Winter Olympics 2010

[TF100]

Not too long to go now! They will be held in Vancouver, Canada between the 12th and the 28th of February 2010.

The Bahamas, Bolivia, the Cayman Islands, Colombia and Ghana will all make their Winter Olympics debut, as will Serbia and Montenegro as separate nations. Tonga also hopes the send a delegation for the first ever time. As usual, all European countries will enter.

What are your expectations for the event? What are the hopes in your country or another country you know of for the competition?

 

[Matt]

As a german-american I have high hopes for both of my countries.

In 2006 Germany was 1st in the Medal table the the US in 2nd place. So I am quite excited.

 

[Alexu]

Romania is not so good in winter sports so I have no hopes for a medal, anyway I like to watch winter sports competitions...so I'll enjoy the 2010 Olympics.

 

[Guest]

Obviously supporting GREAT BRITAIN -uk

Excited for this coz then the next Olympic's is LONDON 2012!

 

[Sim]

We have a bobsleigh team women
For the first time.
And I do think also 2 shorttrackers.
And 1 figure skater.
And 1 women skien.
I think we can't complain.
We are not really a winter country

 

[aletem]

I will be supporting the proud host of the 2010 Winter Olympic games, Canada!!!

These olympics are advertized a lot over here (Donald Sutherland and Morgan Freeman ) and as hosts, Canada has high expectations. We are the #1 favourites in hockey and curling. I tend to tease my friends that the male hockey team will not win the gold, because they are so full of themselves. In this sport I will cheer for the Finnish team. The sports I am looking forward are hockey, ski jumping and curling. I wanted to go in Vancouver for the Olympics (I even signed up for a volounteer), but it sucks that university interferes with the Olympic game schedule.

 

[AlekS]

something tells me that we would flop miserably
our winter sport is going through hard times currently.

 

[martin]

go go go norway and italy

 

[Jukica]

I have the hopes for alpine skiing (Ivica Kosteli?, etc.).

 

[Scooby]

I can't wait for hockey games and Canadian team will take a gold medal for shure!

 

[aletem]

I can't wait for hockey games and Canadian team will take a gold medal for shure!

Everyone here is anxiously waiting for the hockey games, mainly the games that Canada play. Its like there is no other sport on the Olympics. On the last Olympics they were very confident, but they ended up with nothing. Something tells me that this year it will be the same. The girls will grab the gold most likely. They pretty much have no competition. I know for sure that Sweden won't win the gold medal, even though they are one of the favourites.

 

[aletem]

Some information regarding the Olympics. Any people in Canada were able to run with the torch, including regular mid-class people. I know this, because a family friend was running with it. If people wanted to run with the torch, they should have applied online and then to be chosen by a draw. Once chosen, the person must pay $350 or $550 (not exactly sure), but they get to keep their running equipment, as well as the torch. They will also get special discount for the Olympic games. It looks very commercialized, but people seem to like the idea.

The hockey groups (Men)
Group A:
CANADA
USA
Switzerland
Norway

Group B:
Russia
Slovakia
Czech Republic
Latvia

Group C:
Finland
Sweden
Belarus
Germany

 

[AlekS]

lulz, for the 1st time in our history we started participating in serious snowboarding events and we've already got 2 Olympic licenses few weeks ago... what the :shock:
Also I'm happy that our national team was sponsored properly so there will be 60 sportsmen instead of 20.
Anyway our main hopes are figure skating, freestyle, luge and biathlon. Though we can get a medal (most def bronze) or we can lose everywhere

 

[94ayd]

Go Slovakia! I just need to cheer for them even if they suck. It's in the name. Love it! I definitely wouldn't pay that much money for such...

 

[AlekS]

^ same here
too bad they are squeezed between Russians and Czechs.

 

[vatroslav_cro]

Well, about croatian team, I agree with Jukica and what she said, more - less! I expect that Ivica Kosteli? will reach one or maybe two medals in alpine skiing and Jakov Fak in biathlon eventually. Still have no idea who will be our flagwearer.
Good luck everybody!

 

[aletem]

I heard that Macedonia is going with only 3 athletes. I have been reading some hockey-related things and one interesting thing was that there is an initiation to make a national hockey squad in Macedonia. This was proposed by some Macedonian Canadians, but how much will that be realized over the years it is a completely different question. If they kick this idea off fast, we might see a Macedonian hockey team on the following Olympics (Sochi 2014 or maybe the one in 2018). There are some Macedonian-Canadians playing in the Canadian hockey league and in the NHL as well. One famous player is Ed Jovanovski, who played for the Canadian national team many times.

The new odds put Canada and Russia as the hot favorites for the gold medal in hockey. Obviously, the Canadian coach is scared from the Russian squad stating that they are like machines and will be very difficult to play against them. The other favorite is Sweden, though I believe that whoever wins the Finland - Sweden match, will grab a medal.
As for Slovakia, they shouldn't be underestimated. They are better than the Czechs. In the past it used to be the other way round, but not much anymore. Though, they don't have much of a chance against Russia.

 

[AlekS]

Slovakians aren't better than Czech team.
IIHF put them on the 10th place in 2010 rating while Czechs are on the 6th.
Though of course there's a possibility that they can deliever unpleasant surprise for Czechs :twisted:

Today is the Opening ceremony
Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado are expected to perform tonight.
Wayne Gretzky won't light the Olympic Flame. So far it's unknow who will do it.

 

[AlekS]

Georgian athlete killed in training for Vancouver Olympics

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... mpics.html
he was just 21.

Currently the Head of the Georgian delegation announced that they don't know if they should participate in the Opening Ceremony or even in these Olympic Games.

 

[vatroslav_cro]

Yes, R.I.P., poor guy....it should be his first performance on Olympic games.....it was very sad and it's a huge tragedy indeed....

The opening ceremony was amazing though! Nice, spectaculous but simple....I woke up at 3.00 am only to watch it.....I liked every detail, from parade of the athletes, the perofrmances of Nelly Furtado & Bryan Adams, Sarah Mc Laughlan etc, to the olympic torch light! Well done Canada and now I expect a lot from the games though (I will be focused on alpine skiing, biathlon and bob-sleigh). Good luck everybody!