2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

[The Winnipeg Warrior]

Anyone have an opinion on these games? Favorite sports? Which country are you from? Who are your national heroes?

I think it's great that the Games have finally come back to Italy.....and Europe. I personally think the Games are more exciting when they're held over there. The cities are smaller and the entire community seems to get involved. Over here in North America, the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games and the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games have been a little bit disappointing. Far too commercial and geared towards the American market. When the Games are held abroad, the large American media hounds don't have as much of a chance to corrupt the competition. Somehow, we think that the more money you pour into the Olympics, the better the Games will be. The truth is, that backfires on you. It just detracts what the Games are really about.....competition, comaraderie, team spirit, and fair play. Just my opinion.

 

[Torsis]

1) Winter games are better than the summer Oly's
2) anything snowboarding
3) USA
4) certainly not George Bush

 

[derek]

Well...I'd sort of agree. It is not as commericialised over here, but that does not necessarily mean its any better...I was at the athens olympics in 2004 (the homecoming for the event!) and it was SO poor.

This Winter Olympics, the UK womens curling team is all scottish, and won gold last time around...so my full support is behind them!

 

[speed]

Its been rather dull. Although Canada just lost to the Swiss in hockey. 49 shots the goalie saved; thats gotta be a record.

 

[The Winnipeg Warrior]

Personally, I hope that Russia beats Canada in the quarter-finals. I think it's good that we go home without a Medal in hockey. I also think it's good that countries like Switzerland and Slovakia are developing strong international ice hockey programs.....that can compete on the same stage as the North Americans.

This may seem odd coming from a Canadian, but I look at it as good for the game, not just our country. When the game is strong all around, everyone benefits. One day, we may see more Swiss players in the National Hockey League. Nothing is worse than seeing what occured in the women's tournament.....where the Canadian women destroyed the oppositon. If the game is to grow and remain healthy, other countires have to be encouraged and given a hand in order to play to their strengths. It benefits everyone then.

Regarding these particular Games. They're going over very well on CBC in Canada and NBC in the US. The ratings are very high, given the 7 hour time difference. Everyone though that these Games would be overshadowed and ignored by the upcoming Bejing Summer games in 2008.....but that hasn't happened. Italy and Torino have embraced the athletes, and it looks like a success so far.

There's something about the European flair and "joie de voir" that adds to the ambience of the Olympic Games. If that's the case, the 2012 London Games should be very impressive!

 

[thespectralsorrows]

Personally, I hope that Russia beats Canada in the quarter-finals. I think it's good that we go home without a Medal in hockey. I also think it's good that countries like Switzerland and Slovakia are developing strong international ice hockey programs.....that can compete on the same stage as the North Americans.

This may seem odd coming from a Canadian, but I look at it as good for the game, not just our country. When the game is strong all around, everyone benefits. One day, we may see more Swiss players in the National Hockey League. Nothing is worse than seeing what occured in the women's tournament.....where the Canadian women destroyed the oppositon. If the game is to grow and remain healthy, other countires have to be encouraged and given a hand in order to play to their strengths. It benefits everyone then.

Regarding these particular Games. They're going over very well on CBC in Canada and NBC in the US. The ratings are very high, given the 7 hour time difference. Everyone though that these Games would be overshadowed and ignored by the upcoming Bejing Summer games in 2008.....but that hasn't happened. Italy and Torino have embraced the athletes, and it looks like a success so far.

There's something about the European flair and "joie de voir" that adds to the ambience of the Olympic Games. If that's the case, the 2012 London Games should be very impressive!]

Yes, what you said about Hockey has also been proven to be true with basketball and baseball (no longer an olympic sport) as countries other then US have won the gold and been very competitive in the last decade.

Apparently a black tv reporter named Bryant Gumbel http://www.deadspin.com/sports/bryant-gumbel/bryant-gumbel-goes-kind-of-kanye-about-the-olympics-155322.php isn't too happy that his race is afraid to the snow and ice sports, bet he doesn't complain about the lack of whites running the 100meter in summer games.

So, I guess it makes sense that the Winter Olympics should be in a majority white/asian country since they are the only ones who compete in the games. I'm not sure how the Winter games in London will turn out, not many people think of London as a place to ski and the Brits have done very poorly at this years games.

 

[Infernium]

Gonna be an interesting final in hockey. I hope Finland uses the same tacticue than against the chechs, Ruutu kicks the shit out Forsberg and then it's an easy victory. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXMWoL4Ab0U