So the Opening Ceremony begins on Friday, 12 February 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

http://www.vancouver2010.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Winter_Olympics

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/vancou ... 24376.html

Canada will try to win gold for the first time on home soil.

However, there is a shortage of snow, and is even resorting to importing snow.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/fe ... lacks-snow

Also, protesters are uniting, bringing protesters nationally

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/l ... sts10.html

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/s ... pStoriesV2

Thoughts about the protest? Predictions?

Having to bring snow in by truck is the funniest thing ever.

I'll give opinions on the controversy later (don't have time) but for the moment, since we are lucky to have people from lots of different countries here, I have one thing to say:

YOU ARE GOING DOWN!!!

There are people from Idaho that are actually gonna competes in teh Olympics!!!!!!!!1111!111!11!!!!11!

What is happening in Canada is minuscule compared to what happens in India. At least, Canada is a rich nation which can afford such stuff. You won't believe the number of people who are opposed to moon missions (in spite of Chandrayaan I being a success, many people still believe the mission shouldn't have taken place) or sporting events (the biggest example is the Commonwealth Games) here. But does it mean a nation spends every single of its penny on alleviating poverty? I think that is stupid thing to do or say. Like the poll rightly pointed out, the money spent on these events is very less compared to what is needed for social services. Plus, you get back a lot of the money you invest. From telecast rights, travel and stay of athletes, promotion of tourism, more jobs and opportunities for locals- you get everything. Just because there are problems to address (mind you, there will always be problems to address), it doesn't mean other things should be put on hold. Instead of opposing such events, the activists would do well to concentrate on the root problems. Like corruption (okay, that is for developing countries. I know Canada ranks very high on the transparency list, so possibly something like better management of economy? Or whatever. You say).

Ten minutes to go!

*squee*

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4306936.stm

How ironic =D.

So... Comments on the opening Ceremony?

I think the anthem, though her voice was very good, got butchered.

I didn't even watch it ;_;.

Neither did I.

Awesome opening ceremony. Awesome competition so far, too.
*cough*GoTeamUSA*cough*

Er... option two, with reasoning courtesy of N&B.

~I thought it... profesionally off, how NBC handed the Luge guy's death. Should've given more warning than, "some people may find the following disturbing"...

Ah well. It didn't bother me (the calculations, like 90mph, did almost as much), but it was plenty sobering and certainly some people wouldn't have liked seeing it three friggin' times. I'm an avid fan of death and destruction, and I'm sitting here going, "did you have to show it even slower?"

Anyways, I liked the opening ceremonies, wonderful set, if nothing else. Cool stadium, as always, and awesome statues & aborigines. Yay natives!

Yeah, I watched a bit of the NBC coverage and saw the videos too. Really pissed off about it atm. There's no pressing need for the public to see the video, why don't you keep it of the airwaves and show the Georgian team a little respect!?

The little video they'd had about the shared relationship between Canada and the US was kind of nice, but after they ended by making up some story about how we weren't as patriotic as them. We're not as loudly patriotic; notice how the rest of the world thinks we're less annoying.

Saw the whole opening ceremony. Just a few random thoughts:
-The aboriginal chiefs and dancers introducing the ceremonies were a really cool idea. And they actually danced through the entire Parade of Nations. Woah.
-The Georgians looked crushed when they walked into the stadium. Poor guys.
-After seeing his face for maybe a grand total of 5 seconds during the Parade; I think I may have a crush on the Algerian athlete ^_^
-That prairie thing can only be summed up by: WTF? All the other little cultural skits (with special guest appearance by SATAN! :blink: )were pretty cool, but I could've gone without the commentators explaning everything.
-The slam poet was awesome. "We are an experiment finally going right for a change." :D
-Michele Jean actually looked as if she'd fallen asleep the few times the cameras were on her during the opening speeches. XD

My mom was pissed off about Gretzky carrying the torch to the outside flame; she thought it should be Betty Fox. Cue ten minutes of her taking it way too badly ('Well I guess everyone better make way for the God of Canada!!) Yeaaaahhhh.

And so far we've won one medal, a silver. No gold still sadly, but I was watching the event (women's moguls) and the American who won deserved it.

I talk too much.

---

WE

WON

GOLD!

HELL YEAH!

For the very first time in our own games, we won!

Literally like five minutes ago. Alexandre Bilodeau, Men's moguls.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO



SUCK IT BEGG-SMITH YOU EMOTIONLESS TRAITOR

YES.

I bet India wouldn't win a single medal. Any takers?

Well you only have three athletes, if I remember correctly.

Think Australia has something like 9. One of whom is the Canadian-born skiier whose butt we kicked yesterday. :D

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/vancou ... 87346.html

Pfft. They're just jealous.

It's ridiculous, is what it is. I watched the whole thing, he had the fastest time of the entire competition and his jumps had a higher degree of difficulty. Turns be darned, he won fair and square.

On another note: Snowboard Cross is awesome.