These games should have been in Calgary!

[vicphoenix13]

The reason Vancouver was a good choice for the Olympics is because of the venues that are already there. Nobody talks about the money they saved by having BC Place, GM Place and the Pacific Coliseum already in place. Imagine one of those small towns in Europe or Asia that often host the games trying to build facilities like that.

On another note, I hope those ######bag columnists in Britain who keep taking shots at Vancouver are ready for the scrutiny London 2012 is going to get. It has been reported that the London Summer Olympics are going to cost 10 times as much as originally projected. And lets not forget the stories about how disgusting the east end of London is.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by vicphoenix13

.

On another note, I hope those ######bag columnists in Britain who keep taking shots at Vancouver are ready for the scrutiny London 2012 is going to get. It has been reported that the London Summer Olympics are going to cost 10 times as much as originally projected. And lets not forget the stories about how disgusting the east end of London is.

Not to mention the fact that the London 2012 logo looks like Lisa Simpson performing fellatio:



What has been seen cannot be unseen!

[Winsor_Pilates]

I don't hear anything about the Olympics being a bust until I log on to CP. This city is on fire right now and it is an amazing experience. I have been out every day and night of the games and have had and amazing time everywhere.
I wish some of you haters could be here to experience how great it is right now.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Meers

This thread strikes me as not only a tad negative, but asking for a rhetorical s**t kicking. To wit:

Calgary 1988 Games: 0 Canadian gold medals

Vancouver 2010 Games: 2 Canadian gold medals (and counting).

Yeah, so I could see how you could characterise the 2010 Games as a failure. If, that is, you were from Norway, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands or any of the 11 countries that out-medaled Canada in 1988 . . .

Could it be that Calgary's olympic crowds - like some CP posters - were so negative that it discouraged Canada's athletes in 1988?

I won't answer that question. Instead, I'll simply thank Vancouverites for having been so positive and supportive of Canada's athletes.

Count me in the group against "Own the Podium". This program has done nothing but ratchet up the pressure on everything about these games. It has put out an atmosphere of competition on everything about these games:

1. Constantly remind people that no one won gold in Calgary or Montreal. Like that counts as a measure of success in hosting a games?

2. Questionable ethics used to block other countries from using our venues to practice.

3. All round make it clear that if we do not win the medal count these games are a failure in some way.

When did Canadians become like this? This hyper competitive nature is something out of a US games. It has nothing to do with Vancouver, or the great city it is. It all got so politicized so fast, now everyone is fighting with each other, over stupid things like gold medal counts. How sad.

[Resolute 14]

Personally, I like it. Historically, Canada has defined mediocrity as being good enough on the international sporting stage. There is no shame in wanting to win, or in trying to win.

As far as the Brits go, the Canadian papers are fighting back:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...644/story.html

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Personally, I like it. Historically, Canada has defined mediocrity as being good enough on the international sporting stage. There is no shame in wanting to win, or in trying to win.

As far as the Brits go, the Canadian papers are fighting back:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...644/story.html

Hahaha

"London will be worse. It will also be dirtier, smellier, and have worse teeth," howled one offended Canuck.
"Just because you long ago abandoned any ambitions in the world -- or for that matter basic sense of identity or dignity -- and became a lethargic nation of elitist whiners who no one really likes, don't fault those younger nations who do enjoy and embrace life," snapped another.

Perhaps it's a genetic disposition. After all, Utrecht University in the Netherlands recently found 40 per cent of British men suffer from a premature tendency which, unfortunately for them and their partners, is medically defined as an inability to last more than a minute in bed.

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Enjoy the rain, world.

Rain? What's that? It's been bright, sunny and 10+ degrees the last two days with a forecast of nothing but sun.

Today Sunny with cloudy periods. Fog patches dissipating early this morning. High 12.
Tonight A few clouds. Low plus 1.
Thursday Sunny. High 10 except 14 inland.
Friday Sunny. Low plus 2. High 10 except 15 inland.
Saturday Sunny. Low plus 2. High 10 except 15 inland.
Sunday Sunny. Low plus 1. High 10 except 14 inland.
Monday A mix of sun and cloud. Low plus 5. High 10.
Tuesday Cloudy with 40 percent chance of showers. Low plus 3. High 10.

[Russic]

Every Olympic city has problems during the games. I'm sure these problems are more glaring to people who hate Vancouver, and CP is a breeding ground for those types of people.

The death of the luger is of course the biggest black eye on these games, but everything else is relatively minor. It's easy to forget about the problems of past Olympic events when they happen every couple of years.

[North East Goon]

I feel bad for starting this thread. It has become a bash/dont bash fest of the city of Vancouver. My apologies, I am one Canadian who is very proud to have these games in Canada, my argument was strictly from a financial standpoint these games should be in Calgary, it seems like such a waste of money spending on all this new infrastructure an hour flight away from a center that has this in place. I apologize to all that are offended by this thread, these games are already a success psycholigically for Canadians (Two gold medals and counting) and will be fondly remembered if we can get that Mens Hockey gold medal.

[bubbsy]

Not sure this is the right thread, but here's a globe and mail article about the bad press vancouver has been getting for these olympics:

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centr...tml?cid=rssrsn

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

I feel bad for starting this thread. It has become a bash/dont bash fest of the city of Vancouver. My apologies, I am one Canadian who is very proud to have these games in Canada, my argument was strictly from a financial standpoint these games should be in Calgary, it seems like such a waste of money spending on all this new infrastructure an hour flight away from a center that has this in place. I apologize to all that are offended by this thread, these games are already a success psycholigically for Canadians (Two gold medals and counting) and will be fondly remembered if we can get that Mens Hockey gold medal.

I think it is one of the biggest mistake we as Canadian sports fan can make by tying the perceived success of these Olympics on the Men's Hockey. Oh and your financial argument is kinda bunk considering all the renos that would have had to be done to the 'existing infrastructure'.

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

I think it is one of the biggest mistake we as Canadian sports fan can make by tying the perceived success of these Olympics on the Men's Hockey. Oh and your financial argument is kinda bunk considering all the renos that would have had to be done to the 'existing infrastructure'.

I agree the Turin games were a huge success, but many view it as a failure. Just the way it goes.

[Stats87]

The British papers just seem to be ripping Vancouver as a way to protect themselves for London 2012. If they constantly write how bad Vancouver's Olympics are, then if theirs suck they can say "at least it wasn't as bad as 2010"

[Meers]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

As far as the Brits go, the Canadian papers are fighting back:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...644/story.html

A good laugh from Martin. Well done sir.

We can't really expect much journalistic ethics from the English. After all, they made Conrad Black a peer after he was forced to relinquish his Canadian citizenship.

(So, is it still correct to call him Baron Black of Crossharbour? Or is the proper etiquette to call him Baron Black of the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex?)

[MrMastodonFarm]

Guys, I think we need to calm down a little... yes it's fun to rag on Vancouver, and yes there have been mistakes but that happens, it happens in every Olympics games. These huge events don't happen every two years (Summer and Winter) without one or two or several things going wrong.

Torino had major weather issues to start and several Apline events were postponed. The 2006 Torino games also had major problems with their Metro transit system, by all reports it was a complete mess and totally inadquate throughout the games, it wasn't even totally finish until almost a year AFTER the games.

Hell, the Torino games also had a major threat of Bankrupcy before they ever started...

Give Vancouver a break, these things happen... but years later all we remember is the Alexander Biladou's, The Heils, and all the events and moments and forget the crappy stuff along the way.

[Jetsfan]

Originally Posted by driveway

Not to mention the fact that the London 2012 logo looks like Lisa Simpson performing fellatio:



What has been seen cannot be unseen!

You British think your soooo superior...







...and don't call me stupid!!!

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

My apologies, I am one Canadian who is very proud to have these games in Canada, my argument was strictly from a financial standpoint these games should be in Calgary, it seems like such a waste of money spending on all this new infrastructure an hour flight away from a center that has this in place.

The olympics are a bidding war, unless no one wants them (the LA games) then the bid is essentially given to the city/country that promises to spend the most, both on facilities and the requisite coke, hookers and wads of cash for the IOC officials.

There is no cheap way of doing it as the cost of the previous games justifies the higher cost of the next one and also justifies the vast sums of money the IOC keeps for itself, essentially 'we need the money as the games are so expensive'.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Stats87

The British papers just seem to be ripping Vancouver as a way to protect themselves for London 2012. If they constantly write how bad Vancouver's Olympics are, then if theirs suck they can say "at least it wasn't as bad as 2010"

I look at it the other way. The 2012 games better be f'ing PERFECT or people are going to crap all over that washed up colonial s@#$hole.

[vicphoenix13]

Originally Posted by driveway

Not to mention the fact that the London 2012 logo looks like Lisa Simpson performing fellatio:



What has been seen cannot be unseen!

Does London 2012 still use that logo? I thought they were embarrasssed enough to change it.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Give Vancouver a break, these things happen... but years later all we remember is the Alexander Biladou's, The Heils, and all the events and moments and forget the crappy stuff along the way.

There is only one Alexander Biladou and one Heil competing in the Olympics.