Olympic Excitement

[Syt]

I just read a bit more on that. Apparently the German government spends up to 250 million Euro per year on professional olympic level sport. WTF. More than 1000 sportsmen and -women are currently "serving" in various state organizations but actually only practice for their respective sport.

Well, I understand that in many expensive niche sports it's hard to find private sponsors, and this is one way to foster/support talents. Look at the U.S. speedskating team - competing for medals, but when they were dropped by their sponsors (a Dutch bank, ironically), Comedy Central/Stephen Colbert pitched in to cover the 300k they needed for the Olympics.

More than anything I think it's mostly a PR gig for the military and other institutions in Germany, and one that no one really seems to mind. It also makes it easier to say that "we", as in tax paying Germans, won Gold.

[Syt]

Besides, it's not comparable to barracks drill à la Tikhonov.

[Grey Fox]

British skip is pretty hot.

[Ed Anger]

MSNBC: North America wins gold in ice dancing.

Me: lol, wut?

[Barrister]

MSNBC: North America wins gold in ice dancing.

Me: lol, wut?

[Ed Anger]

MSNBC: North America wins gold in ice dancing.

Me: lol, wut?

Watching MSNBC covering the Olympics can freak a person out.

[katmai]

two little tidbits

Sunday's hockey clash between Canada and the United States was the most-watched sports program in Canadian history, according to a press release from CTV network in Canada. It drew an average of 10.6 million viewers, surpassing the previous most-watched sports program -- the 2002 Olympic gold-medal game between the same two countries, which drew 10.2 million viewers, according to CTV.

By comparison, last month's Super Bowl on NBC drew 106.5 million viewers, becoming the most watched program of any kind in U.S. history. There are 308.7 million people in the United States. There are 33.3 million in Canada. Do the math, and you'll see the percentage of Canadians who watched the hockey game was about the same as the percentage of Americans who watched the Super Bowl.

and a twitter posted in local paper today.

Dispatch Alaska

James Southam, Anchorage cross-country skier, on the scene at the Olympic Village after the United States beat the Canadian hockey team on Sunday:

"The Canadians in the dining hall were really quiet tonight... Atta way USA."

-- tweet at nbcolympics.com

[Barrister]

Hockey is serious business.

[Sophie Scholl]

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/In-Plushenko-s-mind-and-website-he-s-the-plat?urn=oly,221408

In Plushenko's mind (and website), he's the platinum medal winner

By Maggie Hendricks

Evgeni Plushenko's long, delusional journey continues. Just days after the silver medalist for men's figure skating denied that Evan Lysacek is the true champion of men's figure skating, he has apparently awarded himself a platinum medal. From his official website:

It reads, "Silver of Salt Lake, Gold of Torino, Platinum of Vancouver." What's impressive here is that not only has Plushenko's website team fabricated an Olympic medal, it designed a platinum medal, too. Bravo. That's commitment to a delusion.

Previously, Plushenko ripped gold medalist Evan Lysacek for not attempting a quad jump, and even Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin weighed in on the controversy, saying Plushenko "performed the most accomplished program on the Vancouver ice." Lysacek responded to the criticism with class, but Plushenko clearly hasn't come to grips with the fact that the gold medal eluded him in Vancouver.

Right.  So does this qualify as demeaning the medal he won a la Scotty Lago?  Does he deserve to be sent home for making a mockery of the Olympics too?  I'm betting this gets ignored.  Oh IOC, you amazing pack of corrupt hypocrites.

[katmai]

Russians are nutjobs, film at 11!

[katmai]

Swiss and Belarus tied 2-2 late in 3rd period.

[Maximus]

In Plushenko's mind (and website), he's the platinum medal winner

Should have paid the French judge.

[Zanza]

Wasn't Lago sent home by his national committee, not the IOC?

[sbr]

Wasn't Lago sent home by his national committee, not the IOC?

I believe that is correct; it was the USOC who gave him the boot.

[Jaron]

Did he just put a CD on a ribbon?