nor the Czechs, who proved the value of a hot goalie when they emerged with the gold in 1998.

American Hannah Kearney (who has a Canadian mother) edged out Canuck Jennifer Heil in the freestyle moguls, but it was still great to see a Canadian on the podium. Further congrats to South Korea for picking up a short track skating medal (they really have emerged as a powerhouse in this event).

The Olympics offer a much needed sanity break from the regular sporting calendar and despite the protest of some of my friends - who see it as all pomp and circumstance - I am looking forward to embracing this celebration of the human spirit.

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