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