hockeyfan1
New member
"Goodbye Sochi"....
"....see you in PyeongChang in 2018"....
....and with those words ended a spectacular, if not extraordinary Winter Olympic Games, all having taken place in this beautiful mountainous coastal resort town against the backdrop of the Black Sea.
Amid the breathtaking venues and the fortress-like security that encapsulated the entire Olympic Park, these Games were a success not only for the host country Russia, in terms of most medals won, but for the.sheer vision of Russian President Vladimir Putin's of bringing the Olympic dream to his country.
Even though these were the most expensive Winter Games (at a cost of $51B and counting), no one could dispute what these Sochi Games brought to the athletes & their respective countries which they represented. There were many moments of sheer jubilation, sheer disappointments, emotionally-charged moments, epic comebacks, in all thrills, chills, and spills.
Who can forget Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau after having won gold in the Men's Skiing Moguls, hugging his overjoyous developmentally-handicapped brother for what seemed like an eternity. How about 18 year old American Mikaela Shiffrin who by winning the Women's Slalom in the Alpine Skiing event, became the youngest Olympian to win gold. Or, Russian skier Maria Kommissarova who crashed during the Women's Snowboard SkiCross run, suffering a spinal injury but having underwent successful surgery thereafter. What of the Canadian Women's "epic comeback" in the words of many, in Women's Ice Hockey, who, trailing 2-0 with just under two minutes before the final buzzer would sound, tied it all up then scored in overtime to defeat Team USA and capture their fourth consecutive Olympic gold (an Olympics record). Oh those Dutch! They nearly captured all of the medals in the Long-Track Speedskating in both the Men & Women's events leaving very little for everyone else. And the Norwegian women & men who were simply dominant in most of the Cross-Country Skiing events, particularly the three Norwegian ladies who swept the podium in their event! Whew!
On and on the stories go. There were some poignant moments, such as honouring the late Nodar Kumatashvili, who died tragically in the Vancouver Winter Games of 2010, during a pre-Olympic luge training run. Another was the remembrance of the late great Canadian halfpipe skiing pioneer Sarah Burke, whose ashes were spread near the halfpipe area, some in the mountain region. A fitting final gesture to an otherwise fine athlete.
The closing ceremonies were just as enlightening as the opening were, complete with Viking ship sailing in middair, a grand piano on a piano-shaped stage surrounded by a handful of baby grands all twirling and being played in unison, 'winged' human 'doves' taking off from the stage flying away, etc.,etc. One has to truly appreciate the choreography and all the special effects that went into these ceremonies, as colourful and inspiring as they were.
For our wonderful nation, Canada, our Olympians did us proud! Canada officially finished third in the medal standings (by virtue of having had more golds and silvers than the fourth-place US). (However, in total medals, we placed fourth). Canada's 25 medals did not exceed the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games total, but to place in the top 3 or 4, we held our own against the very best!
Russia's Olympic Winter Games record of 13 golds, fell short of the record set by Canada of 14 golds at Vancouver 2010. For the host country, the results were more than satisfying.
So now, onward the Olympic Winter Games will go...to PyeongChang, South Korea...where the 23rd Winter Olympiad will be...in 2018.
"....see you in PyeongChang in 2018"....
....and with those words ended a spectacular, if not extraordinary Winter Olympic Games, all having taken place in this beautiful mountainous coastal resort town against the backdrop of the Black Sea.
Amid the breathtaking venues and the fortress-like security that encapsulated the entire Olympic Park, these Games were a success not only for the host country Russia, in terms of most medals won, but for the.sheer vision of Russian President Vladimir Putin's of bringing the Olympic dream to his country.
Even though these were the most expensive Winter Games (at a cost of $51B and counting), no one could dispute what these Sochi Games brought to the athletes & their respective countries which they represented. There were many moments of sheer jubilation, sheer disappointments, emotionally-charged moments, epic comebacks, in all thrills, chills, and spills.
Who can forget Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau after having won gold in the Men's Skiing Moguls, hugging his overjoyous developmentally-handicapped brother for what seemed like an eternity. How about 18 year old American Mikaela Shiffrin who by winning the Women's Slalom in the Alpine Skiing event, became the youngest Olympian to win gold. Or, Russian skier Maria Kommissarova who crashed during the Women's Snowboard SkiCross run, suffering a spinal injury but having underwent successful surgery thereafter. What of the Canadian Women's "epic comeback" in the words of many, in Women's Ice Hockey, who, trailing 2-0 with just under two minutes before the final buzzer would sound, tied it all up then scored in overtime to defeat Team USA and capture their fourth consecutive Olympic gold (an Olympics record). Oh those Dutch! They nearly captured all of the medals in the Long-Track Speedskating in both the Men & Women's events leaving very little for everyone else. And the Norwegian women & men who were simply dominant in most of the Cross-Country Skiing events, particularly the three Norwegian ladies who swept the podium in their event! Whew!
On and on the stories go. There were some poignant moments, such as honouring the late Nodar Kumatashvili, who died tragically in the Vancouver Winter Games of 2010, during a pre-Olympic luge training run. Another was the remembrance of the late great Canadian halfpipe skiing pioneer Sarah Burke, whose ashes were spread near the halfpipe area, some in the mountain region. A fitting final gesture to an otherwise fine athlete.
The closing ceremonies were just as enlightening as the opening were, complete with Viking ship sailing in middair, a grand piano on a piano-shaped stage surrounded by a handful of baby grands all twirling and being played in unison, 'winged' human 'doves' taking off from the stage flying away, etc.,etc. One has to truly appreciate the choreography and all the special effects that went into these ceremonies, as colourful and inspiring as they were.
For our wonderful nation, Canada, our Olympians did us proud! Canada officially finished third in the medal standings (by virtue of having had more golds and silvers than the fourth-place US). (However, in total medals, we placed fourth). Canada's 25 medals did not exceed the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games total, but to place in the top 3 or 4, we held our own against the very best!
Russia's Olympic Winter Games record of 13 golds, fell short of the record set by Canada of 14 golds at Vancouver 2010. For the host country, the results were more than satisfying.
So now, onward the Olympic Winter Games will go...to PyeongChang, South Korea...where the 23rd Winter Olympiad will be...in 2018.
