Thanks for a wonderful 2 weeks of fun, sports, and a celebration of humanity at its greatest!

The 2006 Winter Olympics at Torino came to a close last night at the Stadio Olimpico. And what a closing ceremony it was.

We had ‘Pagliacci‘ Clowns in a Carnival atmosphere, Italian Opera with Human Tarot Cards, dancers, Andrew Boccelli , Avril ‘call-me-sweetheart-and-I’ll-kick-your-ass’ Lavigne, [not forgetting] Ricky Martin shaking his ‘bon-bons, vintage Fiats, flying performers, and top top it off, fireworks that lit up the Torino night sky.

IOC president Jacques Rogge’s closing speech was briefly interrupted by an intruder who went up to the podium and shouted, “Passion lives in Tornio.”

The following are pictures from last night’s closing ceremony (pictures courtesy of NBC, click to enlarge pictures):

An aerial view of Stadio Olimpico

A Carnival atmosphere

Remember these ‘Spaks of Passion’ performers?

Clowns on parade

What’s an Italian Celebration without Italian Opera?

More Italian Opera

Human Tarot Cards

A Vintage Fiat

Snowboarder suspended in midair

The Mayor of Torino passing the Olympic Flag to the Mayor of Vancouver, Host City of the next Winter Olympics. The Mayor of Vancouver is paraplegic (he broke his neck while skiing at the age of 19). Waving the Olympic Flag would be a terrible burden for someone in his condition, but not for him.

A Proud Canadian Delegation

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Logo

Andrew Boccelli, Ricky Martin, and Avril Lavigne mesmerizing the crowd

The Olympic Flame extinguished

Fireworks lit up the Torino night sky

See you again at Vancouver in 2010!!!

Post from: EveryJoe

Grazie Torino, Grazie Italia!!!

Apolo Ohno finally won his first Gold at these Winter Games by taking the Men’s 500m Short Track event.

All competitors were so pumped up for the ‘Superbowl’ of the Short Track event that there were two false starts. But as soon as the race started, Apolo clawed his way to an early lead in the first corner and was uncatchable.

It was a close battle for Ohno and the Canadians in the 500m event
(Source: NBC)

Still fresh from the adrenaline-rush in the previous event, Apolo had a decided advantage in the ensuing Men’s Relay Short Track event. Ohno was battling neck-to-neck with Canada first, but soon slipped to third place behind his arch-nemesis South Korea.

The Italians in forth place gave the Americans a run for their money. Leads were change many times between the Americans and Italians. In the last couple of rounds, with America trailing, Apolo closed the deficit with an aggressive burst of energy as he sailed past the Italian skater.

At that point, Canada and South Korea were too far ahead for Ohno to catch.

Canada’s battle with South Korea came down to the wire as the South Korean skater swoop ahead in the final corner to take the Gold.

The South Koreans’ mixed reactions to the victory (Source: NBC)

All 6 of South Korea’s Gold Medals came from Short Track events, thanks to their phenomenal skater and leader, Ahn Hyun-Soo.

Post from: EveryJoe

OHNOmore OHNO Jokes…

Coming in as the Poster Child of the American delegation, Miller exits the game, frustrated, ego-bruised, and empty-handed.

Some Miller would be great for Bode right about now…
(Source: Newsweek Magazine)

This is not a slam on Bode, he is still a great athlete. But looking back, it would have been great had he exercised a little shrewd discretion, a little more caution.

So, what happened really?

Today, at the Slalom event, Bode ’skiied out of bounds’ only 15 seconds into his first run, and thus, ended his medal hunt at these Winter Games (Benjamin Raich of Austria, again, took the Gold at the Slalom event, four days after winning the Giant Slalom event).

Miller’s Medal Hunt ended today (Source: NBC)

Four days ago, Bode skiied his best at the Giant Slalom event, but could only manage a 6th place finish.

Going back even further, at the Super-G (Feb. 19th), the World Champion’s breakneck speed was impressive to watch. But with challenging hairpin turns, Super-G is more like Formula 1 Racing than NASCAR, and as a result, Bode smashed into a gate in true NASCAR fashion and was out of contention.

At the Combined, Bode straddled a gate (i.e. the pole in the snow went between his legs) and was disqualified.

At the Downhill event (Feb. 12th), Bode saw a United Nations of French, Austrian, Swiss, and Norwegian skiers outperformed him.

Undoubtedly, many would be wondering if Bode was skiing WASTED at these Winter Games. I personally doubt it. But right now, some ‘Spirits‘ (pardon the pun) wouldn’t sound too bad at all.

Update: Read Bode’s lighthearted look back at the 2006 Winter Games, Unrepentant Bode: ‘Man, I Rocked Here’

Post from: EveryJoe

B-0-0-0-de’s 0lympics at T0rin0

The Gold Medal Game between Sweden and Finland is tomorrow. DON’T MISS IT!!!

A tough fight for a Bronze Medal Finish (Source: NBC)

Czech Republic beats Russia 3-0

Post from: EveryJoe

Men’s Ice Hockey Bronze Medal Game – Feb. 25

I thought I would refresh the Canadians out there reading this post, on past Olympic medal accomplishments. Lately, I keep hearing (even though it probably is true most times), that there have been a lot of disappointing moments so far by Canadian Athletes during these Olympics … 4th place, disqualifications, upsets, illnesses, and there’s no reason to mention names!). I just wanted to give our competing athletes a big HART-ie pat on the back, for a job well done … and don’t worry .. we’re just venting! We really are proud of you!

Current Year Medal Count – CAN & USA

Here are the medal results for both Canada and the USA as of close of day – February 23, 2006. I recapped both countries, (because that’s what neighbors do~) .. and to show everybody .. Hey! We’re Ahead of last year! Nyah Nyah! USA is not! Nyah Nyah! haha :D .. I only went back to the years that I was alive :p

Country – Gold / Silver / Bronze // Total

CANADA – 5 / 8 / 6 // 19
USA – 7 / 8 / 5 // 20

Previous Year Medal Count – CAN & USA

Some are some News updates…

Gushue goes for Curling Gold

A lock to win Canada’s record 20th medal at the Torino Olympics, Brad Gushue also will try to make history in Pinerolo, Italy.

The 23-year-old skip and his rink of third Mark Nichols, second Russ Howard and lead Jamie Korab will take on Finland’s Markku Uusipaavalniemi for curling gold on Friday (CBC, 11:30 a.m. EST).

…. Like Kleibrink, Gushue will have an entire nation behind him, including thousands of school kids who were given the afternoon off by Newfoundland and Labrador Education Minister Joan Burke.

She called Friday’s match a historic moment for Newfoundland and Labrador.

“We want our students to remember exactly where they were when they saw the world recognize the talent in this province,” Burke said in a statement.

In St. John’s, a crowd of about 6,000 is expected to gather at Mile One Stadium to watch the final.

Beckie Scott Elected To IOC Athletes’ Commission

TURIN, February 23, 2006 – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today that Canadian cross-country skier Beckie Scott (Vermilion, Alta.) was one of two Olympians elected to the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission for an eight-year term. Finnish ice hockey player Saku Koivu was also elected.

During the 16-day election period from February 8 to 23, Scott received the highest number of votes amongst the 15 candidates with a total of 449. Runner-up Koivu received 412 votes. A total of 2003 athletes – a record number – voted in the election, representing 78.2% of all eligible voters.

Congratulations to Beckie Scott .. At these games, she has earned herself (and Canada) one Silver medal for the “Cross-Country Skiing – Ladies Team Sprint” event with teammate Sara Renner.

Post from: EveryJoe

Today’s Lineup – February 24, 2006 – Medal History for Canada

Over the last couple of days, after a tough back-and-forth battle for first place between Sasha Cohen (U.S.) and Irina Slutskaya (Russia), many were stunned when Shizuka Arakawa (Japan) quietly took the Gold away from the two.

Cohen, Arakawa, and Slutskaya performing their programs
(Source: NBC)

Well, perhpas nobody should be stunned considering the fact that both Cohen and Slutskaya fell in their recent programs. Arakawa, on the other hand, skated elegantly and flawlessly.

Emily Hughes, younger sister of the 2002 Figure Skating Gold Medalist, Sarah, managed a 7th place finish. This is impressive result for young Emily who has only limited experience at large scale competitions. Emily, we hope to watch you shine in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

This Winter Olympics seemed to be about Dark Horses. We have Enrico Fabris overtaking the heavy favorites Davis and Hedrick to win the Men’s 1,500m Speedskating event.

Over in Men’s Ice Hockey, U.S. and Canada, two powerhouses, were knocked out of Gold contention by Finland and Russia. Both Bode Miller (upset by his own poor performance) and Apolo Ohno (upset by skaters from South Korea) have yet to win a Gold.

Norway’s Ole Einar Bjoerndalen won a total of 5 Gold Medals in the previous two Winter Olympics. He has yet to win one in Torino.

And Lindsey Jacobellis…

No…Lindsey lost because of bad luck. It has nothing to do with her Snowboarding abilities.

Post from: EveryJoe

Arakawa (JPN) Ahead!

The ‘Hurricane’ a la Peterson (Source: AP Photo)

American Jeret “Speedy” Peterson’s signature move, the Hurricane, didn’t win him first place but inspired awe and admiration in all those present. The Hurricane is a difficult aerial acrobatic that has the skier do 3 (THREE) head-over-heels flip while twisting in the air.

That maneuver could have won Peterson the Gold easily but his landing betrayed him (see following picture).

Peterson couldn’t land his ‘Hurricane’ stunt (Source: NBC)

Yesterday, I blogged about how Tyler Jewell had it tough training for the Parallel Giant Slalom (PGS) event; today, in a stroke of eerie coincidence, Peterson has a no-less-haunting story of his own to tell. Well, I guess I shouldn’t describe it as eerie or even call it a coincidence, all athletes have to overcome great odds to get to the Olympics, though some might have a harder time than most.

Having survived sexual abuse; withnessed a friend’s suicide; and his sister taken away in a car accident, a lesser person would have just withered away. But not Peterson.

Instead, he channelled the negatives in his life into fuel for his daring acrobatics on the slopes.

Though winning no medals, Peterson was satisfied:

“I obviously didn’t come here to end up seventh but I came here to do the hurricane and I did the hurricane…I had another jump that I could have done tonight…But it’s not as risky and the rewards wouldn’t have been as high…I wouldn’t change anything.”

Spoken like a true Olympian.

I urge you all to vote for such incredible personalities at the DHL US Olympic Spirit Award Web Site.

Post from: EveryJoe

Hurricane Hands Han (CHN) His Gold!

After the SHEER, “SCHOCHING” victories of the Schoch Brothers yesterday, Swiss Miss Daniela Meuli took the Gold at the same event today.

Meuli competing at a pre-Olympic event (Source: NBC)

American Rosey Fletcher took the Bronze, vindicating the U.S. Men’s defeat yesterday. By the way, though Tyler Jewell didn’t win the PGS event, his struggles and story of determination is a must-read.

Meuli went head-to-head with Fletcher in the semifinals. The former snowboarded to an easy victory after Fletcher fell. The same thing happened to her competitor, Silver Medalist Amelie Kober (GER), in the finals.

Post from: EveryJoe

An All SWISS Domination at PGS!

The victorious Schoch brothers (Source: NBC)

Older brother Simon was expected to win the event but a mistake on the slalom course handed the Gold to Philipp.

Siegfried Grabner of Austria took the bronze after his French competitor fell on his first run.

In a sport that is practically invented by Americans, the lone U.S. snowboarder, Tyler Jewell, could only manage a ninth place finish.

But despite the premature exit, Jewell’s journey to the Winter Olympics is an incredible story of determinitaion and inspiration for aspiring athletes everywhere.

While training for the event, Jewell had been living out of his car or tent for the last 4 years. And to save money for training and equipment, Jewell had to subsist on nutrition bars and cheap hospital food.

Graceful even in defeat, Jewell said, “Just getting here, everything I had to do financially … to me the coolest thing is I followed my heart through thick and thin and everything worked out.”

And for that, Tyler Jewell, I salute you. I will vote for you as the athlete who best embodies the Olympic Spirit. Good luck in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

Post from: EveryJoe

It’s all in the family! And a story of Inspiration.

Sweden (B3) beats Switzerland (A2) 6-2
Finland (A1) beats United States (B4) 4-3
Russia (B2) beats Canada (A3) 2-0
Czech Republic (A4) beats Slovakia (B1) 3-1

So, Finland meets Russia and Sweden meets the Czech Republic in the Men’s Semifinals on Friday (Feb. 24).

Post from: EveryJoe

Men’s Hockey Results – Feb. 22