'With Glowing Hearts' is 2010 Olympics slogan

[deja vu]

VANCOUVER(Yahoo Canada news) - Canada's largest airline has learned it sometimes has to take a back seat to the country's biggest sporting passion, ice hockey, the head of Air Canada said on Tuesday.

The airline was forced to delay a flight from Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games because passengers watching the end of gold medal final on airport televisions ignored repeated calls to board. "We incurred a flight delay for a reason Air Canada had not yet encountered in over 72 years of existence," chief executive Calin Rovinescu told a business gathering. The Canadian fans were rewarded for their delay, as the nail-biting end to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics saw Canada beat arch-rival United States 3-2 in overtime.

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They had no other choice or things could have become ugly on that flight. Guess they learned from the CBC's mistake a few years back when they cut off an important football game feed for a Heidi movie. The reaction was swift and very ugly. They received a lot of threats for that one. A wise decision to let the plane sit while the fans enjoyed the game in the waiting lounge. Happy campers make for a happy flight. Otherwise the stewardess's may have needed battle pay for dealing with the fans anger.

[CielOnTap]

The only problem with that flight delay beyond costing money is that the flight might get to its destination gate within a certain timeframe. Some airports close gates at night.

More good hockey news-the missing glove and hockey stick used by Sidney Crosby were found.

Hockey Canada finds Crosby missing gear, says it was misplaced rather than stolen
Chris Johnston, The Canadian Press
5 hours, 43 minutes ago

The stick and glove that helped Canada win Olympic gold are back where they belong. Sidney Crosby's missing gear was on its way to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Hockey Canada says it was misplaced rather than stolen, with both items ending up in the wrong place in the process of packing and shipping equipment after the Olympic final. The stick and glove were the ones used by Crosby when he scored the overtime goal in the 3-2 win Feb. 28 over the U.S. in Vancouver.

"I'm grateful to everyone who took the time and effort to get my equipment back for me," Crosby was quoted on the Penguins website. "These items are irreplaceable and I'm happy to have them back."

"He's happy that the distractions and questions are gone," added Hockey Canada executive Scott Salmond, who led the search for the equipment.

Crosby’s stick was located in Toronto as part of a shipment heading to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in St. Petersburg, Russia. The stick was being sent to the IIHF in the mistaken belief that it was not the game stick.Return of The Gear

[CielOnTap]

In about 90 minutes, the opening ceremonies of the Paralympics will be broadcast. Currently sledge hockey is in play; the poles are actually mini-hockey sticks.http://player27.narrowstep.tv/assets/players/4304/html/player.html The online TV channel.

Team USA just evened the score about 2 minutes after Norway's goal: 1-1. USA got another goal: 2-1 and a third one!

Norway popped the second goal into USA's net. The game is fast.

[CielOnTap]

Paralympic head talks Vancouver Games
By BOB MACKIN, QMI Agency

Last Updated: March 12, 2010 7:36pm
VANCOUVER - The head of the International Paralympic Committee said Friday he didn’t know that balconies at the Vancouver athletes village were inaccessible to wheelchair users. “That’s news to me, I can’t really comment on it,” said IPC president Sir Philip Craven. “It could be something I would look into, it could be an error in design.”

The Vancouver Courier reported Wednesday that balconies in the $1.1 billion Southeast False Creek complex, which hosted Olympic athletes and officials in February, were built with curbs to prevent rainwater from leaking into suites. The curbs also block wheelchairs.

“I’ll tell you something now the vast majority of (Vancouver Paralympic) facilities have been produced in an incredibly accessible way,” Craven said. “It would not surprise me that most Paralympians get across that barrier and get on the balcony, if they wish to.”

A barrier of another kind was broken earlier Friday when the local CTV affiliate agreed to air the opening ceremony live in British Columbia. The two-hour pageant, however, won’t be seen until Saturday in the rest of the country.http://www.torontosun.com/sports/othersports/2010/03/12/13213791-qmi.html

This one-day delay ought not to be an indicator of how coverage will proceed for the Games, I hope! Otherwise, it will be a damper for people following event news.

[CielOnTap]

By The Canadian Press, cbc.ca, Updated: March 13, 2010 12:47 AM
Paralympics open with rocking ceremony

Two singular journeys that have inspired Canadians for years became inspirations for the world as well on Friday with the start of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

From a lone voice turning into a chorus to a breakdancer on crutches and then joined by an entire dance crew, the opening ceremonies for Canada's first Paralympics were billed as a celebration of one inspiring many.

"As these 2010 Paralympic Games begin, let it not just be about our hard work or for that matter even the athlete achievements that will no doubt be unforgettable," John Furlong, the chief executive officer for the organizing committee, said in his remarks. http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=23634422

This is a taxpayer-funded event: show it to all Canadians. Miffed in Ontario.

[deja vu]

CielOnTap:
This is a taxpayer-funded event: show it to all Canadians. Miffed in Ontario.

Not sure why they did it that way, the rest of Canada sees it this morning. I agree it should have been live right across the country, no good reason not to.



(Break dancer Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli)





VANCOUVER - Canada kicked off another giant party Friday for the world's best athletes, hoping to reignite the sense of pride that stormed the country during the 2010 Olympics.

But this party, started years before with a plan for this country to host its first Paralympic Games, isn't just about waving the Canadian flag or seeing if its athletes can top the podium more frequently than those of 43 other participating nations. It's about an event that organizers say should help change the way people view others who are missing limbs or eyesight or have bodies that don't function the way theirs do.

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010 ... story.html


I had no idea the show was even on. It wasn't listed on the channel guide and found it by accident when I was channel surfing. They did put on a good show but no clue as to who any of the musicians were. Most seem to be unknown to the world but they did shine during their few moments in the lime light. That break dancer made the show I think. Very talented young man.

They could have done without the lone guitar player. Off key the whole time and the song was long and slow. When they showed the audience they looked bored and some falling asleep while he sang.

[burnt fare]

Lots of action then for days 1 and 2 of the Paralympics. Strange to read about disparity in TV coverage--how odd. Inspired by the cutoff techniques of US network NBC, heh?

[Smitty]

I accidently came across the big do last evening though only hung onto it for a few minutes. By accident I cam across the hockey game with a team from some other place, but gave it up after watching it for around 3 minutes.
Sorry by that is not hockey to me & it would be the same in curling to skiing & such. Now I realize some of these competitiors have put a lot of money to effort in this sport that is close to those not missing a limb, but even then the do not realize I also did not watch much of the regular Olympic Games though I have competed in Downhill, Griant Slalom skiing, cross country skiing, to competition speed-skating & did watch some of the Biathlon wondering how anyone hit their targets from prone to standing position with their lungs & heart going like mad.

[123duyusee]

Crosby got his gear back--great news! He'll be all eyes next time he's in an important game and about to toss his gear on the ice.

[soapy]

VANCOUVER - The family of Nodar Kumaritashvili - the Georgian luger killed during a training run on the opening day of the Olympic Games - will receive a death benefit from the Vancouver Organizing Committee.

Renee Smith-Valade, a Vanoc spokeswoman, said the committee had notified Kumaritashvili's family that his death was covered under a private health insurance program it was required to provide for members of the Olympic family. Vanoc upgraded the policy, designed for no-cost health insurance, to include accidental death or dismemberment. It includes the return of remains. Smith-Valade would not say how much the death benefit is, except that it is "an appropriate and respectful sum."


http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Ol ... story.html


Curious if they can sue for wrongful death despite taking the insurance money. This is a death that could have been avoided if some had been doing their job and checked all the complaints that came in from participants.