The 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver are in danger of gaining the infamous distinction of Worst Games Ever! I have to say, I'm not surprised. Not after the disastrous start this Olympics got off to with the death of luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvils; a crash the Wall Street Journal claims was exacerbated, or perhaps even caused, by commercial interests within VANOC's to build the track in a high traffic tourist area near Whistler in order to maximize potential revenues for the facility once the games are over:
Wall Street Journal:
Tim Gayda, the vice president of sport for the Vancouver organizing committee, told the Vancouver Sun in October 2002 that the decision would make the track financially viable after the Games. "In order to make this thing financially sustainable, we want it someplace where people will pay top dollar to go whipping down this thing in both summer and winter," Mr. Gayda told the newspaper. The luge and bobsledding federations, he added, were "pushing us to look at options at Whistler."
The problems only start here. I don't care what anybody says, the opening ceremonies were an unmitigated Western Canadian influenced disaster. No mention of Ontario or its diversity, barely a sniff of Quebec, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the West, to the Prairies, to the Maritimes, heavily laden with First Nations symbolism. Now, I'm all for inclusiveness, but in my dictionary, inclusiveness means 'inclusiveness'. The rest of Canada, not to mention THE WORLD, should never have hit the sack after the opening ceremonies thinking Canada's diversity was derived solely from White English culture and First Nations culture. Where was Donovan Bailey? Where were the East and South Asian influences that have shaped Vancouver into a so-called world class city, worthy to host the Games? Where was French-Canada? Where were the country's great Caribbean and European influences?
What does it say about VANOC when they spliced together a 20 minute dance sequence in the wheat fields of the Prairies, but there's no mention of the skylines from our great cities? I just can't resist: It says Unsophisticated and corny. This, not to mention the unmitigated logistical disaster that has become of the competitions. I can't seem to watch a speedskating or skiing event without having to wait out delays because there's no snow, or the zamboni is broken. Is it a coincidence that Vancouver is the mildest city - temperature wise - to ever host the Winter Games?
Stands to reason Alex Bilodeau was the first Canadian to win gold here in Vancouver - at least someone is speaking up for Quebec.
