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2010 Winter Olympics - Vancouver, Canada

post #1 of 232
2/12/10 at 11:59am
Thread Starter 
The Winter Olympics start tonight! I can't wait!

Will this be the time when Canada will finally win a gold medal as the host nation, after not doing so in the previous 2 times they hosted? 

Coverage starts at 7:30 PM, although I believe the Opening Ceremony begins at 9 PM.
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post #2 of 232
2/12/10 at 12:06pm
I too am looking forward to the Olympic games. The opening ceremonies start at 8:45 pm. Now if only the weather will cooperate.
Cheers
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post #3 of 232
2/12/10 at 12:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter C View Post

The Winter Olympics start tonight! I can't wait!

Will this be the time when Canada will finally win a gold medal as the host nation, after not doing so in the previous 2 times they hosted? 

Coverage starts at 7:30 PM, although I believe the Opening Ceremony begins at 9 PM.
 

Walter,

Yes.  I can't imagine Canada not taking gold in a few sports (hockey, for one).

I too am looking forward to the Olympics. :)
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post #4 of 232
2/12/10 at 12:47pm
I can't really explain why, but for some reason, I just don't seem to be at all interested in the Winter Games this time around.

Normally, I prefer the Winter Games to the Summer Games (I was living in Salt Lake during the 2002 Games - THAT was fun) but this year I can't possibly feel more apathetic to the whole thing.

Oh well, even though I won't be watching, I'll root in spirit for Canada to take at least one gold.  I'm sure they'll be a gracious host nation - they're certainly going to a lot of effort to truck in some snow!
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post #5 of 232
2/12/10 at 1:25pm
Oh my....

Luger dies in Olympics practice crash.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/02/12/olympic.luge.crash/index.html?hpt=T1
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post #6 of 232
2/12/10 at 1:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem View Post

Oh my....

Luger dies in Olympics practice crash.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/02/12/olympic.luge.crash/index.html?hpt=T1

I just read about it, and can't believe it myself. That's just tragic!
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post #7 of 232
2/12/10 at 2:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Charlton View Post

they're certainly going to a lot of effort to truck in some snow!

I am sure that Washington,DC might have some to give.
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post #8 of 232
2/12/10 at 5:08pm
While I'm not all that excited about the Winter Games this go-around, I'm sure I'll find myself sucked into watching some of the events I'm enjoyed in the past, I just didn't really do much research or set myself to look forward to the events.  I do like the crazy speeds of the downhill ski events, as well as the ski jumps.  Hope the ladies figure skating won't be all that controversial due to the partisan judging/scoring.
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post #9 of 232
2/12/10 at 5:17pm
Hasn't started yet and I'm already tired of the coverage. Gotta say tho NBC has made some beautiful background promo videos.
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post #10 of 232
2/12/10 at 8:10pm
Anyone here watching the opening boremony err, ceremony?
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post #11 of 232
2/12/10 at 8:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD View Post

Anyone here watching the opening boremony err, ceremony?

I got sucked in, Tony.  I cannot believe the loooooooooooooooong speeches that have just ground the already slow-moving ceremonies to a dead halt. 
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post #12 of 232
2/12/10 at 9:28pm
Of all the things that could have malfunctioned, it had to be the friggin' torch. What a bummer to cap what was a pretty incredible show. Not as awe-inspiring as Beijing, but not as dehumanizing either. It had a wonderful organic feel about it.
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post #13 of 232
2/13/10 at 5:47am
Thread Starter 
I always enjoy seeing these 2 things in an opening ceremony
1 - when the host nation marches in
2 - lighting of the Olympic flame

I thought this ceremony was really great. From the snowboarder down the mountain and lighting of the maple leaf on film, to the tribute to the various cultures in Canada, this was definitely better than the one in Torino.
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post #14 of 232
2/13/10 at 6:37am
I enjoyed the opening ceremonies.  I actually preferred the low-key atmosphere of this opening to the one that occurred in Beijing.
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post #15 of 232
2/13/10 at 7:14am
I watched most of the opening ceremony. It had some intriguing parts, but was largely a dull affair: paced too slowly and each segment needlessly stretched out. And because of the cauldron glitch, the show ran long and Tivo didn't record the actual lighting of the flame, so I missed that.

I'm generally not especially interested in the Olympics. I found it much more interesting in my more idealistic youth :) But I'm sure I'll enjoy watching the bits and pieces I happen to catch.
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post #16 of 232
2/13/10 at 11:57am
I hope they are a complete and utter failure. Judging by the news, the circus is off to a bad start: dead luger, boring ceremony, a glitch in the lighting ceremony and no snow. I hope no other unfortunate accidents occur, but I also hope the circus continues to be a disaster. Maybe that way we, as Canadians, will finally learn to never bid on the White Elephant known as the Olympic games again. It pisses me off that I'm paying taxes, including an upcoming harmonized sales tax, just to see money being wasted on this garbage while education and social programs in BC get starved for funding . Everybody in BC will be paying for the next 20 years so that Vancouver and Whistler could have their two weeks in the sun. Well, I hope the next two weeks are nothing but rain.
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post #17 of 232
2/13/10 at 12:39pm
That's sort of a spiteful attitude, isn't? Since the money's already out the window, why not let your fellow countrymen bask in this once in a lifetime opportunity?
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post #18 of 232
2/13/10 at 12:58pm
Watching the cerimonies from Central Florida I have to ask:

ARE THE COMMERCIALS
LOUD ENOUGH FOR YOU?!!!

Seriously, I could BARELY hear the Commentator give his narration of what's happening, yet when they went to a Commercial YOU GOT BLASTED OUT OF YOUR SEAT!

Also I understand they were televised LIVE in the Eastern and Central Time Zones, while viewers in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones got Tape Delays! I feel soeey for those of you in the West, these Games are happening in YOUR Time Zone, and you're getting Shafted!
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post #19 of 232
2/13/10 at 1:16pm
Tell us how you really feel Edwin....  Although I don't wish for these games to be a failure, it really wouldn't bother me if they were either......guess I've lost interest in the games since I was younger.  Vancouver as a city wanted these games and they got it, so all of us Canadians will have to suck it up and pay for it.....nothing new to us since we are taxed to death anyways.  As for never bidding again.....hah!  that will never happen, my friend......Toronto seems to have penis envy when it comes to the Summer Olympics....they won't stop until they get it either, much to my dismay.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edwin-S View Post

 I hope no other unfortunate accidents occur, but I also hope the circus continues to be a disaster. Maybe that way we, as Canadians, will finally learn to never bid on the White Elephant known as the Olympic games again.

Edited by Joseph J.D - 2/13/10 at 1:28pm
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post #20 of 232
2/13/10 at 2:17pm
I watched the opening ceremony. in Germany on  Eurosport and thank goodness NOT NBC. Lucky are the people who can get the canadian broadcast. I think I read somewhere the the program on NBC lasted circa 2.5 hours. I recorded it live  and it was slightly over 3 hours. By the way, did people see the real olympic flame lighting which was done circa 5-10  minutes AFTER the inside version.
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post #21 of 232
2/13/10 at 3:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sumnernor View Post

I watched the opening ceremony. in Germany on  Eurosport and thank goodness NOT NBC. Lucky are the people who can get the canadian broadcast. I think I read somewhere the the program on NBC lasted circa 2.5 hours. I recorded it live  and it was slightly over 3 hours. By the way, did people see the real olympic flame lighting which was done circa 5-10  minutes AFTER the inside version.

Most of the ceremony was broadcast live on NBC. There were commercial breaks during the walk of nations (they showed a brief clip of the nations that walked in during the commercials), and also during the ceremony (during breaks between the performances). They also broadcasted the outside flame lighting, so I don't think they cut out anything of major importance.
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post #22 of 232
2/13/10 at 3:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThomasC View Post

They also broadcasted the outside flame lighting, so I don't think they cut out anything of major importance.

They cut out the ambience with incessant chattering by the "hosts"
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post #23 of 232
2/13/10 at 3:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF View Post



They cut out the ambience with incessant chattering by the "hosts"

You know what I meant , but yeah, they were annoying.
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post #24 of 232
2/13/10 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Edwin-S View Post

I hope they are a complete and utter failure. [...], but I also hope the circus continues to be a disaster. Maybe that way we, as Canadians, will finally learn to never bid on the White Elephant known as the Olympic games again. It pisses me off that I'm paying taxes, ...

Economic research shows that hosting the Olympics brings no financial benefit to the host city / country. But it brings happiness. The host people are happier, on the whole, having hosted such a major event. So enjoy your additional happiness and try not to dwell on the cost
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post #25 of 232
2/13/10 at 5:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF View Post

Quote:


So enjoy your additional happiness and try not to dwell on the cost

Kinda hard when you keep getting the tax bills year after year...  
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post #26 of 232
2/13/10 at 8:14pm
It's great to see some snow in Vancouver! It was coming down lightly during the men's first round luge.

Wow, what a finish in the short track event. The Koreans were moving toward a sweep, and then two of them knocked each other out, and the U.S. got the silver and bronze as a result.

The Canadian women (the last I looked they were leading 15-0) and men have great teams in hockey. I'm pulling for both to win the gold. :)
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post #27 of 232
2/13/10 at 9:19pm
Haven't the 'Lympics aired on more then one channel previously?

I see some events are on cnbc but Uni HD had a bunch of stuff too, including replaying the opening China Ceremony many times.
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post #28 of 232
2/14/10 at 5:28am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem View Post

Wow, what a finish in the short track event. The Koreans were moving toward a sweep, and then two of them knocked each other out, and the U.S. got the silver and bronze as a result.

And this time, they can't blame Ohno for that. But at least Korea did get the gold.
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post #29 of 232
2/14/10 at 5:47am
^^^

Yeah, those two Koreans sure did look surprised.

"Haven't the 'Lympics aired on more then one channel previously?"

Yes.  In 2002, we watched (I think) CNBC since our provider did not include what they referred to as 'local locals' in our package.  That was the year that I became quite familiar with curling.
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post #30 of 232
2/14/10 at 8:24am
I liked this Opening Ceremony much more than the bloated, overindulgent Ceremony for Beijing.


Bullshit! Whatever you might think of the Atlanta Games we got tons of financial benefits. We got a brand new baseball park (Turner Field) that wasn't paid for by the taxpayers. Plus, other substantial infrastructure upgrades that were privately funded. Since the Games the city has grown tremendously, thanks in part to hosting the Games.

"Economic research shows that hosting the Olympics brings no financial benefit to the host city / country. But it brings happiness. The host people are happier, on the whole, having hosted such a major event. So enjoy your additional happiness and try not to dwell on the cost"
 
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