Yeah! Canada already has its first medal - a gold in women's moguls.

Quoth the IOC :

(source: http://www.olympics.org.uk/olympicmo...icmovement.asp)

The Summer Olympics medals have largely been standardized in design since 1928, with the reverse of the medal reserved for the logo of the host city organizing committee, while the Winter Olympics medals are unique to each Olympiad.

Here's a pic of the Torino (Turin) Olympic medals:

http://www.olympic.org/upload/news/g...75_525_big.jpg

Significance of the Torino Medals

Athletes placing in fourth through seventh place receive a certificate (the medalists receive both the medal and certificate); each athlete and official also receives a commemorative participation medal as well.

A word about the commercial breaks. In many respects, they pay for the games. NBC pays hundreds of millions of dollars for the rights, which pay for the running of the Olympic committee, etc. If it weren't for TV dollars from all over the world, the committees couldn't exist.

At least this year, none of the ceremony was missed during the breaks because the networks now use a technology -- soft of like a super high quality TIVO -- so that they can basically stop playing, but continue recording and then go back and pick up at the point that they left the ceremony. It sort of elongates time.

We couldn't do that back in the days of video tape delays.

What a cool idea it would be if those "CD" size medals really were recording material and the athlete's win was recorded and played back by his/her medal.

Ain't electronics wonderful

opening ceremonies were good - loved the lighting of the torch!!

why is it that when they were dancing on stage, the camera men wanted to show the audience instead?? i wanna see the people make the man ski! lol

Mmmmm.... HDTV CBC Broadcast.... and as soon as the Olympics coverage ended today it was the Leafs! :) Ahhhh...

They seem to be using a lot more fan reaction shots in sports these days and it is quite annoying.

agreed!!

Eric the speed skater is awesome.

Dick Button needs to shut up.

Michelle Kwan needs to decide.. compete or don't compete, there's a young lady sitting in the USA who would love to be there. Enough drama, just make a decision.

Let your feeling be known. Write to Dick Ebersol, the President of NBC Sports. He's the one who sets the tone of the coverage.

Bob *bleeping* Costas ruined the opening ceremonies just a bit. He talked over the announcers. I don't believe that he did it in Athens. You may disagree with me, but that was rude. Overall, cool opening ceremonies. But, Bob, please shut up when the PAs are announcing names.

I watch most of the US and Canadian women's hockey teams. The Canadians shutout the Italians 16-0. Good grief!

I have a question for the Canadian viewers out there: Did the announcers talk over the PAs during the opening ceremonies?

michelle kwan withdrew from competition. :[

I'm so sorry to hear that.

Emily Hughes is the alternate, BTW.

I had a feeling she was going to withdraw. But good thing she did it early. Hopefully Emily will be just as good, if not better than her older sister. ETA: I'm watching her press conference going on right now, and I must say she's handling this with so much class. It's obvious that the's going through a lot of physical and emotional pain and exhaustion...but the way she handled all those reporters' questions? WOW.

So she never got a gold medal and will most likely never will (she'll be 29 in Vancouver)...I think she's done a great job representing herself and the sport just fine! Now it's time to join the ranks of Smuckers on Ice? ;)

And today's pairs? Inoue/Baldwin's throw triple axel was pretty sweet. It's hard to believe it's the first time in history that was ever completed. "Delicious moment" indeedy.

Emily Hughes probably won't pull off a "Sarah" though. They interviewed her on the news last night and she was in the US, but said "I'm ready to head for Torino if necessary". Usually, those athletes are there for a while before the games to get used to the time change, the ice conditions, differences in altitude, etc.

Sasha Cohen has a shot though. She looked great at the Nationals where she won Gold. The women usually compete last, don't they?

ETA: No, the Canadian announcers didn't interrupt the announcers. They told interesting tales about each country's delegation and they explained all the symbolism of the other stuff. They did nice biographies of all the women who carried the Olympic flag.

She might be ready to head to Torino, but can she even get a flight due to the snow?

I was shocked to turn on the opening ceremonies and see someone I know! Patrick Singleton, the lone athelete from Bermuda (skeleton), graduated from my university. He's a cool guy, back for his second Olympics. I had completely forgotten as it has been about 2 years since I last saw him.

PM_Mama, I don't think that Sarah Hughes is in Torino, unless it's as a spectator. The US team is Sasha Cohen & Kimmie Meissner, and until last night, Michelle Kwan.

I physically hurt for Michelle. I knew she had only the tiniest of chances for gold, but whether she has the medal to prove it or not, she will always be the old fashioned 6.0 for me - second only to Kristie Yamaguchi.

http://www.wasatchdetailing.com/imag...helle.kwan.jpg

Canada's womens hockey team...I dont even know what to say...16-0 yesturday...8-0 through a period and a half today...this is what I call total domination...I hope our girls have their act together

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought the medals looked like CDs.

It's not fun to watch a total blowout like that. However, Goals for and against count for home ice advantage. in this tournament. When USA beat the Swiss 6-0, we had to run up the score in order to increase our goals for.

When Canada plays the US, it will be a very exciting and close game.

Also, I have to commend Italy's performance. They played really well considering the outcome. I was lisiting to the commentary during the game and it was said that there are about 60,000 women who play hockey in Canada and only about 300 that play in Italy. Italy is also only a tier III team. It's hard going up against a tier I team. I really do commend their effort and hard work. Right now Canada and the US are the dominant teams. One day the other countries are going to catch us to us.

ETA: Does anyone know where I can find a list of all the participant countries in Torino? I tried the IOC website and couldn't find anything.

ETA again: Canada just won another medal. Cindy Klassen just won bronze in women's 3000m long track speed skating.

shaun white captured gold!

ohno didn't qualify for the finals

and bode placed fifth. ::argh::

Not yet. Thankfully, the women don't start until Feb. 23rd or something like that. She is in New York and it will probably be a couple days before she can get out.

I was probably too harsh on Michelle in my first post. She has dominated the sport for a long time and is an excellent skater, but hasn't pulled off the Gold at the Olympics. I did always find Kristi Yamaguchi more appealing as a skater. Michelle had quite a career and will be known as one of the best, Gold or not. She did handle that press conference very maturely. I feel like I've watched her grow up ... oh wait, because I have!

I know. When the reporter said Michelle Kwan was 25, I was really surprised. I know that she was only 13 when she was in the standby position after Nancy Kerrigan was attacked. I just cannot believe that was 12 years ago.

I wish Michelle Kwan could have competed in the Olympics and bring home the gold. I think that she is wonderful.

I think that Emily Hughes will be able to fly out of JFK on Tuesday, maybe Monday night at the earliest. The local airports are closed today, and tomorrow will probably be spent removing the snow.

Kwan would have been a great story, but the chances of her winning this year were pretty slim.

But would it kill Emily Hughes to be a little gracious about this opportunity? I know she's just a kid, but maybe a, "While I feel badly about Michelle, I'm thrilled...".

As I remember, when Michelle Kwan stepped down for Nancy Kerrigan, she issued that sort of statement.

I respectfully disagree with you here. Michelle Kwan asked for special consideration and basically got Emily's place on the squad because she didn't even compete in anything this year and was injured. I can see that MK wants a gold, but isn't everything she's accomplished good enough for her? I mean seriously, a silver and bronze are not bad, plus all of the various championships she has won over the years? Quite honestly it seems the USOC chose Kwan to up the $$ factor, not because she could have won the gold. She was considered the long shot from the start anyhow.

I appreciate Kwan's skill and grace, but I'm glad that she stepped aside. She should have done that from the start.

We'll have to agree to disagree, then. If I remember properly, Michelle would have been the first female figure skater to win the gold, silver, and bronze, should she had pulled an upset. I would imagine that the USOC was looking at that. That would have made incredible international press.

I'm not saying that she would have gotten the gold; the groin injury alone (not forgetting that she had two of them) would have made it almost impossible. But if you know skating, you know that at least 75% (some say 90%) is politics - not necessarily national, but not unlike office politics - and that would have served her well. Had she skated cleanly, she would have medaled.

Emily Hughes hasn't had a chance to build up that political backing. Being Sarah's sister will work as much against her as for her. That's why I felt that a little graciousness would have served her well. After all, what's one of the things said about Michelle Kwan almost every time her name is mentioned with Olympics? That she voluntarily and gracefully stepped down for Nancy Kerrigan. If you don't believe how political it is, read On Thin Ice, I think by Christine Brennan. The top five are already selected, unless someone chokes. It's just a matter of skating the events now.

Peggy Fleming was asked what she thought of Michelle Kwan. I'll try to get the quote right, as it's amazing. I'll have to add it once I find it.

From Yahoo:

"She's probably the most significant athlete at these Olympic Games," said skating analyst Scott Hamilton. "And so for her to pull out is a gigantic story, and a loss for the U.S. team because so much of the focus was going to be on her."

"Michelle Kwan means more to the United States Olympic Committee than maybe any athlete that's ever performed," USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth said. "She's been a leader, she's been gracious, she's somebody that cares for so many youngsters that are training in our country...."She's a real loss to all of the United States Olympic Committee and to the United States of America, and I think to the world. She's made a courageous decision."

That would be Kenyan cross-country skier Philip Boit who the finish line dead last in the 10-kilometer race and he was embraced by Bjorn Dahlie, the gold medal winner from Norway.
Bjorn Dahlie also won a bajillion medals in all 3 colours, because he is such as awesome x-country skier. Philip Boit is a long distance runner and I think he only stood on skis maybe 6 months' prior, or something like that. Nike financed him to get to the Olympics, along with another Kenyan.

Did Jamaica send a bobsled team this year?

Or just not watch the events and read the results online

thanksssssssss i hadnt been able to find the info ;]

btw: did i mention that i now get texted with the latest in olympic news? ooh yea.. let the obsession begin!

I agree 100% on this. I apprieciate her skill but she got her name out there this Olympics without having to perform and thats all that matters for the $$ factor.

It is forever etched in my memory because I was on maternity leave and there was NOTHING on TV except Nancy/Tonya coverage, especially here in Detroit, where it happened. I was relieved to be in the labor/delivery room because there was no TV in there and I didn't have to hear "OH my knee!" anymore. My daughter turned 12 on Jan 14th.

ETA: After Michelle's first press conference, they interviewed Emily Hughes at her home and Emily was very gracious. She said something along the lines of "It would be awful for Michelle if she can't compete" as she should have. THEN she added "If I get the call though, I'm ready to go" and they talked about how she had been practicing all along as if she was going, just in case.

Agreed. I'm not a Brennan fan by a longshot, but the book clearly outlines the politics involved. She wrote it pre-COP, and we all know that the COP is designed for fairness and that it's just about the competition skates. Yeah, right, we'll see. If Inoue and Baldwin skate their LP well enough to medal and actually do so, I might be inclined to buy that theory.

Michelle has been nothing but gracious throughout her career. We can't say the same for Sasha, and I hope that doesn't apply to Emily or any of the other up and comers out there. Has Emily been quoted saying something less than gracious about Michelle stepping down? She's got the chance of a lifetime, because if you've followed skating, there was no guarantee that Emily would be skating in Torino in the first place.

Personally, I think the loss of Kwan is not going to affect the Olympics or its coverage. If anything, it probably will benefit the coverage. People have heard ALL about Kwan withdrawing and the after-events. They may tune in just because of all the coverage.

Why in the world did Bode Miller and the other downhill skier choose to use BRAND-NEW skis? Not a smart move on their or coaches' part.

Missed what happened with Ohno, but not a huge fan of his.

(Yeah, I am now looking to see what to watch at night....)

Did I hear right that "Grandma Luge" was hurt in a training accident in the last couple of days and can't compete? I love her and was hoping to see her do well.

i was also rooting for my girlfriend michelle kwan to bring home the gold.

also, i am very disappointed that they didnt add the polar bear plundge, diving, and swimming competion to the winter olympics.

Michele Kwan didn't belong on the team. Emily Hughes should have been there all along. Kwan wasn't healthy enough to compete at the event that determined the team and then they put her on the team anyway. Total BS.

I'm glad to hear that! I obviously didn't hear the entire interview, and what I saw sounded terribly conceited. This is one time that I'm GLAD that I'm wrong!

AOIIalum, I agree with you completely!