Winter olympics - projections

[Rantsalot]

For anyone out there who follows the Olympics I am curious as to what you think will be the amount of medals Canada will get this time around and in which events.

As per usual I'm hearing the same old same old.

This will be the finest showing for Canada this time around.

Riiiiiiiight. Just like the last Winter Olympics.

 

[pdson2]

For anyone out there who follows the Olympics I am curious as to what you think will be the amount of medals Canada will get this time around and in which events.

As per usual I'm hearing the same old same old.

This will be the finest showing for Canada this time around.

Riiiiiiiight. Just like the last Winter Olympics.

What do you mean "right" just like the last Winter Olympics, do you even know how they did or are you just talking out of your ass. Just in case you didn['t know, which i have a feeling ,they had 24 medals their most ever at the Winter Olympics and finished 3rd in the world behind Germany and the U.S. in medals i'd say that is pretty damn good.

 

[21pro]

more has gone into $$ and support for this year's canadian Olympians, however... demographically, our talent pool has weened some. I don't expect much.

 

[shack]

Whatever they got last time, I predict 40-50% more medals.

 

[Rantsalot]

...

What do you mean "right" just like the last Winter Olympics, do you even know how they did or are you just talking out of your ass. Just in case you didn['t know, which i have a feeling ,they had 24 medals their most ever at the Winter Olympics and finished 3rd in the world behind Germany and the U.S. in medals i'd say that is pretty damn good.

Whoa there. Chill. What I should have added is that I am hearing and reading that its projected that Canada will come out on top as the leader in the overall medal count.

Like I said though it is something that I hear every Winter Olympics

 

[shack]

What I should have added is that I am hearing and reading that its projected that Canada will come out on top as the leader in the overall medal count.

I haven't heard or read that they are projected to win, but that it has been the long-stated goal of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

 

[Rantsalot]

...

O.k. how about I ask this instead.

In which events do you believe Canada will win a medal?

Better yet what events do you believe Canada has a greater chance in succeeding at getting gold?

 

[shack]

O.k. how about I ask this instead.

In which events do you believe Canada will win a medal?

Better yet what events do you believe Canada has a greater chance in succeeding at getting gold?

You shouldn't hijack the thread. That's not what the OP asked.

 

[Ironhead]

As per usual I'm hearing the same old same old.

This will be the finest showing for Canada this time around.

Riiiiiiiight. Just like the last Winter Olympics.

I have never heard from anyone that we, Canada, would win/finish first in the medal count. I know people have said we should be better at Winter Games because of our climate, but never heard that Canada will be first.
It would be nice.

Whatever they got last time, I predict 40-50% more medals.

Take it easy. Do not go off the deep end. Again that would be nice, but I am just hoping for a top four finish and go from there.

Whoa there. Chill. What I should have added is that I am hearing and reading that its projected that Canada will come out on top as the leader in the overall medal count.

Like I said though it is something that I hear every Winter Olympics

Actually to correct what I said earlier, I did hear it once on the radio that I think it was the Canadian Olympic whoever said that they thought we would win the medal count. Maybe I have not been paying close attention, but I only heard it that one time.
I would keep that on the back burner. I just want to do well, first would be great, but third would not be terrible to me.

O.k. how about I ask this instead.

In which events do you believe Canada will win a medal?

Better yet what events do you believe Canada has a greater chance in succeeding at getting gold?

You shouldn't hijack the thread. That's not what the OP asked.

Rantsalot is the OP.

 

[Ref]

They will surpass the Calgary totals

 

[Rantsalot]

Hmmm?

You shouldn't hijack the thread. That's not what the OP asked.

I started this thread.

 

[shack]

I started this thread.

Oh, you picked up on that also.

 

[shack]

Take it easy. Do not go off the deep end. Again that would be nice, but I am just hoping for a top four finish and go from there.

They got 24 last time, so with they way they geared and timed the whole national program to peak in February, and with hopefully a homefield advantage, 33.6-36 medals is 40-50% and doesn't seem outrageous to me.

Hockey, curling, ice skating, speed skating (long and short), moguls, bobsled...there's lots of medals to be had there. Plus they keep adding so many events, there's more medals to be won.

 

[shack]

Canada talking smack

Here's an interesting read along the lines of what we're discussing.


* DECEMBER 1, 2009


Welcome to Canada...Prepare to Lose


Polite Nation's Vow to Dominate Vancouver Cheers Athletes but Strikes
Many as Too 'American'



By KEVIN HELLIKER
<http://online.wsj.com/search/search_center.html?KEYWORDS=KEVIN+HELLIKER
&ARTICLESEARCHQUERY_PARSER=bylineAND>


The following is a message from the people of Canada to all other
nations sending teams to compete at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver:
While we hope you enjoy your visit in our country, please be advised
that Canada reserves the right to beat you and, if it so chooses, to
celebrate with behavior that could be described as "gloating."

Dominick Gauthier, a former Olympian now coaching two of the country's
top medal prospects, describes the country's new Olympic philosophy this
way: "Canada," he says, "is finally more concerned with winning than
being nice."

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Gold medalist Clara Hughes, right, and fellow Canadian Cindy Klassen,
who won the bronze, after the Ladies' 5,000-meter speed-skating event in
Turin, Italy, in 2006.

Canada has never placed first in any Winter Games, something much-tinier
Norway has done six times (seven if you include ties). In fact, Canada
hasn't even come in second. During its hosting of the 1976 Montreal
Games and the 1988 Calgary Winter Games, the national team failed to win
a single gold.

For Vancouver, Canada has launched an ambitious plan to change this. It
has piped in 120 million Canadian dollars (US$113 million) in training
money, delivered more resources to the best athletes and launched an
effort to improve equipment. "This February, quiet Canada will turn
rowdy with pride," predicts J.D. Miller, founder of a Canadian corporate
group that is financing elite Olympians.

In its slogans for Montreal ("Game Plan '76") and Calgary ("Best Ever"),
Canada displayed all the brashness of a rockhopper penguin. The 1988
Calgary medal take turned out to be two silvers and three bronzes, a
showing that ranked Canada 13th in total medals. This year's motto, "Own
the Podium," shows no such timidity. In the history of the Olympics, in
fact, no host country has ever talked such smack in its slogan.

Publicly announcing such a goal strikes some in Canada as impolite and
others as inhospitable. "It sounds like we're welcoming the countries of
the world to our doorstep so that we can trounce them," says Bruce Kidd,
a former Olympian now a University of Toronto dean. The newfound
jingoism strikes many here as just too, well, American. "Own the Podium
is obnoxious and un-Canadian," says Louise Fox, a Canadian etiquette
expert. "Up here we don't toot our own horn like that."

To many athletes, however, the boldness of the claim is thrilling. "As a
Canadian I'm happy to see Canada becoming aggressive like America," says
former hockey coach Barry Melrose, now an ESPN announcer. "If you're
afraid to talk about winning, you'll never win."

Specifically, Canada is targeting 35 medals, or however many it takes to
top the overall medal count. Germany's 36 medals in Salt Lake City in
2002 stands as the largest-ever Winter Games haul. Through its fund
raising, Own the Podium has raised about one-third of its total haul
from corporate contributors and the rest from government. It has enabled
athletes to train full time rather than wait tables, as well as employ
personal trainers and sports psychologists.

Canadian athletes say the program provides not only improved equipment,
better coaching and greater opportunities to train but also enhanced
motivation. "When your country is supporting you, you go out there and
train no matter how tired and sore you are," says Ryan Blais, an aerial
skier.

Already, Own the Podium-which was created soon after Vancouver won the
Games, in 2003-has produced results. In the 2006 Turin Games, Canada
finished third with its largest haul ever-24 medals. In the 2009 World
Championships, Canada finished first in those disciplines that are
performed in the Olympics, with 29 medals. Germany and the U.S. tied for
second, with 27. Never in history have Canadian athletes so dominated
winter competitions from slope to rink.

The United States Olympic Committee, for its part, isn't pinning a
specific medal hope on Vancouver. "It's dangerous to state expectations
about winning, particularly in the Olympics," says Harvey Schiller, a
former executive director of the USOC. "There are too many athletes in
the world who can come out of nowhere and be a champion."

But boldness may be necessary for a nation that traditionally has felt
ambivalent about winning. In a year-2000 poll, 14% of Canadians said
they enjoyed demonstrating their superiority to foreigners. By contrast,
31% of Americans said so, according to Michael Adams, a Canadian
sociologist and pollster.

Canadians also tend to feel awkward about patriotism. "We mumble our
national anthem here, and nobody puts their hand on their heart," Mr.
Adams says. The bestselling author doesn't doubt that Olympic success
could pull the country together, particularly after past slights. He
remembers vividly how, during a 1992 World Series game between the
Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays, a U.S. Marine in Atlanta
inadvertently flew the Canadian flag upside down during pregame
ceremonies. "We never get any respect," says Mr. Adams.

In recent weeks, after some American athletes complained about gaining
only limited training time on Vancouver's venues, many in Canada
expected their leaders to apologize, open wide the gates and discard the
home-field advantage that every other host country has exploited. But in
a reaction that seemingly energized the nation, Canadian media
commentators and Olympic organizers dismissed the Americans as a bunch
of whiners. "People just stood up, said we did nothing wrong and made
fun of the Americans," says Mr. Gauthier, the ski coach. "I was so proud
to see that."

 

[Rantsalot]

...

This article does raise some interesting views on not only Canada but of how we as citizens act, react and are perceived in general. Personally I wouldn't mind if just once we took what was out there to be won and grabbed it without any hesitation BUT i wouldn't go so far as to be domineering let alone brag and/or intimidate. The Olympics after all do have a basic principle of fair competition but that of course is another topic.



O.k. let's see if I can generate some heat here. Some Canadians are undoubtedly interested in how we'll place in hockey. Um.....I think we will make it to the podium but I'd love to hear who thinks if we have a better than average chance for gold. The way the European countries have developed their system its no longer a cakewalk for Canada too breeze by anyone. People may want too believe that but it just doesn't hold up now.

 

[Anynym]

Canada has focused their efforts on events which have a large number of medals available from slight variations on the sport, and it is not unreasonable to expect that Canada's medal count will rise.

 

[spankingman]

Just because we are the"home team" this time does not guarantee more medals but it should help a bit.

I do predict GOLD for both hockey teams.