Posts in “Sports” Category

During the 2 weeks of the Olympics, I enjoyed many amazing events, experienced downtown Vancouver which had lots of Olympic attractions, and spent time with my family going to The Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion, the Holland/Heineken House (a Holland-themed "house" with activities from Holland/Winter Olympics and interactive technology), to see the Olympic Cauldron, and more (see the photos I took in the video I made).

At the biathlon race yesterday I met Rowan Post, who is 12 years old and is training to be a biathlete. Rowan came to the Olympic Biathlon event with his dad and uncle. Rowan recently won first place in a British Columbia youth biathlon event.  I asked him a few questions.

Today we went to see an Olympic biathlon competition. The Winter Games biathlon is a race where a skier will ski a race course and then shoot a rifle at targets five times, and then will repeat the same thing four more times.

The judges add one minute for every time the skiers miss their target. So if  someone crosses the finish line first but missed a lot of their snipes (targets), they probably won't win. Biathlon was invented by the Norwegians. Norway took the top two spots in the men's 20 km race today.

Speed skating was a lot of fun. People cheered a little differently -- instead of just cheering constantly, people would cheer as the skaters came near them, all the way around the ring. The skaters would switch sides (inside or outside lane, called a "crossover") every time they went around the ice skating ring. In speed skating they put skaters with the similar ability together, then they draw which pair goes first.  There is a camera on a little car that goes and follows the skaters that goes smoothly and quickly along a track next to the skaters. Here is a picture of that camera.

We had tickets to see the women's hockey game - Canadians vs. Slovakia.  We are sitting about 300 feet up - one row from the top of the stadium. I'm glad I have binoculars! I think about 90% of the stadium is filled with Canadians and more than half are wearing Canadian shirts to support their country. The large TV screens focus on some of the fans during the game.  Many have face paint, are wearing flags, and dance to music during time outs. The crowd does the wave around the stadium. Canadian hockey is my favorite sport so far to be in the stands and watch because it is fun!



All the announcements at the game are made in two languages - English and French, because both languages are spoken in Canada. Even before the first period of play is over, the Canadians are winning seven to nothing - by the end, they will win 18 to nothing. Hockey to Canadians is like American football is to Americans - they start playing very young and become very good players.  It is nonstop action with hockey and the crowds in the stadium are nonstop as well!  Here I am with my cowbell for cheering during the game.

We're ready for the Winter Games, are you? We are going to take you on an inside tour of the some of the biggest Olympic events, the city of Vancouver, and even to the city of Montreal. As the Olympic torch makes its final journey to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canadian kids are proud and excited about the games.

Meet Rachel, resident of Vancouver and an avid figure skater. She'll give us the local scoop on Vancouver from a kid's perspective.

Meet Jack, resident of the Washington, D.C. area, but heading to the games. Jack will give us the 10-year-old boy perspective on the games and the festivities.

Meet Sima, a 13-year-old resident of Montreal. Sima will show us around Montreal as she cheers on her national teams from afar. Go Canadian women's hockey!

What winter event are you excited to watch?