naomi lee

Today marks the official start of the 21st Winter Olympics y’all!

This will be the third Olympics hosted by Canada, and the first by the province of British Columbia. Previously, we have been home to the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec (youpiee!) and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. I put together some tid bits about the Vancouver Winter Olympics you may not know about. Sure there are other top 10 lists floating out there but they’re super boring. It’s not just about the attendance numbers or cost of the events. It’s the little things that make you go “eh?” Like…

1. Bringing Home the Gold
No Canadian athlete has ever won an Olympic gold medal on home soil. That’s a big time bummer but we’re hoping we will win a few gold this time around. Or just one would suffice. Just one.

2. Because the Cost of Housing in Vancouver is NOT High Enough
The condos (townhouses whathaveyou) where the athletes are staying are 98 per cent sold and homeowners are being allowed to hang framed photos of themselves and their families. In exchange, athletes will be encouraged to leave their own photos or a note giving some owners the prospect bumping up the property value, especially if their athletes’ win medals! (Cough cough, gold please)

3. Where’s Mom When You Need Her?
Athletes will have to do their own laundry. Groan. BUT the detergent and the use of the machines will be free of charge.

4. Solid, Like a Rock
The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at BC Place stadium. Since the stadium was built to have a solid roof, this will be the first time that the Olympic torch will be lit indoors.

5. Wrap it Up!
100,000 free condoms will be available at the 2010 Winter Olympics, and then some. It’s no secret that after years of disciple and training, athletes will get a little frisky at the games. Who wouldn’t be? Close quarters, celebrating wins OR sulking after loses, everyone needs a little lovin’. The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control donated 100,000 condoms to the 6,850 Olympic and Paralympic athletes and staff. That may be a tad optimistic since that comes out to be about 14 condoms per person.

6. Cool Runnings Dreams Could Come True!
How awesome was the Cool Runnings? Hilarious. But on a more serious note, Ghana, Bahamas, Gabon and The Cayman Islands will make their Winter Olympic Debut in our 2010 games.

7. British Columbia’s “Environomics” Prevails Again!
The 2010 Games boast “the greenest medals yet”. The medals include recycled metal reclaimed from electronic waste. No hemp though.

8. WTF is Ski Cross?
Ski cross (also known as skiercross or skier-X) is based on the snowboarding discipline of boardercross. Fact! Despite it being a timed racing event, it is often considered part of freestyle skiing because it incorporates terrain features traditionally found in freestyle. Sure. That being said, Ski cross will make its debut at the 2010 Winter Olympics; it’s the only new event at these Winter Games.

9. Mama, I’m Scared.
Bears, (yes big bad ass bears) are one of the security threats at Whistler athletes’ village, which is why conservation officers are part of the Integrated Security Unit.

10. Nova Scotia Represent!
My sister and her crew use to hang out with Sidney Crosby in Cole Harbor, Nova Scotia. (For those don’t know, he’s the Alternate captain for the Canadian Olympic Hockey team). But strangely enough she doesn’t call him by his name; she just calls him “that hockey guy”.

Sources: Vancouver Sun, AskMen.com