Will Canada ever get a chance at the Olympics again?

First somebody dies on a course that some felt was too fast and dangerous.

Then downhill skiing was postponed because it was too warm and the snow melted. Then postponed again because it DID start snowing and now there is too much.

But the worst of all - is the 3 (yes, three) electric, green powered ice resurfacers are all the biggest POS's that they had to delay the speed skating while figuring out what to do about the crappy ice. They also had to overnight a propane powered Zamboni in to finish out the games.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/energy-resources/Zamboni+threatens+Olympic+Oval+green+ambitions/2570448/story.html

Notice I said "ice resurfacers" as Zamboni has even gone as far to issue a press release that declares this:

PARAMOUNT, CALIFORNIA (February 16, 2010) – This past weekend, the ice resurfacing equipment at one of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games apparently malfunctioned and was unable to perform its resurfacing task. These machines were not manufactured by the Zamboni Company. A few media outlets have published inaccurate information regarding those machines, associating the Zamboni brand name with the malfunctioning ice resurfacers. While it is unfortunate that there was an interruption to the Winter Olympic events, please note: the resurfacers which were on the ice during those events were not Zamboni® brand ice resurfacers and should not be referred to as “Zamboni machines”.

What can go wrong next?

You forgot that the Biden Motorcade incident as well.

Marty! wrote: But the worst of allFirst somebody dies on a course that some felt was too fast and dangerous. Then downhill skiing was postponed because it was too warm and the snow melted. Then postponed again because it DID start snowing and now there is too much. - is the 3 (yes, three) electric, green powered ice resurfacers are all the biggest POS's that they had to delay the speed skating while figuring out what to do about the crappy ice. They also had to overnight a propane powered Zamboni in to finish out the games.

Fixed.

I'll give you number 1 & 3, but the snow... Nothing you can do about that. Its the weather (remember, there is a reason its called Mother nature and Father time)

They play this song during intermissions at the local minor league hockey rink - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9HgXLaeeM

DILYSI Dave wrote: They play this song during intermissions at the local minor league hockey rink - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9HgXLaeeM

Fun fact: The water laid down is actually quite hot. It melts the topmost layer of ice before refreezing to be as smooth as possible.

The biggest problem was with KD lang and Bryan Adams singing.

I would like to apologize for both of these people on behalf of all Canadians.

It sucks how you guys still have to apologize for Bryan Adams.

AutoXR wrote: The biggest problem was with KD lang and Bryan Adams singing. I would like to apologize for both of these people on behalf of all Canadians.

Dude, Canada was musically unredeemable as soon as Celine Dion appeared. Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Gordon Lightfoot kind of cancel each other out, but Celine permanently screws the pooch for Canadian music.

That does make me wonder if you can run any old Ice resurfacer at the GRM challenge or if it has to be a Zamboni Brand Ice resurfacing machine.

Duke wrote:

AutoXR wrote: The biggest problem was with KD lang and Bryan Adams singing. I would like to apologize for both of these people on behalf of all Canadians.

Dude, Canada was musically unredeemable as soon as Celine Dion appeared. Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Gordon Lightfoot kind of cancel each other out, but Celine permanently screws the pooch for Canadian music.

Canada is good for celtic and folk. Great Big Sea is my favorite and the Tartan Terrors are great if you like the pipes

The Hockey rink ice is sucky too, or so the reports say. Also they have screwed the pooch on the biathalon, lettin a woman go too late, and then in the mens they let two go too early.

this is a cursed olympics, fist nation curse?

I am just acalling it "recession Olympics" (sais as if you were saying Gehtto olympics)

neon4891 wrote: Great Big Sea is my favorite and the Tartan Terrors are great if you like the pipes

I love GBS's early stuff, but their last couple CDs sound like they're just trying to write cutesy love songs so all the women in the crowd will swoon.

I didn't realize the ice resurfacers were electric greeny mobiles. HAHAHA. Take that you dirty hippy protestors.

Bob

There's no need to apologize for Brian Adams. And Celine Dion is from Quebec, which explains a whole lot. If you've ever met a woman from Quebec, you'd understand.

Obviously, the snow is beyond anyone's control. And the luge course, well, nobody's forced to run it. The course is designed to tax the best lugers in the world. But there's no excuse for bad ice at a Canadian Olympics. Heck, when they had the games in Salt Lake they had a Canadian taking care of the ice. That's shameful.

You guys know this is the third Games in Canada, right?

The question is "What would Brian Boitano do?"

and don't forget the malfunction during the opening ceremonies. One of those huge arms that was supposed to be lit to ignite the cauldron in the dome never came out. Canadia's four biggest athletes were all just sitting there waiting for the arm to raise and it was blatantly obvious Gretzky was uncomfortable waiting.

If you've ever met a woman from Quebec, you'd understand.

I have very much enjoyed a number of women (and girls) from Quebec, both on stage, and off

I think everybody can take a bit of a downer. It's a huge event and a few things are bound to go wrong. It's not like it's the first time.

I blame Canada.

mtn wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote: They play this song during intermissions at the local minor league hockey rink - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9HgXLaeeM

Fun fact: The water laid down is actually quite hot. It melts the topmost layer of ice before refreezing to be as smooth as possible.

I just read about the Mpemba effect, hot water freezing faster than cold water, interesting. disclaimer, I'm a moron so feel free to flame me if the Mpemba effect is in no way related to the above quote.

DirtyBird222 wrote: and don't forget the malfunction during the opening ceremonies. One of those huge arms that was supposed to be lit to ignite the cauldron in the dome never came out. Canadia's four biggest athletes were all just sitting there waiting for the arm to raise and it was blatantly obvious Gretzky was uncomfortable waiting.

This was officially determined to be all Bob Costas' fault.

Hey, at least they had Jacques Villeneuve help carry the flag in...

...and Celine (or is it Saline?) Dion had a really suck ass reason to decline to perform. Supposedly when she was invited she was planning to either be pregnant or have delivered...wtf?

nutherjrfan wrote:

mtn wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote: They play this song during intermissions at the local minor league hockey rink - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9HgXLaeeM

Fun fact: The water laid down is actually quite hot. It melts the topmost layer of ice before refreezing to be as smooth as possible.

I just read about the Mpemba effect, hot water freezing faster than cold water, interesting. disclaimer, I'm a moron so feel free to flame me if the Mpemba effect is in no way related to the above quote.

No idea about the Mpemba effect, never heard of it--could be, and probably is, related. I just had an old Zamboni driver tell me that while he was pulling me with it between games that I was reffing. And I know its hot cause I've felt it.

wiki says...

I learned something new today!

Having spent the last 10 years working with Canadians and meeting several at the Challenge, I garuntee this.

No one, who is actually in Canada, hanging with Candians, gives two FFs about any of it. They will all go home and talk about how awesome it was, how beautiful the place is and how great their hosts were.

Canada will always have a shot at the winter Olympics becuase they are quite simply, Canadian.

what other country has Bacon named after it.

That alone cures all sins in the way of Brian adams .........

I think you guys are also forgetting about the riots and chaos on the streets in Vancouver: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iRUaR-mZ3g

Back to the luge fiasco... That track has been run for what, 2 and a half years prior to the Olympics without issue. It was approved by most experts and the sanctioning body in the sport. Like Keith said, nobody forces them to do it, and as sad as this situation is, there really is nobody else to blame other than the athlete himself for the crash. Should the track have had more protection for it in the design, maybe, but that's easy to say in hindsight.

I think every Olympics have their set of dramas and scandals, but in the end, you will forget about it, just like I had forgotten about the crappy snow in Nagano in 1998, until somebody on the telly reminded me about it...

Edited to add: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/about-vancouver/news/newsid=43933.html#winter+games+always+smooth+ride

Good read about other winter Olympic mishaps. See death of a luger in 1964. How many of those do you actually remember? Just looking at this, Innsbruck, Austria has hosted the games twice, despite the death of said luger the first time around AND crappy weather conditions. Who says history doesn't repeat itself...