XXI Olympic Winter Games

[HedleyLamarr]

I'd say denver would be great, Boise wouldn't be too exciting...I always thought seattle would be cool, but not sure about the facilities?

Denver was originally going to host the 1976 Winter Olympics but backed out over the predictable Olympic cost overruns. The IOC will never give them another shot.

Boise lacks the tax base and population to pull it off.

Seattle has the financial resources, but also a large number of anti-globalization/anti-big time capitalism activists.

The thing I always wondered was how did Lake Placid get to host the olympics?

Little ski resort towns could get the Olympics because they usually didn't need to build too many facilities. There also weren't as many Winter Games events as there are now. Maybe Lake Placid's proximity to New York City helped?

But now that the Winter Games are costing more, it's likely that these small towns will never get to host the Olympics again.

[Cujo]

NBC's coverage of the closing ceremony just ended -- and did they somehow cut out Nickelback??

[Viper]

NBC's coverage of the closing ceremony just ended -- and did they somehow cut out Nickelback??

It hasn't ended just yet - they merely cut away for an hour to show the premiere of that new Jerry Seinfeld reality show and let affiliates do their local news shows. They just resumed the coverage now - just in time for Nickelback.

[Cujo]

NBC's coverage of the closing ceremony just ended -- and did they somehow cut out Nickelback??

It hasn't ended just yet - they merely cut away for an hour to show the premiere of that new Jerry Seinfeld reality show and let affiliates do their local news shows. They just resumed the coverage now - just in time for Nickelback.

I knew it was too good to be true. NBC fails America once again.

[NJTank]

Well Bozeman, MT is wanting to bid for 2022.

That would be sweet too.

[vmd9]

NBC's coverage of the closing ceremony just ended -- and did they somehow cut out Nickelback??

It hasn't ended just yet - they merely cut away for an hour to show the premiere of that new Jerry Seinfeld reality show and let affiliates do their local news shows. They just resumed the coverage now - just in time for Nickelback.

I knew it was too good to be true. NBC fails America once again.

Seriously I think ABC/ESPN would do a better job with the olympics. They could show live events during the day on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Classic, Recap/Interviews on ESPN news with ABC covering the prime time events. and everything on espn360 to watch online

[Maz]

but anywhere in the U.S. would be cool...as long as Pittsburgh never hosts the Winter or Summer Olympics I am happy haha even though right now that city has the most Canadian hockey fans right now

Ive said it a million times the past two weeks, but if the weather this month was like this every year, and if we could get the money, Pittsburgh could host the Winter Olympics.

But it'll never happen.

[Viper]

Well, Nickelback has come and gone, as has Avril Lavigne. Alanis Morrisette is on stage now, but NBC's cut away to interview "Night Train" driver Steve Holcombe and Lindsey Vonn.

[vmd9]

but anywhere in the U.S. would be cool...as long as Pittsburgh never hosts the Winter or Summer Olympics I am happy haha even though right now that city has the most Canadian hockey fans right now

Ive said it a million times the past two weeks, but if the weather this month was like this every year, and if we could get the money, Pittsburgh could easily host the Winter Olympics.

But it'll never happen.

I have nothing against the city, I have just spent too much time there and feel that it would create a mess. It's just too hard to get around and normal rush hour traffic + olympic traffic would cause mass chaos...

[Corvus]

Great game. That American corps is going to be hell on wheels in Sochi. I didn't expect them to do so well this year with their youth, but in four more years, that line up is going to be even more amazing.

[RedRenesis]

Seriously I think ABC/ESPN would do a better job with the olympics. They could show live events during the day on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Classic, Recap/Interviews on ESPN news with ABC covering the prime time events. and everything on espn360 to watch online

While I can see the advantages of the olympics being on a sports channel, and several at that, ESPN and the personalities running around Bristol, have become a joke to me. NBC has its faults covering the games but I think I would still rather watch their coverage, given the two.

[Viper]

OK, now they're doing their obligatory marathon credit-roll to finally wrap up the coverage for good. This, at last, is where I get off the train. Good night, all!

[Corvus]

Wow, just saw a little story on Sochi on the news. The place has freaking palm trees!

[vmd9]

Wow, just saw a little story on Sochi on the news. The place has freaking palm trees!

I know I saw that too, I guess in between events Lindsey Vonn and Gretchen Bleiler can go to the beach...nice!

[FiddySicks]

Great games, once again.

2022 Reno Tahoe, make it happen, IOC.

[IceCap]

and 14 golds beats pretty much anything else.

This. Hats off to the USA for dominating the overall medal count, really, it is something to be proud of.

We have the most gold though, and considering our huge disadvantage in terms of population numbers I think we can claim victory. That and the fact that our 14 gold medals means we now hold the record for the most first place finishes then any other country in a single Winter Games. Quite an accomplishment for little old 34,000,000 Canada.

I've never gotten this argument. It's not as dumb as the "Your team won the Cup because they have mostly Canadians on the team." argument, but it's close. Do Canadians use this excuse for every international competition when they come up short?

The US and Canada both spend a lot more money on national athletics than just about every nation. Both nations send approximately the same amount of athletes to the Winter Games. And considering how much of the US population lives and/or participates in Winter Games-ish activities, the population ratio gets a lot closer to that 10:1 ratio Canadians tend to point out.

While it may be a fact, it's a grossly exaggerated excuse, at best. If you're going to flaunt that around, then explain why little old Norway has earned more overall Winter Games medals than Canada.

Well first off, sour grapes? Your prediction that Canada wouldn't get past Slovakia is even more amusing now.

Given how well the US played yesterday I didn't want to gloat, because they very easily could have won that game. Plus the majority of American fans here seem like (from what one can tell over the interwebs) mature, centred people. Plus, it seems like this USA team will be one of, if not the, team to beat for years to come.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed lauding the victory over vmd for his amusing sig thingy. The same can be said for you, to be perfectly honest.

As for the issue at hand, assuming this fact alluded you, I made that post while I was still very excited about seeing Canada prevail in the gold medal mens hockey game. So yeah, illogical national pride was at an all-time high for me when I made that post.

Secondly, while the US and Canada may come in at 1 and 2 in terms of funding for national athletics, it's kind of like the difference between between the Yankees and Red Sox. Yeah, the Red Sox spend the second most of all MLB teams, but they're still far behind the Yankees. I may be remembering Summer Olympics statistics from 2008, but if I remember correctly what Canada spends on Olympic programs doesn't even really come close to what the US spends.

Finally, congrats to Norway.

[Breakwood]

and 14 golds beats pretty much anything else.

This. Hats off to the USA for dominating the overall medal count, really, it is something to be proud of.

We have the most gold though, and considering our huge disadvantage in terms of population numbers I think we can claim victory. That and the fact that our 14 gold medals means we now hold the record for the most first place finishes then any other country in a single Winter Games. Quite an accomplishment for little old 34,000,000 Canada.

I've never gotten this argument. It's not as dumb as the "Your team won the Cup because they have mostly Canadians on the team." argument, but it's close. Do Canadians use this excuse for every international competition when they come up short?

The US and Canada both spend a lot more money on national athletics than just about every nation. Both nations send approximately the same amount of athletes to the Winter Games. And considering how much of the US population lives and/or participates in Winter Games-ish activities, the population ratio gets a lot closer to that 10:1 ratio Canadians tend to point out.

While it may be a fact, it's a grossly exaggerated excuse, at best. If you're going to flaunt that around, then explain why little old Norway has earned more overall Winter Games medals than Canada.

Well first off, sour grapes? Your prediction that Canada wouldn't get past Slovakia is even more amusing now.

Given how well the US played yesterday I didn't want to gloat, because they very easily could have won that game. Plus the majority of American fans here seem like (from what one can tell over the interwebs) mature, centred people. Plus, it seems like this USA team will be one of, if not the, team to beat for years to come.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed lauding the victory over vmd for his amusing sig thingy. The same can be said for you, to be perfectly honest.

As for the issue at hand, assuming this fact alluded you, I made that post while I was still very excited about seeing Canada prevail in the gold medal mens hockey game. So yeah, illogical national pride was at an all-time high for me when I made that post.

Secondly, while the US and Canada may come in at 1 and 2 in terms of funding for national athletics, it's kind of like the difference between between the Yankees and Red Sox. Yeah, the Red Sox spend the second most of all MLB teams, but they're still far behind the Yankees. I may be remembering Summer Olympics statistics from 2008, but if I remember correctly what Canada spends on Olympic programs doesn't even really come close to what the US spends.

Finally, congrats to Norway.

It's quite well known that European countries fund athletics much more than the United States and Canada. The Medal counts prove this. Look at the numbers for Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Russia (this olympics not included). Then look at the money China throws at not only summer, but winter olympic sports.

[The_Admiral]

Really looking forward to not talking about the Olympics again.

Little ski resort towns could get the Olympics because they usually didn't need to build too many facilities. There also weren't as many Winter Games events as there are now. Maybe Lake Placid's proximity to New York City helped?

But now that the Winter Games are costing more, it's likely that these small towns will never get to host the Olympics again.

You know, the funny thing is that Summer Games could be held at pretty much any large and well-funded Division I state university. Okay, so you probably have to outsource rafting or whatever, but for the most part, you have all the facilities you need with minimal or no expansion necessary. But if you just had the Olympics in Ann Arbor or something, it wouldn't be a racket spectacle.

[IceCap]

and 14 golds beats pretty much anything else.

This. Hats off to the USA for dominating the overall medal count, really, it is something to be proud of.

We have the most gold though, and considering our huge disadvantage in terms of population numbers I think we can claim victory. That and the fact that our 14 gold medals means we now hold the record for the most first place finishes then any other country in a single Winter Games. Quite an accomplishment for little old 34,000,000 Canada.

I've never gotten this argument. It's not as dumb as the "Your team won the Cup because they have mostly Canadians on the team." argument, but it's close. Do Canadians use this excuse for every international competition when they come up short?

The US and Canada both spend a lot more money on national athletics than just about every nation. Both nations send approximately the same amount of athletes to the Winter Games. And considering how much of the US population lives and/or participates in Winter Games-ish activities, the population ratio gets a lot closer to that 10:1 ratio Canadians tend to point out.

While it may be a fact, it's a grossly exaggerated excuse, at best. If you're going to flaunt that around, then explain why little old Norway has earned more overall Winter Games medals than Canada.

Well first off, sour grapes? Your prediction that Canada wouldn't get past Slovakia is even more amusing now.

Given how well the US played yesterday I didn't want to gloat, because they very easily could have won that game. Plus the majority of American fans here seem like (from what one can tell over the interwebs) mature, centred people. Plus, it seems like this USA team will be one of, if not the, team to beat for years to come.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed lauding the victory over vmd for his amusing sig thingy. The same can be said for you, to be perfectly honest.

As for the issue at hand, assuming this fact alluded you, I made that post while I was still very excited about seeing Canada prevail in the gold medal mens hockey game. So yeah, illogical national pride was at an all-time high for me when I made that post.

Secondly, while the US and Canada may come in at 1 and 2 in terms of funding for national athletics, it's kind of like the difference between between the Yankees and Red Sox. Yeah, the Red Sox spend the second most of all MLB teams, but they're still far behind the Yankees. I may be remembering Summer Olympics statistics from 2008, but if I remember correctly what Canada spends on Olympic programs doesn't even really come close to what the US spends.

Finally, congrats to Norway.

It's quite well known that European countries fund athletics much more than the United States and Canada. The Medal counts prove this. Look at the numbers for Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Russia (this olympics not included). Then look at the money China throws at not only summer, but winter olympic sports.

Is that so? Gotcha. So I assume this would be incorrect....

The US and Canada both spend a lot more money on national athletics than just about every nation.

[The_Admiral]

Lindsey Vonn didn't make me feel like more of an American. This really screwed up my plans for the week.