| I am not a die-hard sports enthusiast, but confess | | | | block you or knock you on every throw. Lots of |
| I enjoyed watching the winter Olympics held in | | | | yelling and physics accompany this sport! Imagine |
| Turino Italy. It was nice to watch something | | | | four Newfoundlanders winning the gold - talk |
| positive and motivational for a change and to | | | | about a party when they get home! |
| delight in some truly amazing and generous acts. I | | | | There is the luge where, depending on the event, |
| find the wide variety of sports showcased | | | | one or two people lie on their backs on a sled |
| fascinating, proving there is a lot one can do in | | | | going down a tight twisty run ... feet first. You |
| cold climates of winter! | | | | might think that is scary enough until you see |
| Consider the spectrum of sports. There are the | | | | those in the skeleton event, maybe appropriately |
| many varieties of skiing. The downhill event has | | | | named. These athletes go down a steep ice |
| skiers reaching speeds of 140 kilometres per hour | | | | track, on a sled, that has no brakes, headfirst. |
| (87 mph), you get speeding tickets for going that | | | | Hmmm ... where do they find people to do this? |
| fast in a car! Imagine what it takes to be a ski | | | | Then there is ice hockey. Grown men and women |
| jumper as you attempt to imitate flight and defy | | | | strap on boots with blades on the bottom, use |
| gravity the longest once you are airborne. Picture | | | | curved sticks to shoot a hard rubber disk in the |
| the freestyle skiers who twist and turn in the air | | | | opponents net. This happens as they skate at up |
| so fast I don't know how the commentators can | | | | to 50 km per hour (30 mph) and shoot the puck |
| describe their incredible aerial feats. The | | | | at over 150 kph (95 mph) while maneuvering |
| cross-country skiers have tremendous endurance, | | | | around on ice. A shame both the NHL laden U.S.A |
| and some stop to shoot rifles while trying to | | | | and Canadian teams didn't even make it to the |
| manage their beating hearts and gasping lungs. | | | | semi-finals. Perhaps too much talent, not enough |
| We were witness to a newer Olympic event that | | | | "team". |
| debuted in Nagano in 1998, snowboarding. I think | | | | Over the 17-day period, 2,500 athletes from 85 |
| the snowboarders had the most fun creating their | | | | nations competed for 84 medals in seven sports. |
| lexicon when they speak of a McTwist, Fakie, | | | | We shared the pride of those on the podium as |
| Duckfoot, an Ollie or a Nollie! Didn't it just used to | | | | they smiled or cried as their national anthem |
| be Narly ... or was that suffer speak and I've just | | | | played before the world. Two single acts at this |
| dated myself? | | | | twentieth Olympic Games stand out in my mind |
| There are those flashy speed skaters in their | | | | and will for many years. |
| skin-tight outfits who fly around an oval ice | | | | I applaud gold medalist Joey Cheek, the USA |
| surface at up to 60 kph (37 mph) battling G | | | | speed skater for donating his $25,000 bonus to |
| forces in the turns. The figure skaters entertained | | | | Right to Play, an organization of former Olympic, |
| us with their dance routines and inspiring jumps. | | | | Paralympic and professional athletes worldwide |
| They also showed tremendous grit when Zhang | | | | who support using sport for development, health |
| Dan a Chinese pairs figure skater had a | | | | and peace. Good for you Joey, you are an |
| spectacular fall which made anyone watching | | | | inspiration to many. |
| cringe. To our disbelief, this 20 year old got up, | | | | Perhaps the defining moment of the Games was |
| completed the routine, and won the silver medal. | | | | when Sara Renner, a Canadian broke her ski pole |
| Awesome. | | | | in a cross-country team sprint event. A |
| We can't forget the curlers. A sport many find | | | | Norwegian coach gave her a pole to finish the |
| strange, but appreciate the accuracy involved in | | | | race. She and teammate Beckie Scott went on to |
| curling your rock down a 44 meter (49 yard) ice | | | | win the silver medal. To me this unselfish act |
| surface and trying to hit a bulls eye with two | | | | defines sportsmanship and is hard evidence the |
| sweepers helping control speed and direction of a | | | | true Olympic spirit lives on. See you in Vancouver |
| heavy stone, while you opponent is attempting to | | | | in 2010. |