What? No Winter Olympics thread? There is now!

[MooseMom]

I'm watching curling at the moment and have no idea what the hell is going on, but that's OK!  I hear that the Norwegian curling team's uniforms may cause epilepsy, so I have to see them!

What's your favorite event at the Olympics?  What have you seen so far that you've enjoyed, and which events still to come are you looking forward to?

Anyone see US figure skater Ashley Wagner's "That's bulls**t!" moment?

[UkrainianTracksuit]

When I moved, I moved not too far from Sochi not for the Olympics but rather for decent weather and the multitude of dialysis clinics in the region.     So, I don't have to worry about hotels made of paper or brown water (my water is brown everyday, no big deal..).  Not only am I really happy to see my fellow Russians with so much national pride (especially at sports we don't do too well in), but fans in the crowds cheer for great performances from all nations. 

The biggest moment of the Games (for me) so far was seeing my idol Ole Einar Bjørndalen win gold in the biathlon 10 km sprint.  He is a really nice person and I am so happy for him.  Secondly, it was pretty cool to see Kamil Stoch and Peter Prevc win gold and silver in the normal hill ski jumping.  They are both stars in the sport.

As for events coming up that I will be seeing, there are many.  I am being dragged to pairs' figure skating this evening and Wednesday evening.  Many want to see Volosozhar/Trankov; our world champion pair.  On Thursday, I'll see our national ice hockey team in a preliminary round game against Slovenija.  I'm a hockey nut and the feeling to watch the national team surrounded by fellow fans shouting "Rossiya!  Rossiya!" is unbelievable.  Yes, I wear the jersey, wave the flag and wear a silly hat.  On Friday, it was tough to decide as skeleton and cross country both have events.  I got tickets for XC because it is a medal event and skeleton was just Run 1 & 2.  In the evening, I'm being literally dragged AGAIN to see men's figure skating.    Medals will be handed out and my friend wants to see Plyushchenko.  On Saturday, I'll see the national ice hockey team take on the USA.  Later in the evening, I'll see the final run of men's skeleton.  This is a sport I follow all year so I expect to see the Dukurs brothers in the medals.  Sunday is all about bobsledding!  I'll be there for both runs for the 2-man.  This is my favorite sport at the Olympics and follow the season.  We should have a good shot at a medal.  The next day, bobsleigh is all I will see too.  Thank goodness it's in the evening because I could have a normal health care day.  The following Tuesday, I will finally get to see some long track speedskating!  I've loved this sport since I around age 9 so I am excited to see the 10, 000 m men's race.  The next couple days will be decided if Russia men's hockey team makes it into the final rounds.  I am sure we will but sometimes, I don't know what happens.  Meltdowns?  Bad luck?  It's happened..

I keep the faith that all events will run smoothly and we will see some legendary performances.  This is one happy winter sports fanatic.   

[okarol]

I like ice skating - singles and pairs.
Also like the snowboarders. And skiing.
There's so much to like!!
We got married 30 years ago (tomorrow) and had fun watching the Winter Olympics on our honeymoon from our hotel in warm and sunny Hawaii.
Go USA!! 

[MooseMom]

Wow, U.Tracksuit, I am green with envy!  I'd love to hear more about your adventures watching the Olympics!

I'm looking forward to the hockey tournaments, both men's and women's.  Lots of NHL players who are teammates in league play but are now opponents in the Olympics...always fun to watch.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

I'm awake early today so I can share some Olympic thoughts.  I hope you don't mind my babbling, MooseMom.     Touchpad on my phone so excuse bad spelling...

Perhaps I have a strange sense of humour, but to me, Russian curling has to be the funniest sport at the Olympics.  I do not mean this for the sport itself but rather the raucous Russian fans!  Being a pseudo-Canadian, I understand a few things about curling.  Sadly, the average Russian does not and even though we have a lot of ice, curling hasn't really caught on.  Anyways, I know that when a rock is being thrown, spectators must be quiet.  However, with the electric national pride, any time a Russian goes to throw a rock, the fans go wild.  More "educated" curling nations like Canada, Norway and Sweden are complaining about the Russian fans making noise.  In the end, the fans of these countries were diplomatic in saying once Russians learn more about curling, they'll know to simmer down.  Curling; the one sport with the most yelling that wants their fans to be quiet.   

I am not much of a figure skating fan however it was amazing to see Volosozhar/Trankov's world record score in the pairs competition.  Last night, they took the gold medal but that was not really a surprise.  The Russian team that came in second place, Stolbova/Klimov, were really the stars of the night!  They were a surprise to come into second place but they really captured the attention of everyone in the arena.  I must admit the energy in the Iceberg Skating Palace was outstanding!  Out of all this happiness, I have to say I felt really bad for the German team Savchenko/Szolkowy.  They were expected to challenge for gold but their program had so many unusual errors.  Everyone in the crowd respected this pair and we felt sadness for them.  It felt nice to cheer for them despite their misfortunes.

Like you, I am excited to see teammates now become rivals!  I am sure there are lots of super secrets being spread around the dressing rooms.  Today is the day of our first game and I am so excited.  I've seen our national junior team many times and I've seen the men's team at the World Championships.  However, this is my first time seeing so many stars at Olympic hockey!  Go Russia!  If we don't do well this tournament, I seriously expect lots of trash talking!  And many, many, many depressed faces...

I think the single complaint I have is the congestion on the roads.  While I understand that it is expected, for locals, it feels like a nightmare sometimes.  I think all of the tourists or foreign spectators are enjoying themselves.  The volunteers have done well learning English (and other languages) while being very helpful and friendly! I cannot believe it but even the Russian cops are smiling!   

[galvo]

I think its a toss-up as to which is the most boring - the Winter Olympics or watching paint dry. I am leaning towards the Olympics!

[Rerun]

U. Tracksuit, your spelling of those names is awesome!  When I hear them I forget them because it just goes in one ear and out.   I enjoy reading your posts, keep them coming. 

         

[MooseMom]

I think its a toss-up as to which is the most boring - the Winter Olympics or watching paint dry. I am leaning towards the Olympics!

Oh dearie me.  Sometimes you can be such a wet weekend!    

[MooseMom]

I'm awake early today so I can share some Olympic thoughts.  I hope you don't mind my babbling, MooseMom.     Touchpad on my phone so excuse bad spelling...

I'd hardly call your posts "babbling"!  I love them!  Keep them coming as you are our eyes on the Games!

Perhaps I have a strange sense of humour, but to me, Russian curling has to be the funniest sport at the Olympics.  I do not mean this for the sport itself but rather the raucous Russian fans!  Being a pseudo-Canadian, I understand a few things about curling.  Sadly, the average Russian does not and even though we have a lot of ice, curling hasn't really caught on.  Anyways, I know that when a rock is being thrown, spectators must be quiet.  However, with the electric national pride, any time a Russian goes to throw a rock, the fans go wild.  More "educated" curling nations like Canada, Norway and Sweden are complaining about the Russian fans making noise.  In the end, the fans of these countries were diplomatic in saying once Russians learn more about curling, they'll know to simmer down.  Curling; the one sport with the most yelling that wants their fans to be quiet.   

That's funny!  Of course the Russians must be thrilled to bits while watching their team, no matter the sport.

I am not much of a figure skating fan however it was amazing to see Volosozhar/Trankov's world record score in the pairs competition.  Last night, they took the gold medal but that was not really a surprise.  The Russian team that came in second place, Stolbova/Klimov, were really the stars of the night!  They were a surprise to come into second place but they really captured the attention of everyone in the arena.  I must admit the energy in the Iceberg Skating Palace was outstanding!  Out of all this happiness, I have to say I felt really bad for the German team Savchenko/Szolkowy.  They were expected to challenge for gold but their program had so many unusual errors.  Everyone in the crowd respected this pair and we felt sadness for them.  It felt nice to cheer for them despite their misfortunes.

This competition was scheduled in a way that enabled us in the US to see it live, so I saw these pairs skate.  The two Russian pairs were marvelous, but the story of the night really was the downfall of the German team.  At their first mistake, the Russian audience cheered because they knew the gold was now theirs.  Usually such a mistake doesn't warrant a cheer because it is not very sportsmanlike, but you can't blame the audience because they were so excited.  At the Germans' second error, the crowd's response was much more muted.  I think they realized how devastating this was for the German pair, and yes, they were very respectful

In the men's singles today, Plushenko had to end his career without skating because of the reaggravation of a back injury, and that was such a shame.  He's a champion and will be remembered as such.

Like you, I am excited to see teammates now become rivals!  I am sure there are lots of super secrets being spread around the dressing rooms.  Today is the day of our first game and I am so excited.  I've seen our national junior team many times and I've seen the men's team at the World Championships.  However, this is my first time seeing so many stars at Olympic hockey!  Go Russia!  If we don't do well this tournament, I seriously expect lots of trash talking!  And many, many, many depressed faces...

SPOILER ALERT

The Russian hockey team won; we get to see the match tape delayed.  The US team also won.  Canada is playing Norway as I post this; I'm watching it live online while also eyeing the continuation of the men's singles short program in figure skating on TV.  Love the Olympics!  LOL!

I think the single complaint I have is the congestion on the roads.  While I understand that it is expected, for locals, it feels like a nightmare sometimes.  I think all of the tourists or foreign spectators are enjoying themselves.  The volunteers have done well learning English (and other languages) while being very helpful and friendly! I cannot believe it but even the Russian cops are smiling! 

The Games have been great so far, so congrats to Russia for pulling it off! 

[UkrainianTracksuit]

U. Tracksuit, your spelling of those names is awesome!  When I hear them I forget them because it just goes in one ear and out.   I enjoy reading your posts, keep them coming. 

         

I think when you're brought up with all kinds of names like those, you learn them and they stick.  My own last name has a lot of the alphabet so it's natural.     Strange but natural.

MooseMom, maybe you should think about commentating for the American media?  You're on the ball! 

The hockey game was good but not "great".  In a way, I am glad that Slovenija was not an easy opponent because the game was an actual match rather than a trouncing.  It is good also that the quality of hockey in smaller countries is comparable.  How cool is it that this game was Slovenija's first Olympic hockey game?  And they scored two goals!  The crowd was INSANE when Ovie, the Great 8, whatever people want to call Ovechkin, scored minutes into the game!  Fans were even more elated when Malkin scored so quickly afterwards too!  I think with all the firing power of Russia that us fans are going to have sore throats from cheering so much.  There was so much cheering that after the game I had to have a nap!  There is so much pressure on Russia to win.  The gossip is that the $50 billion spent on the games will be useless if Russia doesn't win gold in hockey.  There is a really weird energy going on and it's hard to explain.  Lots of bravado from the fans. 

The Plushenko news was humongous!  It spread like wildfire.  Instead of talking about the hockey win, Plushi was the big story.  My friend went to the short program expecting to see him complete a great program.  However, when he pulled out, so did the fans.  My friend said fans started to stream out because he was the main reason Russians bought tickets.  He has rockstar status here so he brings in the crowds.  I agree with you, MooseMom, that his legacy will be that of a champion.  Sadly, since he will not be in the long program, I asked my friend if I could give away my ticket to the men's long program.  She said yes as she is not planning to go either.  See, this is the fickleness of Russian fans.

However, this raises another point.  Some events are not sold out and there are empty seats.  The word on the street is that volunteers are being given tickets to fill the spaces so it doesn't look as bad to the "outside" world.  So, even though I had a figure skating ticket to give away, it wasn't a big deal.  Since I don't have to accompany my friend to that event, I managed to get tickets to see Sweden v Switzerland in hockey.  That should be a good and close game.  Lots of Swedish stars playing too!  I'm just a little stunned that tickets were still available.  Usually, a game like Sweden with their stars is sold out.

Did you hear about the track worker that got "hit" or "run over" by a bobsled?  That's another big story!  Today was surely one day where injuries have triumphed over medals. 

You may have heard that the weather here is spring/summer-like.  It's great to listen to the foreign spectators be so surprised it is so warm here.  I've heard some saying they plan to hop into the Black Sea for a dip.  While it is warm, I wouldn't suggest that just now!  Gosh, I use a lot of exclamation marks.   

[UkrainianTracksuit]

I know this is the "off topic" section so some topics shouldn't be mentioned.  Nonetheless, in this Olympic post, it had to come up.  A point or two might belong in the travel section too.  Big oops! 

In my constant attempt in life to be "young and normal", I over-plan my activities.  These past couple days, I outdid myself.  On Saturday, there was the now famous Russia v  USA hockey game and then I rushed over to see the final runs of men's skeleton.  As for the hockey game, I think if I had a blood pressure monitor attached to me for that whole time, it would've caught fire and the fragments land in Hong Kong.  It was a typical "ol' time" North American style hockey game rather than the slower "back n'forth and regroup" of international play.  Unlike the thousands of fans around me, I wasn't too upset that Russia lost.  After a whirlwind to make it to men's skeleton, I was pleased that Alexander Tretiakov won gold!  Honestly, after dominating all season, I expected Martins Dukurs to win but I was pleasantly surprised.  And gosh!  How the Russian crowd was so happy and electric!  The sane thing would've been to go home and sleep after that exhilarating and exhausting day.  You'll just have to call me exceptionally stupid because my friend convinced me to catch up on some nightlife.  Not wise. 

Yesterday (Sunday), I completely learned my lesson.  I cannot keep up with average young people.  We started the day off at the men's 4 x 10 km XC relay.  That started early in the afternoon but little did I know, it was the beginning of a marathon day.  My day felt like I had skied each 10 km rather than the individual skiers!  Anyways, I must say I find the rivalry between Sweden and Norway quite entertaining.  It was fun to listen to the Swedish fans trash talk the poor performance of Norway.  Naturally, with Russia capturing the silver, with some XC skiers I admire so much (I used to be a pretty darn good one until..well, you know why I'm here..) on the team, I jumped for joy!  From there, we had to rush to make the Russia v Slovakia hockey game.  I know everyone expected a trouncing of Slovakia so fans showed up in a jovial mood.  Fully expected on my part, the Russian team didn't come out firing.  If I was smart, I could've napped during that boring game.  Yes, Russia won the shootout and thus the game but it was, by far, the most underwhelming event at the Olympics.  At this point, I started to feel extremely tired.  Nonetheless, bobsledding is the one sport that can wake me up.  The Russia 1 crew is in good position for gold!  Out of all the smaller countries competing, the Jamaican crew are the ones that garner the most applause in the stands.  Everyone cannot help but cheer for them and I think it's great.  Anyways, that ended the day and I was THANKFUL.   

I don't know if it's known or not but there are big distances between event venues.  The arenas for hockey are in the Coastal Cluster and that's a bit more "centrally" located.  However, since they need colder temperatures for snow and ice, skiing and sliding sports are held at locations in the Mountain Cluster in Krasnaya Polyana (Laura XC & Biathalon and Sanki Sliding Center, respectively).  I know that sounds like outer space language to you but the point is that they are very spread out.  It takes a lot of effort to get to events and if one is too ambitious, it involves a lot of rushing.  In some cases, there are distances walking, hopping a bus/train, then a shuttle and then walking to simply make it to an event.  As someone chronically ill but still athletic, it was still daunting to do it all.  This causes the most exhaustion during the Games. These past two days have been so difficult on me that I'm reconsidering some of the "jam packed" days previously planned.  I slept on it over last night and I still feel utterly exhausted.  Later today, I have to see the final runs of bobsleigh only.  Perhaps getting "tuned up at the shop" and some more resting will be the remedy.   

All of this got me thinking about how visitors for the Paralympic Games will conquer the same distances.  I know athletes are housed in appropriate villages close to the venues where they will compete but I can't help but think there might be some problems for some visitors.  Russia hasn't been know for their disability accommodations but with the Olympics and Paralympics, there have been not only improvements in infrastructure but also new developments in Sochi.  So, out of all of this spending and building, that is one lasting positive for the general people of Russia.   

I'm sorry if I sounded like a whiner in this post.  I just had to get it off my chest that during big events or on vacation, we should know our limits.  We get too carried away and think we can do it all.  I very much understand that I'm lucky to be experiencing the most expensive Olympic games!     Perhaps, I should lower the decibels on the cheering and conserve energy.   

[Rerun]

Love your posts.

I would just camp out in the figure skating "Ice Cube".  LOL I know not your thing.

   

[MooseMom]

UTrack, yes, we have heard a lot and have many maps showing the great distance between the Coastal Cluster and the Mountain Cluster, so I can imagine that even a healthy person would face exhaustion trying to see all there is to see at the Sochi Olympics!

I am not a real fan of watching taped events, no matter the sport, so I have had greater interest in the events that take place in the evening over there.  I wish I could see more live events, but I just can't stay up all night!  I've come to realize that I LOVE the ice dancing even though it has always been treated as ice skating's poor relation.  Ice skating has become like Formula 1; you're just waiting to see who crashes and how badly.  I've grown tired of the triple flips and and toe loops.  While I find the ice skating exciting up to a point, the ice dancing is so beautiful and enjoyable.  The US team of Davis and White won the first gold medal by an American ice dance team.  They were just extraordinary.  Anyone who needs a bit of grace in their day should tune in tonight to see this competition.  It will bring you joy.

For any of you here in the US who happen to also be following the ice skating and watching it live, you know that Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinsky have been the commentating team.  However, I've noticed that in the primetime telecast, NBC has used commentary by Scott Hamilton and someone else.  Does anyone know why?  It seems like NBC has merely dubbed the primetime show.  This seems odd to me.  Why not just repeat the commentary by Weir/Lipinsky?

Anyway, UTrack, that hockey match between the US and Russia was just astonishing, wasn't it!  The crowd that got to see that were lucky to be able to witness such an exciting event.  I'm sure the Russian team is playing with that extra special something that makes playing at a home Olympics just so exciting!

[Rerun]

Awesome!  Davis and White (I can spell those names)   

              

[MooseMom]

Awesome!  Davis and White (I can spell those names)   

           

LOL!  But yes, they were truly sublime.  Perfection on ice.

[Angiepkd]

I am suffering from "Olympic Exhaustion"!  I love, love, love watching all the events and find myself staying up way too late each night to see as much as possible.  Ukrainian Tracksuit, I am so jealous you get to experience things first-hand.  However, if I am exhausted from watching on TV, you have got to be seriously tired going to the actual events!  I would be doing the same thing if  I had the chance!  Keep us updated. Whenever I overdo it, I tell myself I can sleep when I'm dead lol!  Life is short...don't miss out!

[UkrainianTracksuit]

I would just camp out in the figure skating "Ice Cube".  LOL I know not your thing.

They were selling Sochi Olympic logo tents; maybe this is what they were for? 

For you Davis/White ice dancing fans, congratulations!  I know that there are some discussions about the results (saying judges were paid off, saying the Canadian team should have won) but honestly, the American duo was beautiful.  It was magical.

While the Americans celebrated their first gold in ice dancing, Russia got our first gold in 2 man bobsled since the USSR went kaput.  I was there, cheered like a maniac and was SO happy!  I could've missed all the events at the games but if I had to be here for one, it would've been Zubkov/Voevoda taking gold. 

You probably heard that the Russian men's ice hockey team is out of the tournament.  They had so much pressure to get gold on home ice that word on the street is that our president is furious.  FURIOUS.  I know it's not the same level of pressure, bragging rights or award but I've seen many of the same players play for Russia at the World Championships.  I've been there when they've won; it was a whole different attitude and tenacity when playing.  At these Olympics, it just wasn't there.  I'll probably have a target on my back for saying this *looks around* but this is what happens when you throw some egomaniacs together and try to get them to work as a team.  Everyone said they weren't working as a unit.  Anyways, when it looked like Russia had no way to make up the 2 goal deficit near the end, many fans started to leave.  When the game was over, there were SO MANY fans just sitting there in their seats silent and stunned.  Literally, stunned.  Disbelief.  It was so quiet that it was a very eerie feeling.  There were some fans crying.  Tears were rolling down the faces of middle aged Russian men all decked out in Russia gear.  It was a very sad experience!     

With Russia out of hockey, my days are kind of empty for the next two days.  I'm not going to any events today so I'll use today to rest.  I really need some rest.  But like you said, Angiepkd, life is short!  On Friday evening, I'll head to the men's team pursuit quarter/semifinals for long track speedskating.  Again, I'll have most of the day to "head into the shop for repairs" and then rest. 

Saturday will be another one of those crazy rushing marathon days.  The world needs to revolve around my slow exhausted plodding schedule.  I'll see the men's 4 x 7.5 km biathlon relay.  The last biathlon event of the games.  After that, I'll rush over to see the first two runs of men's 4 man bobsleigh.  Sunday, the last day of the Games, I don't know how it is going to work out.  Again, two of my favorite sports were shoved on the same day in the schedule.  The first event is the men's 50 km mass start cross country ski race.  Usually, a race like that takes around two hours to complete.  However, two and a half hours after the start of XC, the final runs of men's bobsleigh start!  I have tickets to both events but I have no idea how it will work out.  If the XC skiers finish around 2 hours + some single minutes (such as 2 h 5 minutes like the last Olympics..) I'll have a little bit of time to make it to bobsled.  Look at me, giving them timing orders like I'm their coach!   

After reviewing my posts here, it is obvious I mainly attend "men in lycra" sports.   

Anyways, this past week, you may have heard the men's 15 km mass start biathlon was postponed due to fog.  The race finally took place on Tuesday and gosh, the weather was not pleasant.  I think the word in English is "sleet"?  It was that kind of damp snow that soaks into your bones.  Me, being forever the insane biathlon nutter, went to that race in the terrible weather.  I caught a chill and it feels like it has chilled my bones since then!  After the race, I convinced myself it was worth it because I saw Emil Hegle Svendsen (admire him) take gold and saw Ole Einar Bjørndalen compete again.  However, hours after the race when I couldn't get warm, I kept cursing myself.

Angiepkd and whoever else with Olympic exhaustion, be reminded that it is all almost over!  I know that I'm lucky to have this experience in my backyard.     I'll remember seeing these Games for as long as I'm alive.  I wish everyone that watched could have been here. 

Oh MooseMom, it's funny that you mention Formula 1 on this thread.  Sochi will start hosting the Russian Grand Prix starting this October.  This resort area has turned very sporty quite quickly! 

[MooseMom]

UTrack, wow!  A Russian Grand Prix?  Gosh, there hasn't been a Formula 1 race in Russia in, what, 100 years?  And in Sochi!  Has the circuit already been built?  That's so cool!  I love F1 and will be eager to watch this particular race.

The Russian men's hockey team just came out flat.  That can happen when the pressure to win is so great.  I know how much the country wanted that particular gold medal.

I have not heard any rumbling about the results in the ice dancing.  Davis/White have been staking extremely well for a couple of years now.  They actually share the same coach and the same practice ice as the Canadian team, so I don't know who would benefit from result tampering.  Now, this used to be a problem in past Olympics, which is why the scoring protocols have been changed.

I'm in a real tiswas because right now, I am having to flip between the women's Gold medal match between the USA and Canada hocky teams AND the finals of the women's free skate.  Plus, I have the usual domestic chores to do.  Ugh.

I'm really enjoying your posts, UTrack, so keep them coming!!

[Rerun]

UKTrack, I have really enjoyed seeing the Olympics through your eyes.  Thank you so much for sharing.

           

[galvo]

I still reckon it was as boring as bat droppings.

[Jean]

I agree with you Galvo. For some odd reason, we recorded the entire 2 weeks and I have no idea why, we will never watch it.

[MooseMom]

I still reckon it was as boring as bat droppings.

Galvo, the little ray of sunshine on IHD.