Not a "great" games

[Speedsk8er]

Sure they were highly televised, and highly publicized. And the men's gold medal hockey game left the city, and Canada as a whole, with a warm afterglow. But all in all, these were not "great" winter games. The weather was certainly not conducive to top outdoor performances and spectating. The long track oval, and the problems there, were frankly an embarrassment considering the preparation time and money that went in. The protests left questions as to whether the citizenry was truly behind the effort, or if it was largely spearheaded by corporations and political interests. The ceremonies were largely over-produced and schmaltzy at times. There were decent moments here and there. But indoor ceremonies only drive home the point that these "winter" games could have been held in far more wintry environs where winter scenes wouldn't have to be manufactured for the benefit of TV audiences. Once again we saw a games with highly scattered venues over a large area. And the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili still begs a lot of questions about the safety and suitability of the course.

Sochi may face some similar issues, especially with weather. For starters, maybe the IOC should go back to choosing winter games that actually have a decent chance of happening in winter conditions. Hopefully these past games will teach some well needed lessons on how the games should be improved.

[baron-pierreIV]

Welcome, but zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Get over it. Each set of Games is different; that's what makes them unique.

[Speedsk8er]

Welcome, but zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Get over it. Each set of Games is different; that's what makes them unique.

Believe me, I'm well "over it." Different doesn't mean better. And the criticisms are warranted. Go back to sleep.

[baron-pierreIV]

Except 3 months after, u r still bitching. So your credibility is highly suspect.

[Speedsk8er]

Except 3 months after, u r still bitching. So your credibility is highly suspect.

No I'm not "still bitching." In fact, it's not bitching at all. And as for "credibility" this is an open forum for the free expression of opinions. If you find said opinions objectionable, you need not continue reading or replying. I don't need your validation of "credibility." And there's no statute of limitations on when subjects can be discussed.

[mr.x]

But all in all, these were not "great" winter games. The weather was certainly not conducive to top outdoor performances and spectating.

It's called weather, it's unpredictable. The weather at Cypress was abnormal this year whereas the past three February's consisted of abundant snow and cold temperatures that would have been perfect for competitions.

The long track oval, and the problems there, were frankly an embarrassment considering the preparation time and money that went in.

How was that even a big issue? It was completely sensationalized. There was a one-hour delay, boohoo it's not the end of the world.

VANOC went with green ice resurfacers as part of their commitment to deliver an environmentally friendly Olympics, and these machines were being used at the oval for a year and a half. They broke at the worst time possible.

The protests left questions as to whether the citizenry was truly behind the effort, or if it was largely spearheaded by corporations and political interests.

The protests were created by hard leftists and anarchists. If the Olympics weren't held here, they would be protesting about something else in the name of anti-capitalism and anarchism. Just yesterday, there was a big protest against the G8 University Summit held in Vancouver by the same anti-Olympic group.

The ceremonies were largely over-produced and schmaltzy at times. There were decent moments here and there. But indoor ceremonies only drive home the point that these "winter" games could have been held in far more wintry environs where winter scenes wouldn't have to be manufactured for the benefit of TV audiences.

Overproduced? No.

Schmaltzy at times? Perhaps.

Wintry environs and winter scenes? The last time there was such a thing would be Lillehammer's ceremonies at its ski jumping stadium. Basically every other time it was held outdoors in cold weather, the only thing "wintry" about it was that you could see people's breathe.

Salt Lake's Opening was affected by weather earlier in the day when high winds destroyed some of the set props.

The concept of the Vancouver Opening Ceremony was to have them held in a theatre-like environment rather than a sports stadium to tell "Canada's story". And it was certainly well-delivered.

Sure, fake snow and projections of ice breaking up were part of the show but only to depict Canada's vast arctic for that one segment. That's the only winter scene in the whole show that was "manufactured" and surely you wouldn't think any ceremonies team would count on mother nature to give them snow if it were set in an cold outdoor environment.

Once again we saw a games with highly scattered venues over a large area.

They are scattered to maximize on existing venues and to create a sustainable post-Games legacy. Vancouver has gone a long way to not create white elephant venues, every venue will be well-used after the Olympics.

And the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili still begs a lot of questions about the safety and suitability of the course.

The same person/firm designed many previous tracks including the one at Salt Lake. The whole point of the Olympic Movement has always been to go "faster, higher, stronger" and the design of the track was approved by the federation and the IOC.

The death was a result of driver error.

Sochi may face some similar issues, especially with weather. For starters, maybe the IOC should go back to choosing winter games that actually have a decent chance of happening in winter conditions. Hopefully these past games will teach some well needed lessons on how the games should be improved.

Sure...

Who the f*ck cares? As long as there are suitable mountains for outdoor events and a large enough host city with sufficient transportation and accommodation infrastructure, it can host the Winter Olympics.

Vancouver delivered an environmentally-friendly and atmospheric Olympics both in the stadiums (filled seats) and in the streets.

It was a very good Winter Olympics.

[baron-pierreIV]

No I'm not "still bitching." In fact, it's not bitching at all. And as for "credibility" this is an open forum for the free expression of opinions. If you find said opinions objectionable, you need not continue reading or replying. I don't need your validation of "credibility." And there's no statute of limitations on when subjects can be discussed.

No. But I am also free to respond to any other post I disagree with.

Edited May 23, 2010 by baron-pierreIV

[olympian]

i think he already posted this in one of the threads a few months back. the exact same thing he's trying to spew here.

[Olympian2004]

The protests left questions as to whether the citizenry was truly behind the effort, or if it was largely spearheaded by corporations and political interests.

Oh, come on! You're talking about a small minority of protesters -- the vast majority of Vancouverites and Canadians were very genuinely warm, enthusiastic and hospitable hosts. Anyone who doubts that must be deaf and blind.

Once again we saw a games with highly scattered venues over a large area.

The Vancouver Games were much less scattered than the Games of Torino, for example. It had only two clusters, Vancouver (and suburbs) and Whistler with short distances within those clusters. In my opinion, this did the atmosphere at the Games very good. And since the growth of the Winter Games increasingly demands them to be held in large cities such as Vancouver, it's practically impossible to have all venues (ice and snow venues) in only one cluster, close to each other.

[Diana]

I've encounered Speedsk8ter on another forum/response place on the internet.

Always complaining. Nothing's ever ok.

[Speedsk8er]

I've encounered Speedsk8ter on another forum/response place on the internet.

Always complaining. Nothing's ever ok.

Where? That's odd considering I don't use the moniker elsewhere. And if some comments and opinions are viewed as "complaining" then there are certainly some thin skins around, that's for sure.

[747]

.....these were C+ games, har to believe the were not better in such an impressive city and at Whistler. Plus the Canadians here are nasty now, they sort of acted sweet and bright for a while but as the vibe of these games sarted to nosedive people got a little twitchy, like Mr Xs comments above. Get over it Canada, you kinda blew.

[mr.x]

.....these were C+ games, har to believe the were not better in such an impressive city and at Whistler. Plus the Canadians here are nasty now, they sort of acted sweet and bright for a while but as the vibe of these games sarted to nosedive people got a little twitchy, like Mr Xs comments above. Get over it Canada, you kinda blew.

It does seem some people here are allergic to logic, reason, and the facts....and to top that off are simply ignorant and arrogant SOB's. So, here's a sincere f*ck you from Canada.

[747]

Merci, to the "new" Canada. And here I was thinking you only "blew".

[mr.x]

Oh, come on! You're talking about a small minority of protesters -- the vast majority of Vancouverites and Canadians were very genuinely warm, enthusiastic and hospitable hosts. Anyone who doubts that must be deaf and blind.

Exactly. In the streets and in the stadiums, I have to say that we were hospitable hosts. We filled the stadiums for every event, and we even enthusiastically cheered for other athletes/teams from other nations. In the streets you'd have random people giving you high-five's and greeting you, and of course the street atmosphere was great. The volunteers also did an incredible job.

The small minority of protesters would have protested anything to get out their anti-capitalism and anarchism views out. Many of these protesters were home grown and at the same time many of these protesters are also from out of town from across Canada and the United States...anti-capitalism protesters around the continent or even around the world converged on Vancouver. The general public absolutely hated these people.

And while there were some notable violent protesters, most of the protesting was peaceful (albeit disruptive) but this is what being in a true democratic society like Canada is all about.

The Vancouver Games were much less scattered than the Games of Torino, for example. It had only two clusters, Vancouver (and suburbs) and Whistler with short distances within those clusters. In my opinion, this did the atmosphere at the Games very good. And since the growth of the Winter Games increasingly demands them to be held in large cities such as Vancouver, it's practically impossible to have all venues (ice and snow venues) in only one cluster, close to each other.

I do remember that for Torino. Weren't there also three Olympic Villages?

Merci, to the "new" Canada. And here I was thinking you only "blew".

It's always easier to hide behind insults instead of giving some actual reasons through some critical thinking, which you seem to be incapable of. It seems like you're just anti-Canada no matter what.

[baron-pierreIV]

.....these were C+ games, har to believe the were not better in such an impressive city and at Whistler. Plus the Canadians here are nasty now, they sort of acted sweet and bright for a while but as the vibe of these games sarted to nosedive people got a little twitchy, like Mr Xs comments above. Get over it Canada, you kinda blew.

Just wait until the Russkies host in 4 years!

[SkiFreak]

For those of you criticizing Vancouver, I want to know, how many of you were actually there during the games?

[747]

More Canadian venom, you guys always played second or third fiddle but always used to have more class about it; now you're all hyped up and acting like hot headed Brazilians about everything. This is all "short man's complex" on the part of countries scrambling up some imaginary status ladder that you aspire to climd. You guys have always been great in ways you don't even take pride in now; now you all try to act American.

I'll take it as a compliment.

The best part of you just dissapeared.

It's always easier to hide behind insults instead of giving some actual reasons through some critical thinking, which you seem to be incapable of. It seems like you're just anti-Canada no matter what.

[OneTimeOnly]

I have a feeling 747 is from Seattle.

[mr.x]

More Canadian venom, you guys always played second or third fiddle but always used to have more class about it; now you're all hyped up and acting like hot headed Brazilians about everything. This is all "short man's complex" on the part of countries scrambling up some imaginary status ladder that you aspire to climd. You guys have always been great in ways you don't even take pride in now; now you all try to act American.

I'll take it as a compliment.

The best part of you just dissapeared.

The best part, meaning the passivity of Canada? Canadian "venom" simply because we're rebutting to your asinine posts instead of taking it in the a.s.s? I think you're the one that has issues.

We were hosting the Olympics, we have every right to celebrate and be proud of what we have achieved as a city, a province, and as a country in both hosting this world event and the medals our athletes have won. It was both civic boosterism (not nationalism) and a celebration of the Olympic spirit. This is a nation that embraces winter sports, and above all ice hockey.

Visitors coming from abroad have said that we provided an ecstatic and vibrant atmospheric Olympic experience.

Wherever you're from, you're the one with the issues.

[cormiermax]

Hear, hear!

[OneTimeOnly]

Where? That's odd considering I don't use the moniker elsewhere. And if some comments and opinions are viewed as "complaining" then there are certainly some thin skins around, that's for sure.

This place is FULL of thin skins, particularly in the Rio 2016 forum. Say that's it's raining in Rio today and they cry like babies.

[LinkParkFn]

I was there, and I can definitely say these were really great Games. The atmosphere was unlike anything I've ever experienced (and I was at the Kansas-Missouri game at Arrowhead in 2007 when we were ranked #2 and they were #3.)

It was one supersized party, something I had never been to until February. I'll never forget being downtown whenever Canadian athlete won a medal, particularly a gold. And what I will really never forget is the fact that the people of Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada were willing to let me in to partake in this once in a lifetime opportunity, and frankly my debt of gratitude to the people of Canada may never be paid off.

[Sir Rols]

Vancouver might have had the odd glitches, but the spirit and enthusiasm with which Vancouverites and Canadians embraced them was not one of them. It's up there well and truly with Sydney and Lillehammer for its joyful host support.

[SkiFreak]

Vancouver might have had the odd glitches, but the spirit and enthusiasm with which Vancouverites and Canadians embraced them was not one of them. It's up there well and truly with Sydney and Lillehammer for its joyful host support.

Considering we hosted in tough economical times, and the amount of people that showed up, yes they were definitely successful. Wonder how the crowds would've been in Vancouve if the economy was in better shape?