Engineers at the University at Calgary have invented a tracking mechanism for the Canadian ski team that uses GPS to help correct any mistakes the skiers make as they race down a course. A sensor placed on the skier can track speed and position, with results that can then be read on a monitor. Since ski races can be won or lost by such small increments of time, any slight correction can make a huge difference. The 2010 Canadian ski team is hoping this helps come the Olympics in February. This certainly seems to give the Canadians an edge and it'll be interesting to see how the International Olympic Committee reacts to new technology like this.
There was a 74 year gap from the time Curling was first included in the Winter Olympics in 1924 until it was played again, this time as an official sport in 1998, in Nagano, Japan. In 1924, curling was played as a demonstration sport, but in 2006, the I.O.C. retroactively made the 1924 competition an official event and awarded medals to the winning countries.
A total of 74 men and 74 women will compete in the figure skating events at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. There are 30 spots available in both the mens and ladies fields, 20 spots for pairs and 24 spots in the ice dance event. Each country is given 1 to 3 spots based on how their athletes performed at the previous World Championships, and then the remainder of spots are up for grabs in other Olympic qualifiers. Each country determines which skaters to send based on their National Championships and how well their athletes have performed over the season.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
75 Days
Someone on ebay is selling two Vancouver Olympic pins for $50 each. While most pins on the Vancouver Olympic website are worth $8, these are apparently worth more because they display the Taiwan national flag. Because of politics between China and Taiwan, the International Olympic Committee has ruled that Taiwan may not compete in the Olympics as its own entity. China, who doesn't recognize Taiwan as a state, has compromised and allowed the Taiwanese people to compete as Chinese Taipei, under a different flag. The pins created with the flag of Taiwan were recalled, thus (according to the seller) increasing in worth.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-2010-Vancouver-Winter-Olympics-Pin-MISTAKE-Taiwan_W0QQitemZ220513021324QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_Fan_Shop?hash=item335799ad8c
Figure Skater, Evgeni Plushenko of Russia is a favorite to win gold in the men's event in Vancouver. Before the International Skating Union changed the scoring system, he had racked up 75 perfect 6.0 marks. He is also the youngest man to ever receive a 6.0, which he won at sixteen.
The U.S. Speedskating team has won 75 Olympic medals, making it the most successful winter sport in the U.S. Hopefully that number will only grow in February.
The maximum number of gates in a men's Olympic slalom race is 75 gates.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-2010-Vancouver-Winter-Olympics-Pin-MISTAKE-Taiwan_W0QQitemZ220513021324QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_Fan_Shop?hash=item335799ad8c
Figure Skater, Evgeni Plushenko of Russia is a favorite to win gold in the men's event in Vancouver. Before the International Skating Union changed the scoring system, he had racked up 75 perfect 6.0 marks. He is also the youngest man to ever receive a 6.0, which he won at sixteen.
The U.S. Speedskating team has won 75 Olympic medals, making it the most successful winter sport in the U.S. Hopefully that number will only grow in February.
The maximum number of gates in a men's Olympic slalom race is 75 gates.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
76 Days
Want to raise money for the Special Olympics? Then be a part of Colorado's "Freezin' for a Reason" fundraiser on Dec. 5. All you have to do is plunge yourself into the frigid waters of the Chatfield Reservoir in Colorado. The event will raise money to provide facilities, equipment and coaches for Special Olympians in the Colorado area. Sounds like a plan. http://www.specialolympicsco.org/
$76 million was spent to house over 5000 security personnel for the 2010 Winter Olympics on 3 cruise ships from Holland America and Carnival which will be docked in Vancouver over the course of the Games.
Again, I'm cheating a bit, but give me a break, it's Thanksgiving weekend. Jack Poole, the Canadian responsible for bringing the 2010 Olympics to Vancouver, died in October, at the age of 76. As the chairman for the Vancouver Olympic Committee, Poole oversaw their winning bid for the Olympics. Canadians consider him the father of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
$76 million was spent to house over 5000 security personnel for the 2010 Winter Olympics on 3 cruise ships from Holland America and Carnival which will be docked in Vancouver over the course of the Games.
Again, I'm cheating a bit, but give me a break, it's Thanksgiving weekend. Jack Poole, the Canadian responsible for bringing the 2010 Olympics to Vancouver, died in October, at the age of 76. As the chairman for the Vancouver Olympic Committee, Poole oversaw their winning bid for the Olympics. Canadians consider him the father of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Friday, November 27, 2009
77 Days
Yesterday's post had sort of a negative vibe, what with (potential) Olympians not displaying the behavior that is supposed to go along with the spirit of the Olympics. So today, I want to get this countdown back on track, by highlighting an athlete whose actions do accurately portray that of the ideal Olympian. The first athlete who comes to mind is Olympic champion, speed-skater Joey Cheek. Cheek is a three time Olympic medalist from Greensboro, N.C. (Shout-out to Greensboro!) At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turino, Italy, the U.S. Olympic Committee decided to award money to any American athlete who won a medal. Cheek medaled in two events and donated his $25,000 gold medal bonus and his $15,000 silver medal bonus to charity and urged other athletes to do the same. He was thus elected by the entire U.S. Olympic team to carry the American flag for the closing ceremonies. Since then, Joey Cheek has gone on to do a lot of charity work with regard to the war in Darfur. There, I feel better now.
The Vancouver airport is expecting March 1, the day after the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics, to be their busiest day ever. Over 77,000 pieces of luggage are estimated to depart the airport that day (as well as 39,000 people). Air Canada has also added extra domestic flights throughout the Olympics. Who wants to pick the over/under number for percentage of suitcases that get lost?
http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19466351-vancouver-airport-preparing-for-busiest-ever-day.html
$77 million worth of tickets to the 2010 Winter Games were sold in the first phase of ticket sales, from Nov. '08 through Jan '09. That's over a year before the Olympics are even set to take place.
YouTube bought the rights to stream highlights of the 2008 Summer Olympics to 77 territories where digital rights had not been sold, primarily in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The clips were blocked to everyone outside the 77 territories. This reflected the first time the Olympics could be viewed globally.
The Vancouver airport is expecting March 1, the day after the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics, to be their busiest day ever. Over 77,000 pieces of luggage are estimated to depart the airport that day (as well as 39,000 people). Air Canada has also added extra domestic flights throughout the Olympics. Who wants to pick the over/under number for percentage of suitcases that get lost?
http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/news/19466351-vancouver-airport-preparing-for-busiest-ever-day.html
$77 million worth of tickets to the 2010 Winter Games were sold in the first phase of ticket sales, from Nov. '08 through Jan '09. That's over a year before the Olympics are even set to take place.
YouTube bought the rights to stream highlights of the 2008 Summer Olympics to 77 territories where digital rights had not been sold, primarily in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The clips were blocked to everyone outside the 77 territories. This reflected the first time the Olympics could be viewed globally.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
78 Days
The Olympics is supposed to bring out the best in athletes around the world and inspire the human race to be better people. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the IOC, said, "The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." Which is why it's unfortunate when athletes cannot live up to that standard. As I mentioned in 86 Days, Russian figure skater, Andrei Lutai was arrested for allegedly stealing a car and drunk driving in Lake Placid, NY after competing at Skate America. Lutai was held in jail for several days. He then pleaded not guilty and was released to return to Russia. The Russian Figure Skating Federation just released a statement announcing that they have banned Lutai from the Russian national team for a year "for violating ethical norms of an athlete" which means he has lost his chance to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics. On the same topic, nine-time Olympic speed skating medalist, Claudia Pechstein has been banned from the 2010 Winter Olympics after returning blood samples with "abnormal levels" at the World Championships last year. The German Pechstein has won 5 Olympic gold medals in the past 4 Winter Olympics, and is Germany's most successful Winter Olympian.
I know I don't usually use years for my stats on the countdown, but I thought this was interesting. In 1978, the regulations for the Olympic medals were created. While each Olympic organizing committee can design their own medals, there are certain requirements which must be followed. Medals must be a minimum of 60 millimeters in diameter and three millimeters thick. Gold and silver medals must be at least 92.5% pure silver, and the gold medal must be gilded with at least six grams of gold. The name of the sport must be etched in each medal and must be attached to a ribbon or chain, to be hung around the medalists' necks. Here's an image of a gold medal to be awarded at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
At the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, only 25 of the 78 nations that competed were awarded medals.
I know I don't usually use years for my stats on the countdown, but I thought this was interesting. In 1978, the regulations for the Olympic medals were created. While each Olympic organizing committee can design their own medals, there are certain requirements which must be followed. Medals must be a minimum of 60 millimeters in diameter and three millimeters thick. Gold and silver medals must be at least 92.5% pure silver, and the gold medal must be gilded with at least six grams of gold. The name of the sport must be etched in each medal and must be attached to a ribbon or chain, to be hung around the medalists' necks. Here's an image of a gold medal to be awarded at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
At the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, only 25 of the 78 nations that competed were awarded medals.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
79 Days
Who doesn't love a good Olympics-related movie. The heart-warming ones, inspired by true stories like Chariots of Fire, Miracle and Cool Runnings. The utterly ridiculous, like Blades of Glory. And of course my favorite, The Cutting Edge. (I'm still waiting for a real pairs team to attempt the Pamchenko Twist.) Well there's a new one coming out to add to your collection, about British ski jumper Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards who came in last in both of his ski jumping events at the 1988 Winter Olympics. Set to play Edwards is Harry Potter star, Rupert Grint. What's your favorite Olympics movie?
Ever wonder who decided to revive the ancient Olympic Games and turn it into the modern Olympics that we know today? In the 1880's, a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin began to promote the idea of sports as a way to maintain health and bring unity and peace to the world. In 1894, de Coubertin gathered 79 delegates from 12 countries to attend an international congress with the purpose of reestablishing the Olympics. The 79 delegates gave de Coubertin the permission to form the International Olympic Committee and get things started again. Two years later the first modern Summer Olympic Games took place in Athens in 1896.
Whistler Mountain, the location of the ski and snowboard events for the 2010 Winter Olympics, lies 79 miles north of Vancouver, the home of all the indoor events.
Fourteen-time Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming, Michael Phelps, has a wingspan of 79 inches. That's equal to about six feet, five inches. Former NBA star Charles Barkley is 6'5. So from finger-tip to finger-tip, Michael Phelps can reach from Barkley's head to his feet. That's nuts.
**UPDATE: Apparently, I can't do math. 79 inches is actually 6 feet, 7 inches (as was so lovingly pointed out to me) which makes Phelps' wingspan longer than his actual height; he's 6'4.
HFDUFYFZCF2X
Ever wonder who decided to revive the ancient Olympic Games and turn it into the modern Olympics that we know today? In the 1880's, a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin began to promote the idea of sports as a way to maintain health and bring unity and peace to the world. In 1894, de Coubertin gathered 79 delegates from 12 countries to attend an international congress with the purpose of reestablishing the Olympics. The 79 delegates gave de Coubertin the permission to form the International Olympic Committee and get things started again. Two years later the first modern Summer Olympic Games took place in Athens in 1896.
Whistler Mountain, the location of the ski and snowboard events for the 2010 Winter Olympics, lies 79 miles north of Vancouver, the home of all the indoor events.
Fourteen-time Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming, Michael Phelps, has a wingspan of 79 inches. That's equal to about six feet, five inches. Former NBA star Charles Barkley is 6'5. So from finger-tip to finger-tip, Michael Phelps can reach from Barkley's head to his feet. That's nuts.
**UPDATE: Apparently, I can't do math. 79 inches is actually 6 feet, 7 inches (as was so lovingly pointed out to me) which makes Phelps' wingspan longer than his actual height; he's 6'4.
HFDUFYFZCF2X
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
80 Days
Here's the lesson of the day: When you need answers, go to the experts. Yesterday, I wondered where the term "eighty-one" came from in reference to a crash in bobsled and luge. Enter our experts, the folks at the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid, NY and 1998 Olympic Silver medalist in Luge, Gordy Sheer. While it still seems like no one is quite sure where it came from, there are a couple of ideas.
Sheer thought the term came from motor racing, where in the event of a crash, "eighty-one" would be called in order to notify those who needed to know, without causing panic and chaos for the fans in attendance.
Olympic Sports Complex Marketing Manager, Rebecca Dayton, added that she heard that it originates from the old law enforcement codes, i.e. 10-4 (OK), 10-20 (location) and 10-81 (crash).
Thanks so much guys!
U.S. Figure Skating just announced its nominees for the 2010 US Figure Skating Hall of Fame. One of the nominees is 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist, Sarah Hughes. I totally understand that an Olympic Champ should be inducted into a hall of fame, but it just seems a little early to me. Granted, she's done with Olympic-level skating, but she won only eight years ago! (And don't get me started on the fact that she never won anything else, although even I understand that it's irrelevant once you've won the Olympics.) For crying out loud, she's twenty-four years old! Doesn't that seem a bit young to be entered into a hall of fame? Shouldn't you have to be like ninety or something? (On a scale from 1 to 10, how bitter do I sound?) I know others before her, such as Tara Lipinski, were inducted at young ages as well. It just seems to me that being entered into any Hall of Fame should be more like a lifetime achievement award - something that occurs once you've proven many years of dedication in your field.
Anyone heading to Vancouver for the Olympics better know someone there since 80% of Vancouver hotels are already booked by the Vancouver Olympic Committee, leaving few places to stay for tourists and spectators. And much of the remaining 20% is being reserved for preferred guests and tour operators.
http://www.goldencityrentals.com/node/97
Eighty people are part of Whistler Mountain's snow-making team this year, in order to prepare the mountain for the Olympic skiing events. That's double the number from last year.
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=17254.html?cid=rsstsn
Sheer thought the term came from motor racing, where in the event of a crash, "eighty-one" would be called in order to notify those who needed to know, without causing panic and chaos for the fans in attendance.
Olympic Sports Complex Marketing Manager, Rebecca Dayton, added that she heard that it originates from the old law enforcement codes, i.e. 10-4 (OK), 10-20 (location) and 10-81 (crash).
Thanks so much guys!
U.S. Figure Skating just announced its nominees for the 2010 US Figure Skating Hall of Fame. One of the nominees is 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist, Sarah Hughes. I totally understand that an Olympic Champ should be inducted into a hall of fame, but it just seems a little early to me. Granted, she's done with Olympic-level skating, but she won only eight years ago! (And don't get me started on the fact that she never won anything else, although even I understand that it's irrelevant once you've won the Olympics.) For crying out loud, she's twenty-four years old! Doesn't that seem a bit young to be entered into a hall of fame? Shouldn't you have to be like ninety or something? (On a scale from 1 to 10, how bitter do I sound?) I know others before her, such as Tara Lipinski, were inducted at young ages as well. It just seems to me that being entered into any Hall of Fame should be more like a lifetime achievement award - something that occurs once you've proven many years of dedication in your field.
Anyone heading to Vancouver for the Olympics better know someone there since 80% of Vancouver hotels are already booked by the Vancouver Olympic Committee, leaving few places to stay for tourists and spectators. And much of the remaining 20% is being reserved for preferred guests and tour operators.
http://www.goldencityrentals.com/node/97
Eighty people are part of Whistler Mountain's snow-making team this year, in order to prepare the mountain for the Olympic skiing events. That's double the number from last year.
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=17254.html?cid=rsstsn
Monday, November 23, 2009
81 Days
I watched 5 1/2 hours of figure skating yesterday (amongst other activities like getting a black and blue ankle from horseback riding) so that I could bring you, my loyal readers, everything you deserve in a blog post.
When I was in Lake Placid last week, one of the things I was really hoping to do was take a bobsled ride down the famous course at the Olympic Sports Complex. Unfortunately, the course was closed in order to prepare for a World Cup bobsled event that took place over the last couple of days. Happily, Team USA came in 1st and 2nd in the 4-man bobsled event, which makes me feel a bit better about missing out on that opportunity. A bit. (Although I'm really not sure why Stephen Colbert got to take a bobsled ride when I couldn't. What, just because someone is famous and single-handedly sponsoring the entire U.S. speed skating team (see 93 Days), they get V.I.P. treatment? What's that all about?)
Well the people at Lost may not be intimidated by the Winter Olympics (see 84 Days) but the folks at the Academy Awards certainly are. Rather than air in late February as they have since 2004, the Oscars will air on March 7, 2010 so as not to coincide with the Olympics Games.
In Bobsled and Luge, the term "eighty-one" is used to signify a crash. It most likely originated at the Lake Placid, NY course, but people aren't sure why. I intend to get to the bottom of this! (Two points to anyone who can help.)
Only 81 countries participated in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia (former Soviet Union). That was the lowest number of competing countries in a Summer Olympics Games since 1956. 60 countries, including the U.S., boycotted the Games in protest of the former Soviet Union's war on Afghanistan. Many of the boycotting nations competed in the Olympic Boycott Games in Philadelphia, PA. instead.
When I was in Lake Placid last week, one of the things I was really hoping to do was take a bobsled ride down the famous course at the Olympic Sports Complex. Unfortunately, the course was closed in order to prepare for a World Cup bobsled event that took place over the last couple of days. Happily, Team USA came in 1st and 2nd in the 4-man bobsled event, which makes me feel a bit better about missing out on that opportunity. A bit. (Although I'm really not sure why Stephen Colbert got to take a bobsled ride when I couldn't. What, just because someone is famous and single-handedly sponsoring the entire U.S. speed skating team (see 93 Days), they get V.I.P. treatment? What's that all about?)
Well the people at Lost may not be intimidated by the Winter Olympics (see 84 Days) but the folks at the Academy Awards certainly are. Rather than air in late February as they have since 2004, the Oscars will air on March 7, 2010 so as not to coincide with the Olympics Games.
In Bobsled and Luge, the term "eighty-one" is used to signify a crash. It most likely originated at the Lake Placid, NY course, but people aren't sure why. I intend to get to the bottom of this! (Two points to anyone who can help.)
Only 81 countries participated in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia (former Soviet Union). That was the lowest number of competing countries in a Summer Olympics Games since 1956. 60 countries, including the U.S., boycotted the Games in protest of the former Soviet Union's war on Afghanistan. Many of the boycotting nations competed in the Olympic Boycott Games in Philadelphia, PA. instead.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
82 Days
No news today. This weekend is Skate Canada, a skating competition which I've dvr-ed and haven't watched yet. I'm pretty adamant about not finding out what happens in a skating event before I watch it. And searching for Olympic news whilst avoiding the most popular Olympic sport is kinda hard.
In a European Olympic qualifying game in Women's hockey last year, Slovakia beat Bulgaria 82-0. Now, I'm no expert in hockey, but don't games usually get like a max of 5 goals or something? 82? Not only 82, but 82 to ZERO. I'm not sure if this is a really good sign for Slovakia in the 2010 Winter Olympics, or just a really bad sign for Bulgaria, but it set a record in an International Ice Hockey Federation-sanctioned event. The Slovakian team average one goal every 44 seconds.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=3577150
Top speed achieved in the skeleton event is 82 mph. The skeleton event is sort of like the luge, only instead of going down the track feet first, you go down the track head first. Skeleton was first introduced in the Winter Olympics in 1928 and returned in 1948, then took a hiatus until 2002 and 2006. 2010 will be its fifth Olympics.
The Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Center, which will be the home of the curling and paralympic wheelchair curling events cost $82 million to build. And I'm sure everyone will be happy to know that the building is eco-friendly, using rain water to flush toilets.
http://www.krolltravel.com/TravelNews/tn2008110362.html
In a European Olympic qualifying game in Women's hockey last year, Slovakia beat Bulgaria 82-0. Now, I'm no expert in hockey, but don't games usually get like a max of 5 goals or something? 82? Not only 82, but 82 to ZERO. I'm not sure if this is a really good sign for Slovakia in the 2010 Winter Olympics, or just a really bad sign for Bulgaria, but it set a record in an International Ice Hockey Federation-sanctioned event. The Slovakian team average one goal every 44 seconds.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=3577150
Top speed achieved in the skeleton event is 82 mph. The skeleton event is sort of like the luge, only instead of going down the track feet first, you go down the track head first. Skeleton was first introduced in the Winter Olympics in 1928 and returned in 1948, then took a hiatus until 2002 and 2006. 2010 will be its fifth Olympics.
The Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Center, which will be the home of the curling and paralympic wheelchair curling events cost $82 million to build. And I'm sure everyone will be happy to know that the building is eco-friendly, using rain water to flush toilets.
http://www.krolltravel.com/TravelNews/tn2008110362.html
Saturday, November 21, 2009
83 Days
Whistler Mountain, home of the ski and snowboard events for the 2010 Winter Olympics is celebrating early with record-breaking snow fall for the month of November (with a few days left). Hopefully this is a good sign for conditions in February.
83 countries have competed in archery at the Olympics since it debuted in the Summer Olympics in 1900.
http://www.ticketluck.com/sports-tickets/Olympics-Archery/index.php
When the London Olympic Committee unveiled their new logo for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the BBC created a poll, asking readers to rate the logo by giving it a gold, silver or bronze medal, or a wooden spoon. 83% of those polled gave it a wooden spoon. Here's a link of the logo.
83 countries have competed in archery at the Olympics since it debuted in the Summer Olympics in 1900.
http://www.ticketluck.com/sports-tickets/Olympics-Archery/index.php
When the London Olympic Committee unveiled their new logo for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the BBC created a poll, asking readers to rate the logo by giving it a gold, silver or bronze medal, or a wooden spoon. 83% of those polled gave it a wooden spoon. Here's a link of the logo.
Friday, November 20, 2009
84 Days
Today, Nov 20th, commemorates the 14th anniversary of the sudden death of Sergei Grinkov. With his partner on and off the ice, Ekaterina Gordeeva, he won two Olympic gold medals in 1988 and 1994 in pairs skating. Together, they are considered one of the best pairs team in the history of the sport. I'm prepared to say the greatest (although my dad definitely gives that title to the legendary Protopopovs). Gordeeva and Grinkov were in Lake Placid, NY practicing for an upcoming Stars on Ice event in 1995, when he suffered a heart attack on the ice and passed away. Truly a great loss.
There were lots of rumors going around over the t.v. schedule for the last season of ABC's Lost this coming winter. Many television networks do not normally air new programming during the Olympics. But ABC has announced that new episodes of Lost will air during the entire month of February, which means they will compete for viewers against the 2010 Winter Olympics on NBC. All I have to say is, thank God for tivo.
84 American NHL hockey players were in the running for the 23 man US Olympic hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=432241
In a survey taken by international sports experts in 2007, the question arose as to whether the International Olympic Committee should institute a continental rotation for the location of the Olympics, similar to FIFA's rotation for the World Cup. 84% of those who took the survey were against the idea of a continental rotation. However, 75% did feel that the Olympics should come to Africa in the next few years.
http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/other_news/1170437337.html?print
Shameless plug to follow my Olympic countdown on twitter: http://twitter.com/countdowntovanc
There were lots of rumors going around over the t.v. schedule for the last season of ABC's Lost this coming winter. Many television networks do not normally air new programming during the Olympics. But ABC has announced that new episodes of Lost will air during the entire month of February, which means they will compete for viewers against the 2010 Winter Olympics on NBC. All I have to say is, thank God for tivo.
84 American NHL hockey players were in the running for the 23 man US Olympic hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=432241
In a survey taken by international sports experts in 2007, the question arose as to whether the International Olympic Committee should institute a continental rotation for the location of the Olympics, similar to FIFA's rotation for the World Cup. 84% of those who took the survey were against the idea of a continental rotation. However, 75% did feel that the Olympics should come to Africa in the next few years.
http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/other_news/1170437337.html?print
Shameless plug to follow my Olympic countdown on twitter: http://twitter.com/countdowntovanc
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Still 85 Days
Today gets another post because Michelle Kwan is the Queen of everything so she gets her own post.
Royal Caribbean has named two-time Winter Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan one of the seven godmothers of their newest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas. Kwan is the most decorated U.S. figure skater in history. She won the silver medal in 1998 in Nagano, Japan and the bronze medal in 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is also a five-time World champion and nine-time National champion. (There are some facts I totally didn't have to google.) The other godmothers are Gloria Estefan, Jane Seymore, Dara Torres, Keisha Knight Pulliam, Shawn Johnson and Daisy Fuentes.
Anyone want to get me into the inaugural event in Ft. Lauderdale on Nov 30? All you have to do is buy me a $500 ticket...
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=141076&cat=1
Royal Caribbean has named two-time Winter Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan one of the seven godmothers of their newest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas. Kwan is the most decorated U.S. figure skater in history. She won the silver medal in 1998 in Nagano, Japan and the bronze medal in 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is also a five-time World champion and nine-time National champion. (There are some facts I totally didn't have to google.) The other godmothers are Gloria Estefan, Jane Seymore, Dara Torres, Keisha Knight Pulliam, Shawn Johnson and Daisy Fuentes.
Anyone want to get me into the inaugural event in Ft. Lauderdale on Nov 30? All you have to do is buy me a $500 ticket...
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=141076&cat=1
85 Days
How do I get my face on an airplane? I suppose winning 5 Olympic medals in short track speed skating like Apolo Ohno did certainly couldn't hurt. (And neither could winning Dancing with the Stars.) Ohno won gold and silver in 2002 in Salt Lake City and gold and two bronze medals in 2006 in Turino. He's currently tied with speed skater Eric Heiden (although Heiden's 5 medals are all gold and came in one Olympics in 1980 in Lake Placid, NY). With one more medal in 2010, he could become America's most decorated winter Olympian. Check out the plane:
http://stuckattheairport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Alaska-Air-Apolo-Ono.jpg
I'm sure all of you have already sent in your designs for the ski goggles contest (see 91 Days). Well here's another contest for you creative folks. Design a ski helmet to be worn by two-time World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/lindseys-helmet/
Top speed that can be reached on a luge: 85 mph
Rather than build a new international size hockey rink on which Olympic hockey games are normally played (which measures 200 ft x 98.5 ft), the men's and women's hockey events at the 2010 Winter Olympics will take place on an NHL size rink at the home of the Vancouver Canucks. NHL rinks are a bit more narrow, measuring 200 ft x 85 ft. Not only did this save the construction costs, but it will allow about 35,000 more spectators at the hockey games.
http://tripatlas.com/2010_Winter_Olympics
85% of tickets for the 2010 Winter Paralympics are $20 or less, in order to create an affordable way to share in the Olympic spirit. The 2010 Paralympic Games will take place in Vancouver on March 12. Five events will take place: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, wheelchair curling and ice sledge hockey.
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-news/vancouver-2010-paralympic-winter-games-tickets-on-sale-may-6--2009--prices-start-at-$10_53386rF.html
http://stuckattheairport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Alaska-Air-Apolo-Ono.jpg
I'm sure all of you have already sent in your designs for the ski goggles contest (see 91 Days). Well here's another contest for you creative folks. Design a ski helmet to be worn by two-time World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/lindseys-helmet/
Top speed that can be reached on a luge: 85 mph
Rather than build a new international size hockey rink on which Olympic hockey games are normally played (which measures 200 ft x 98.5 ft), the men's and women's hockey events at the 2010 Winter Olympics will take place on an NHL size rink at the home of the Vancouver Canucks. NHL rinks are a bit more narrow, measuring 200 ft x 85 ft. Not only did this save the construction costs, but it will allow about 35,000 more spectators at the hockey games.
http://tripatlas.com/2010_Winter_Olympics
85% of tickets for the 2010 Winter Paralympics are $20 or less, in order to create an affordable way to share in the Olympic spirit. The 2010 Paralympic Games will take place in Vancouver on March 12. Five events will take place: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, wheelchair curling and ice sledge hockey.
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-news/vancouver-2010-paralympic-winter-games-tickets-on-sale-may-6--2009--prices-start-at-$10_53386rF.html
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
86 Days
Wanna know how not to make it to the 2010 Winter Olympics? How about get drunk, steal a car and go driving in it 89 days before Opening Ceremonies. That is allegedly what Russian figure skater Andrei Lutai did the day after his disappointing 10th place performance at Skate America in Lake Placid. He is being held in a county jail on $100,000 bail. If Lutai had been Russia's best hope for an Olympic medal, I could see the Russian Skating Federation sending him to the Olympics anyway, but with the return of gold medal favorite, Evgeni Plushenko (the 2006 Olympic Champion), the repercussions of this could (deservedly) be devastating to Lutai.
Here's a name you probably haven't heard yet: Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong. He is Ghana's first professional skier and will represent the country at the Olympics as well. He has also just received government backing to build Ghana's first artificial, indoor ski slope to build interest in the sport.
There will be 86 medal events taking place at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
http://www.travelplaces.co.uk/travelplaces/olympics/winter-olympics-2010-sports-venues.htm
In '86, the IOC voted to separate the Summer and Winter Games and place them in alternating even-numbered years, which began with the Lillehammer Winter Olympics in 1994.
Here's a name you probably haven't heard yet: Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong. He is Ghana's first professional skier and will represent the country at the Olympics as well. He has also just received government backing to build Ghana's first artificial, indoor ski slope to build interest in the sport.
There will be 86 medal events taking place at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
http://www.travelplaces.co.uk/travelplaces/olympics/winter-olympics-2010-sports-venues.htm
In '86, the IOC voted to separate the Summer and Winter Games and place them in alternating even-numbered years, which began with the Lillehammer Winter Olympics in 1994.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
87 Days
Well Olympic silver medalist Bode Miller's return to skiing does not seem to be going so smoothly. In his first outing this season, he barely qualified for his second run in the slalom event, finishing last of those who moved on. His second run didn't go any better; he got hit in the face by a gate, ended up with a bloody nose and could not finish. Miller won two silver medals in skiing in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and went 0 for 5 in 2006 in Turino.
Jamaica is attempting another run at the Olympics in bobsled this year. They even asked 2008 Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt to join the team. The Jamaican sprinter won three gold medals in Beijing in the 100m, 200m and relay, breaking world records every step of the way. Apparently, Bolt's answer was, "Cold. No."
Norway has the most Winter Olympic medals with 280 and 87 of those medals have come in cross-country skiing.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/nations/nation=nor/index.html
87 of the 211 U.S. athletes who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turino, Italy had previously competed in at least one Olympics beforehand. Of course, the number changed to 86 once figure skating favorite Michelle Kwan pulled out a couple of days into the Olympics due to injury and new-comer Emily Hughes took her spot. http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/MYSA021006_1X_OLYmain_fc3a201_html6394.html
Talk about dedicated: Olympic hockey player Jenny Potter played in the world championships 87 days after the birth of her first child. (She competed in another world championships only 83 days after the birth of her second.) And she has competed in three Olympics. http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/13/news_pf/Sports/Mothers_superior.shtml
Jamaica is attempting another run at the Olympics in bobsled this year. They even asked 2008 Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt to join the team. The Jamaican sprinter won three gold medals in Beijing in the 100m, 200m and relay, breaking world records every step of the way. Apparently, Bolt's answer was, "Cold. No."
Norway has the most Winter Olympic medals with 280 and 87 of those medals have come in cross-country skiing.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/nations/nation=nor/index.html
87 of the 211 U.S. athletes who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turino, Italy had previously competed in at least one Olympics beforehand. Of course, the number changed to 86 once figure skating favorite Michelle Kwan pulled out a couple of days into the Olympics due to injury and new-comer Emily Hughes took her spot. http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/MYSA021006_1X_OLYmain_fc3a201_html6394.html
Talk about dedicated: Olympic hockey player Jenny Potter played in the world championships 87 days after the birth of her first child. (She competed in another world championships only 83 days after the birth of her second.) And she has competed in three Olympics. http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/13/news_pf/Sports/Mothers_superior.shtml
Monday, November 16, 2009
88 Days
My trip to Lake Placid and Skate America has come to end, but what a wonderful trip it was. We spent the morning at practice (I even made it to the 8:45 am practice session...on a Sunday!), getting the inside scoop by listening in on conversations between the skaters and their coaches. It was also fun to see the skaters who had already finished competing (their practice sessions were for the exhibition) let loose a little and joke around on the ice. Congrats to American Rachael Flatt for beating the favorite, Korean Yu-Na Kim in the Ladies long program, and coming in second over-all. Congrats to Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto for winning in Ice Dance. And major mazal tovs all around to the Israeli Ice Dance team, Alexandra and Roman Zaretski, for winning their first international medal, the bronze.
Oh an by the way, those women ski jumpers will not be competing in the 2010 Olympics. Maybe instead of suing everyone in sight, they should focus on building their sport so that it might actually be a competitive event for the 2014 Olympics in Russia.
Top speed that can be reached in the bobsled is 88 miles per hour
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/olympics/2006/02/10/oly.guide/
88 symbolizes good fortune in Asian culture, which is why the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China began at 8 pm on 08/08/08.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-07/08/content_6827827_12.htm
Oh an by the way, those women ski jumpers will not be competing in the 2010 Olympics. Maybe instead of suing everyone in sight, they should focus on building their sport so that it might actually be a competitive event for the 2014 Olympics in Russia.
Top speed that can be reached in the bobsled is 88 miles per hour
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/olympics/2006/02/10/oly.guide/
88 symbolizes good fortune in Asian culture, which is why the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China began at 8 pm on 08/08/08.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-07/08/content_6827827_12.htm
Sunday, November 15, 2009
89 Days
Lake Placid has been as much fun as I knew it would be. With Skate America taking place here, you can't really go too far without running into another skater. Even my sister stalked some British skaters into a book store on Main street. (We later saw them wandering around the skating rink, so we took a picture with them more to commemorate my sister's first skater-stalking experience than anything else.) Congrats to Evan Lysacek (gold) and Ryan Bradley (bronze) on a job well done. Shout out to Scott Hamilton for taking pictures and signing autographs with fans even though he was just on a bathroom break from his commentating duties. And props to me for being called the most knowledgeable figure skating fan by the woman sitting in front of me.
According to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), as of 2005, 89% of NSAA member ski areas have freestyle terrain, which include terrain parks, halfpipes, superpipes, etc. I think the 2002 Winter Olympics had a major affect on this, since the US swept the medals in men's snowboard halfpipe and won the gold in women's halfpipe as well.
http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa/press/2005/terrainparksafety.org.asp
Almost $89 million in federal funds was used to create and improve access roads and highways to Olympic venues in Salt Lake City, UT for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/janfeb02/olympics.htm
A total of 89 medals were won by Germany during the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, under Hitler and the Nazi regime. American Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals in track and field events there too.
http://www.bibliobuffet.com/content/view/894/195/
According to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), as of 2005, 89% of NSAA member ski areas have freestyle terrain, which include terrain parks, halfpipes, superpipes, etc. I think the 2002 Winter Olympics had a major affect on this, since the US swept the medals in men's snowboard halfpipe and won the gold in women's halfpipe as well.
http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa/press/2005/terrainparksafety.org.asp
Almost $89 million in federal funds was used to create and improve access roads and highways to Olympic venues in Salt Lake City, UT for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/janfeb02/olympics.htm
A total of 89 medals were won by Germany during the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, under Hitler and the Nazi regime. American Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals in track and field events there too.
http://www.bibliobuffet.com/content/view/894/195/
Saturday, November 14, 2009
90 Days
So far, my Lake Placid experience has been great. We started out yesterday at the 1980 Herb Brooks Skating Arena, watching the pairs practice for Skate America. Watching these skaters practice their spectacular throws and lifts from the front row was amazing, and their speed across the ice is so much more apparent than can be seen on t.v. The Olympic Center was home to figure skater Sonja Henie's 2nd of three Olympic championship performances in 1932 and is most well-known for the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980 when the U.S. hockey team beat the Soviet hockey team in a major upset and then went on to win the gold medal. After walking around the Olympic Center and visiting the Olympic Museum, we headed to the Ski Jumping Complex, where we were able to take the elevator to the top of the 120m jump tower for quite the amazing view. There is a second jump tower for the 90m jump (would you look at that, a 90 Days stat without even trying).
90% of Whistler Mountain will be open to the public during the 2010 Olympics, while the rest will be closed off for ski and snowboard competitions.
http://www.whistlerskishop.com/About-Whistler.html
Here are two more stats for you...
90% of US Olympic Lugers are discovered at "slider searches" where potential lugers slide down a concrete hill on a sled attached to rollerblade wheels at a maximum speed of 25 mph. Those with potential can then start training on one of two luge tracks in the country, in Salt Lake City, UT and Lake Placid, NY.
http://www.uticaod.com/sports/x2145961673/Search-is-on-for-next-luge-star90% of Whistler Mountain will be open to the public during the 2010 Olympics, while the rest will be closed off for ski and snowboard competitions.
http://www.whistlerskishop.com/About-Whistler.html
Friday, November 13, 2009
91 Days
Reporting to you today from Lake Placid, NY, home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. This weekend's activities include touring the Olympic sites and attending Skate America (minus Sasha Cohen) to watch the likes of Evan Lysacek, Yu-Na Kim and Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto gear up for the Olympics. Crazy as it sounds, this is the first time I am attending a skating competition of this level, so needless to say, I am super excited.
Anyone like contests? Adidas is holding a competition to design a pair of ski goggles. The winning pair will be worn by an Olympic competitor in Vancouver, and $20,000 will be awarded to the designer as well.
http://www.talenthouse.com/creativeinvites/show/detail/80?THSessionId=66b07cf8a930e37f08814080fd08f407
And here are our stats for the day:
91% of the athletes who participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics came home without a medal.
http://imaging-radiation-oncology.advanceweb.com/Article/Lessons-from-Olympic-Losers.aspx
An Olympic size basketball court is 91 feet (10 inches) long and 49 feet 2 1/2 inches wide.
http://library.thinkquest.org/14015/GAMES.HTM
This is a bit of a stretch (as if others haven't been) but hear me out. The Shea family is the only U.S. three generation Olympic family. Jack Shea won two gold medals in 1932 in speed skating. Jim Shea, Sr. competed in cross country skiing in 1964 and Jim Shea, Jr. won the gold in Skeleton in 2002. Now, I could tell you that if you add the years of the Olympics up (32+64+2=98) and then subtract the number of gold medals won (98-3=95) and then subtract the number of letters in the name Shea (95-4=91) you get 91. But instead, I'll just say that Jack Shea was planning on attending the '02 Olympics in Salt Lake City to watch his grandson compete, but he was killed by a drunk driver 17 days before the Olympics at the age of 91.
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-athletes/legendary-athletes/jim-shea_94920BV.html
Anyone like contests? Adidas is holding a competition to design a pair of ski goggles. The winning pair will be worn by an Olympic competitor in Vancouver, and $20,000 will be awarded to the designer as well.
http://www.talenthouse.com/creativeinvites/show/detail/80?THSessionId=66b07cf8a930e37f08814080fd08f407
And here are our stats for the day:
91% of the athletes who participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics came home without a medal.
http://imaging-radiation-oncology.advanceweb.com/Article/Lessons-from-Olympic-Losers.aspx
An Olympic size basketball court is 91 feet (10 inches) long and 49 feet 2 1/2 inches wide.
http://library.thinkquest.org/14015/GAMES.HTM
This is a bit of a stretch (as if others haven't been) but hear me out. The Shea family is the only U.S. three generation Olympic family. Jack Shea won two gold medals in 1932 in speed skating. Jim Shea, Sr. competed in cross country skiing in 1964 and Jim Shea, Jr. won the gold in Skeleton in 2002. Now, I could tell you that if you add the years of the Olympics up (32+64+2=98) and then subtract the number of gold medals won (98-3=95) and then subtract the number of letters in the name Shea (95-4=91) you get 91. But instead, I'll just say that Jack Shea was planning on attending the '02 Olympics in Salt Lake City to watch his grandson compete, but he was killed by a drunk driver 17 days before the Olympics at the age of 91.
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-athletes/legendary-athletes/jim-shea_94920BV.html
Thursday, November 12, 2009
92 Days
As I've mentioned, I've been a pretty hard-core fan of the Olympics since 1994, which means I have watched just about every moment of 4 Olympics now (can I use that stat when we get to 4 Days? and yes, we WILL get to 4 Days...). I even recently splurged on a new Panasonic DVD Recorder in order to clear last season's events off of my DVR to make room for this season's. Anyway, in all that time, I never even noticed that female ski jumpers do not compete in the Olympics. How strange. I kind of just assumed in this day and age every sport in the Olympics would be open to men and women. The IOC says that there just aren't enough high level female competitors to warrant making it an Olympic sport. A bunch of the women have gotten together to sue the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) for gender discrimination, but the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that only the IOC can decide which sports are added to the Olympics. And the IOC is not bound by Canadian Law. To me, this doesn't really sound like a legal battle that should be taken up with the Canada courts. The IOC can run the Olympics however they want, and I'm guessing their number one priority is money. So if they feel that TV viewers are not going to tune in to watch a lack luster sporting event, there seems to be no reason to include it. The women are appealing the decision today and tomorrow, so stay tuned...
On to the number of the day, 92:
At the Summer Olympics in 2016, Golf will return as an Olympic sport for the first time in 92 years, since 1924.
http://blogs.reuters.com/sport/2009/10/09/golf-rugby-back-in-olympics-tiger-set-for-rio/
In 2008, 92 South Korean professional soccer players were indicted for intentionally dislocating their shoulders in order to dodge mandatory military service.
http://ballhype.com/story/south_korean_players_dislocate_shoulders_to_dodge/
In 2006, 92 Chabbad-run Chanukah on Ice events took place in the U.S.
http://figureskating.about.com/od/historyoffigureskating/p/chanukahonice.htm
On to the number of the day, 92:
At the Summer Olympics in 2016, Golf will return as an Olympic sport for the first time in 92 years, since 1924.
http://blogs.reuters.com/sport/2009/10/09/golf-rugby-back-in-olympics-tiger-set-for-rio/
In 2008, 92 South Korean professional soccer players were indicted for intentionally dislocating their shoulders in order to dodge mandatory military service.
http://ballhype.com/story/south_korean_players_dislocate_shoulders_to_dodge/
In 2006, 92 Chabbad-run Chanukah on Ice events took place in the U.S.
http://figureskating.about.com/od/historyoffigureskating/p/chanukahonice.htm
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
93 Days
Before I get to what you all (like all 5 of you) have come to see, I'd like to start off with a little Olympic news. First of all, 2006 Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen announced a couple of days ago that she will not be competing at Skate America, a prelim/warm-up event to the National Championships where she will be vying for a spot on the US Olympic team. This news did not shock me at all, in fact, I would not be surprised if she just quit the entire season. She should just bow out now, gracefully, because my guess is she wouldn't make the Olympic team anyway.
Also, since the announcement that the Colbert Report will sponsor the US speed skating team, some speed skaters have started wearing the Colbert Nation logo on their skating suits. Apolo Ohno has yet to be seen wearing it.
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/.a/6a00d8341c60fd53ef0120a67503e4970b-pi
OK, so back to the whole 93 days thing...
For the 2008 Olympics, China created Olympic stamps with the faces of 93 Chinese table tennis champions
http://en.beijing2008.cn/bocog/sponsors/headlines/n214249914.shtml
In a consumer research poll conducted in '98, '99, '00, unaided brand awareness for the Olympic Rings was 93%, proving that the Olympic Rings are famous and have enormous licensing value.
http://www.law.northwestern.edu/journals/njtip/v3/n2/6/#note14
Frantisek Capek, the 1948 Olympic Champion in canoeing, died at the age of 93.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2008-01-31-1535910723_x.htm
Also, since the announcement that the Colbert Report will sponsor the US speed skating team, some speed skaters have started wearing the Colbert Nation logo on their skating suits. Apolo Ohno has yet to be seen wearing it.
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/.a/6a00d8341c60fd53ef0120a67503e4970b-pi
OK, so back to the whole 93 days thing...
For the 2008 Olympics, China created Olympic stamps with the faces of 93 Chinese table tennis champions
http://en.beijing2008.cn/bocog/sponsors/headlines/n214249914.shtml
In a consumer research poll conducted in '98, '99, '00, unaided brand awareness for the Olympic Rings was 93%, proving that the Olympic Rings are famous and have enormous licensing value.
http://www.law.northwestern.edu/journals/njtip/v3/n2/6/#note14
Frantisek Capek, the 1948 Olympic Champion in canoeing, died at the age of 93.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2008-01-31-1535910723_x.htm
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
94 Days
I have been challenged by my friend Miriam L. to come up with Olympic stats that match the number of days until the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, so here goes...
94 votes eliminated Chicago as a locale for the 2016 Summer Olympics
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7044621&rss=rss-wls-article-7044621
94% of all professional Curlers live in Canada (at least in 2006) according to the World Curling Federation
http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/wintergames/story.html?id=e31c61b2-83cb-4fa2-9c38-8c321c59f7b6&k=91452
94% of all IOC (International Olympic Committee) revenue goes back in various Olympic sport organizations, according to IOC President, Jacques Rogge
http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/49346
And most importantly, '94: year of the Lillehammer Olympics, year of the "whack heard 'round the world" (aka the Tonya/Nancy saga), year of Tommy Moe, and the year I began my obsession with figure skating and all things Olympics.
94 votes eliminated Chicago as a locale for the 2016 Summer Olympics
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7044621&rss=rss-wls-article-7044621
94% of all professional Curlers live in Canada (at least in 2006) according to the World Curling Federation
http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/wintergames/story.html?id=e31c61b2-83cb-4fa2-9c38-8c321c59f7b6&k=91452
94% of all IOC (International Olympic Committee) revenue goes back in various Olympic sport organizations, according to IOC President, Jacques Rogge
http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/49346
And most importantly, '94: year of the Lillehammer Olympics, year of the "whack heard 'round the world" (aka the Tonya/Nancy saga), year of Tommy Moe, and the year I began my obsession with figure skating and all things Olympics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
