[lapniappe]

LOL Amo...

well, Canada missed their medal tally by 1. but holy cow :haha: 24 medals is nuffin to scoff at either. Imagine if all those 4th places actually materlized to a medal? we would have beaten germany!

[imported_b.scheller]

Canada should be proud of itself, spending a lot of money on athletes does pay off in the end.

[lapniappe]

Well, the Olympics are over (the Closing Ceremonies are happening as I write this) and as I try not to be too bummed that the Olympics are over (I cheer myself up that in 2 years 2008 games will be among us and that in 1444 LONG days, 4 LONG years, Vancouver will be partying as if it were 1999, not 2010).

This is Canada's best Olympics EVER in the Winter. Actually Best Period. (by 2 - in the summer, Canada won 22 in Atlanta). See now imagine if medalists got paid. Imagine if there were more money vented into the program. Imagine that Canada pretended it was a sporting nation and not just a NHL Hockey Nation.

Ahh..the success....

7 golds 10 Silver, 7 bronze. 17 of which won by women. Brava, Brava. :0pouce: 11 top 4 finishes (oh the breaths of a second), 6 top 5's also better than any other country. We can hold our head up high.

The only few people who does have a reason to hang their head in shame because they really didn't perform to their expectations is Wotherspoon (honestly. the world's best speedskater EVER and only one medal to show for it? It's not about the colour, but performance too. I would rather have him have NO medals but skated his guts out, but pout his way to the end because he wasn't in contention for a medal), and team Canada men.

Mr. Brian Williams said it best: What Pressure does Canada's men team have? They have a bonfide job to come to, they have millions coming back to them. Pressure is parents finding the money to support their children's dreams, pressure is to rise to the occasion once every 4 years and then shunted back into anmoinity.

Again as I've said all 16 days long, The experiement sucks. No more pros, or at least do what the Gold Medalist Sweds, and Silver Finns and the Bronze Czechs do. intertwine amateurs and pros together. the pros will take a while to warm up, while the amateurs do the work.

anyway...

Klassen - whoot. Most decorated athlete ever in Canada - did something only an american had done (won 5 medals at one winter games).

Hughes - woot - second most decorated female athlete. Another woot for being one classy dame, and giving up 10,000 dollars to donate to the charity Right To Play, the organization to give underprivilaged children in Africa and other countries the same oppertunities our country has.

So for that, a non-canadian, Joey Cheek who gave up 50,000 dollars of his Olympic Bonus for this charity, you get a woot! as well.

Another thumbs up :0pouce: :0pouce: to Gushue and Kleibrink.

And Chandra Crawford and the rest of the youngsters who came to these games for experience (as 2010 is their turn to party) and spun dreams into Gold.

If America can recognize Canada for what we're becoming (a Olympic powerhouse - huh? Canada?!) hopefully sooner or later Canada can recognize us too.

As far as games go, it wasn't Lillehammer, it wasn't Salt Lake, and it won't be Vancouver, but it was a memorable one (i can still see that chinese skater going splat! on the ice).

Go Canada GO.

[imported_b.scheller]

I think, it really has opened Canada's eyes to the fact (as you previously said) that Canada is not just a Hockey domineering country, but rather a country which has a lot of potential talents in all sports.

I'm glad the hockey team lost, this way they did not take away focus from the other athletes. As sad as it is, these athletes don't get enough of a spotlight or credit for their hard work. I'm not saying that hockey players aren't appreciated, but their just too much focus on them, especially in Canada.

[lapniappe]

and that's the sad part. for all the bluster Canada makes, we are not a sport culture. We're Hockey first, everything else second. it's pathetic really. I love hockey as much as the next girl (or guy), but when Canada losing, overshadows the accomplishments made by people who don't get to have the spotlight... it's sad. it wouldn't hurt so much if team canada were amateurs, but they weren't which makes it doubly so

[big_e]

If this year was to build for 2010, I cant wait! 24 medals in sort of a "rebuilding" year is great! Way to go Canada! You all represented our country very well.

[imported_b.scheller]

By the way, who was the moron who jumped on stage during the speech? Was security lax or what?

[lapniappe]

for a moment i had thought he was part of it, but considering he got tackled, no i guess not.... I'm upset though, I missed Beckie getting inducted into the IOC

[imported_b.scheller]

Did they show it? I was watching it live and I didn't see it. Perhaps it happen on a commercial break or when I had turned around for that split second, but no I don't think they showed any ceremony.

Glad Saku got inducted as well.

[M.W.]

Originally Posted by lapniappe

Mr. Brian Williams said it best: What Pressure does Canada's men team have? They have a bonfide job to come to, they have millions coming back to them. Pressure is parents finding the money to support their children's dreams, pressure is to rise to the occasion once every 4 years and then shunted back into anmoinity.

I understand what you're trying to say, and I also agree with you that the NHL should be out of the Olympics (as well as the other pros in other sports), but to say that the Men's hockey team isn't under waay more pressure to perform then the other athletes is just ludicrous.