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.

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February 11, 2010 at 7:13 PM

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Canadians are out for blood

Posted by By Steve Kelley

Whoa Canada!

Let's hear it for the Canadians. They aren't just happy to be hosting the Olympics. They aren't just thrilled to be the stage for the biggest event in sports. Oh now, they want blood. They want to rule the world. They want it all. They aren't being diplomatic. They aren't being condescending. They're being honest. Brashly honest. And that's worth celebrating.

"These Game are ours," said Canadian Olympic Committee president-elect Marcel Aubut, "and we're going to own the podium."

So this wasn't the equivalent of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev banging his shoe on the podium in front of the United Nations Security Council and declaring, "We will bury you." But it was close.

The gantlet has been thrown. The challenge has been issued. Bring it on, World.

When asked by a Canadian reporter how many medals he thought it would take for Canada to win the medal count, Aubut said, "Whatever that number is that makes us No. 1."

That's what's I'm talking about. Way to bring it Joe Willie Aubut. Way to wake up the world Marcel Ali. More Olympic officials should be like Aubut. More should have the courage of their convictions like Joe Willie Namath and Muhammad Ali did.

Aubut was just putting his mouth where Canada's money has gone. After Vancouver was awarded the 2010 Games in Prague, in 2003, the Canadians created a program called "On the Podium." They spent $8 million dollars on research and development, looking for improved technology and better training practices. They enlisted researchers from 17 different universities. Consider these Games something akin to the United States' push to put a man on the world orCanada's non-nuclear Manhattan Project.

"We're better positioned and better prepared," said Peter Judge head of Canada's freestyle skiing team.

So, maybe you thought Canada was all about hockey and curling. Guess again.

Look out Apolo Ohno, Nathalie Lambert, chef de mission of the C.O.C said the Canadians were strong medal contenders in both short and long track speedskating, freestyle skiing, snowboarding and figure skating.

"Every day we're going to get some surprises," said Lambert, a two-time Olympic speedskater.

I think this kind of confidence is refreshing. I think it trickles down to the athletes.

"We think, when the Games are done, we're going to be at the top of the medal count, C.O.C president Michael Chambers said.

Talk of the Games

Canadians are out for blood

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