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
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First off cool blog!
ReplyDeleteSecondly one should not get worked up over the US figure skating Hof. Any one who comepeted for an Olympic team result be damned will eventualy end up enshrined. It's purpose is pretty much just as a nice gesture for those who got up at obseen hours trying to land the perfect axel.
From attending a bunch of indection ceremonies I feel same to say no one will stranger then Sara will having to give a speech.