Talk of the Games
The medal standings tell only part of the sports story of what's happening at the Games. For the rest, check out the latest dispatches from The Seattle Times' sports crew of columnists, reporters and producers.
Subscribe
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print
Share
Canada's got a grip on Games
Posted by Meri-Jo Borzilleri
WHISTLER, B.C. -- Make no mistake -- these are Canada's Games, and no one here's going to let you forget that. Oh, they're polite and greet you kindly.
But signs everywhere read: Welcome World. Go Canada Go.
National pride, to say nothing of more than $100 million in their Own the Podium athlete-training program, ride on Canada winning armfuls of medals -- or at least finishing in the top two nations in the medal count.
That's why, perhaps, every third car seems to have these flappy flags fluttering, as if all of Canada is en route to the big game. (That, and the fact you can buy them for $8 at national grocery chain Save On Foods.)
It's also why that huge statue of a roadside Paul Bunyan (Hey -- isn't he ours?) has a "Go Canada" sticker plastered on his forehead.
This isn't Torino 2006, where city residents -- and most of the nation -- mustered little more than a collective yawn during their Olympic host-hood.
Oh Canada. This is going to be good.
Photo: In Whistler, Canadian Olympic pride is extending to casual footgear. Meri-Jo Borzilleri/Seattle Times
UPDATE - 7:02 AM
Recently listed
Popular searches
Feb 28, 10 - 5:23 PM
Closing ceremonies live chat
Feb 28, 10 - 11:43 AM
USA-Canada live thread
Feb 28, 10 - 9:19 AM
Fans getting an early start on big game
Feb 27, 10 - 6:54 PM
T-shirts for tomorrow's big games hot sellers
Feb 27, 10 - 5:18 PM
Before the big game, a debate over semantics
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Club promoter convicted in brutal 2010 murder of Des Moines prostitute
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature 436
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming 347
- Sheriff's office unhappy with 911 dispatcher in caseworker's call 282
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising 237
- Source: NY, California to sign mortgage settlement 222
- Oregon live game thread 155
- Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game 140
- Lakewood cop accused of taking donations for slain officers' families 112
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color 102
- Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise' 73
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- A wandering gene's destructive path | Book review
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
- UW opening incubator facility for startups
- Controversial principal at Lowell Elementary takes job in Tacoma
