The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Thread

[ledfloyd]

anyone else excited for this? i mostly can't wait for the hockey and curling, which don't start until early next week.

it's sad that this luger died, but do they need to keep replaying the video of him dying?

[Qrazy]

They're dropping 20 million on the opening ceremony. I'll take a peak.

[Sxottlan]

I had hoped that, to match Zhang Yimou's opening ceremonies two years ago, the Vancouver Olympic Committee would have hired Guy Maddin or David Cronenberg to direct this year's opening ceremonies.

Maybe they'd build the torch out of human limbs or something.

[Qrazy]

Nah they're not even going to try to match it. They know they can't. China had a point to make. Canada doesn't really. On a side note I met many of the Canadian Olympic short track speeding team for my job.

[Ashley]

My uncle attended a rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony earlier this week, he said it was fantastic. There's no way they can match China, but I'm really looking forward to it anyway. Also wondering who's going to light the torch - the rumours over the past couple of weeks seem to be all centred around either Wayne Gretzky or Betty Fox (the mother of Terry Fox).

Also, I love hockey as much as any Canadian, and I'll definitely be watching (and probably going crazy) when Team Canada is actually playing, but I really hope the Games don't become all about the hockey up here. One of the things I've love about the Olympics is getting to see athletes and sports that don't usually get the spotlight, so having all the focus on just one would be kind of disappointing.

[MadMan]

Thank God for the Winter Games and the World Cup this sports year. Its awesome to have after football ends, as golf and baseball just don't quite make up for it, and I really don't love basketball that much although I do watch March Madness, which is awesome I suppose.

So yeah I'll be viewing as much of the Winter Games as possible. I enjoy them more than the Summer Games.

[Qrazy]

That was a pretty weak opening ceremony.

[Duncan]

That was a pretty weak opening ceremony.

I thought there were some really odd choices. Like that slam poet. wtf.

Also, the whole torch lighting malfunction was unfortunate.

[Qrazy]

I thought there were some really odd choices. Like that slam poet. wtf.

Also, the whole torch lighting malfunction was unfortunate.

Yeah. I guess the dancing around the trees was my favorite bit. So much of it just felt really cheesy though. It was interesting to see K.D. Lang. I haven't seen her around in about 10 years.

[soitgoes...]

No cable means no live streaming internet because NBC has blocked all websites but their own, even other countries' streams (CTV, BBC etc.). Can't access their website's live feeds without having a cable provider. NBC also doesn't broadcast live to the west coast even though I live a half day's drive away from where the Olympics are being held. Basically fuck NBC.

[Qrazy]

Bastards.

[ledfloyd]

Yeah. I guess the dancing around the trees was my favorite bit. So much of it just felt really cheesy though. It was interesting to see K.D. Lang. I haven't seen her around in about 10 years.

all the great canadian musicians and they kick it off with nelly furtado and bryan adams? with bryan adams, sarah mclachlan and kd lang it felt like a trip to the 90s. though, to be fair, i thought kd lang did really well. i suppose we can be thankful they didn't get nickelback.

[Hugh_Grant]

I was hoping for some Tragically Hip.

I liked the slam poet.

Looking forward to the next two weeks.

[Raiders]

I hated those Opening Ceremonies, but then again, I'm not Canadian. It was very cheesy though regardless.

Bring on the Curling!

[ledfloyd]

I hated those Opening Ceremonies, but then again, I'm not Canadian. It was very cheesy though regardless.

Bring on the Curling!

yes! curling!

[Philosophe_rouge]

I hated those Opening Ceremonies, but then again, I'm not Canadian. It was very cheesy though regardless.

Bring on the Curling!

If my discussions with fellow Canadians are right, we probably hated it more than you did. Then again, the west coast is a strange and weird place.

[Spinal]

it's sad that this luger died, but do they need to keep replaying the video of him dying?

Ugh, I'm glad I've avoidied watching any coverage so far.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Bring on the Curling!

Already have all of the events set to record!

[megladon8]

I found it mildly offensive that they chose to have all of Canada represented by fake Aboriginals.

Did anyone else notice how many of those "indians" were white people wearing feathers and make-up?

I hope the next Olympics in the USA has an opening ceremony consisting entirely of cowboys and references to slavery.

[Qrazy]

I found it mildly offensive that they chose to have all of Canada represented by fake Aboriginals.

Did anyone else notice how many of those "indians" were white people wearing feathers and make-up?

That seems highly unlikely to me.

[ledfloyd]

If my discussions with fellow Canadians are right, we probably hated it more than you did. Then again, the west coast is a strange and weird place.

hmm, i talked to a few canadians that liked it. one was from the west coast though. silly people.

[number8]

I liked the Tron homage.

[megladon8]

That seems highly unlikely to me.

Did you watch it?

There were several people the camera zoomed in on and they were clearly white, but in costume.

[Qrazy]

Did you watch it?

There were several people the camera zoomed in on and they were clearly white, but in costume.

I did, but my guess is they still have indigenous blood in them.

[megladon8]

I did, but my guess is they still have indigenous blood in them.

The way Canada goes about qualifying someone as "native" is ridiculous.

What is it, 1/8th or something? You can literally pull a "my grandma's cousin's uncle was half native" and suddenly you're getting tax breaks.