I have Olympic Games withdrawl

Pressing the recall button on my remote control tonight had a strange effect. First, I saw the evening news. Recall. Then it was an ESPN film? What the heck? Where were the Olympics?

Yes, I watched the closing ceremonies just like everyone else. I realize the Games are over. But now, I was forced to do something I hadn't done for two weeks. I had to press the "Guide" button, and explore what else was on TV.

No skiing, no bobsleigh, no curling, no speed skating. What a rip off. NBA basketball seemed like a cheesy participation ribbon. It seemed like TSN was sending me a message saying, "thanks for tuning in, unfortunately, this is all we have for you."

The Vancouver Olympics were a truly great event and displayed the outstanding power of sport. 14 gold medals were won by Canada, more than any nation in the history of the Winter Olympics. More importantly, millions went back to work following the closing ceremonies feeling refreshed, proud, and excited.

Don't worry sports fans, there are a few things for us to look forward to. We have March Madness, the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the World Cup of Soccer. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait a few years before the Olympics re-appear and much longer before we are able to experience another Olympic Games on Canadian soil.

It was good while it lasted, I just wish it had lasted longer.

Let the games begin.

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Lindsey Vonn looks better in a snowsuit

It might sound strange, especially coming from a man, but Lindsey Vonn looks better in a snowsuit than she does in a swimsuit. Well, I guess it isn't a snowsuit, but she looks better dressed in ski gear, than flaunting herself in a magazine.

After suffering a pre-Olympic injury, Vonn battled a sore shin, and her critics, to take home a Gold Medal in Womens downhill skiing.

Many sports fans have argued over the last few weeks that Vonn has tarnished her sporting image by sexualizing herself in mens magazines. Lindsey Vonn seems determined to prove that she can be a fierce competitor and a sex symbol at the same time.

In a perfect world, Vonn would be popular, receive endorsements, and gain public respect for her skiing alone; however, participating in a sport like alpine skiing, where your salary is typically between tiny and none, Lindsey Vonn has stood out from the crowd. Last year, Vonn's reported income was a little over $3 million.

Not bad for a downhill skier.

Sadly, if Vonn wasn't attractive, she wouldn't be rich. This is the society we live in. Luckily for Vonn, she can deflect every insulting comment, every smack from the media, and every questionable photograph with her Olympic Gold Medal.

Personally, I think Lindsey Vonn looks better in her ski gear. She is an athlete, yes, a female athlete, but a fierce competitor, and an extremely talented alpine skier. We should celebrate her for her ability on the slopes, not for her appearance in a swimsuit.

Next Olympics, here's to hoping Lindsey Vonn keeps her clothes on and continues to knock the socks off the competition.

Let the games begin.

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America golden at the Olympic Games

In two surprising moments at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, American athletes captured surprise medals early in the Games.

In women’s moguls, skier Hannah Kearney captured gold despite entering as an underdog to Canadian Jennifer Heil. After completing the qualifying jump, Kearney and Heil stood 1-2 on the leader board. In the final round, Kearney skied flawlessly and upset the Canadian crowd who was heavily cheering for Jennifer Heil.

On the speed skating track, a crash on the final corner of the men’s 1500m sprint sent two Korean skaters into the padding and allowed Americans JR Celski and Apolo Anton Ohno to cross the finish line for silver and bronze despite entering the final turn in 4th and 5th positions.

The American teams have looked strong in the first few events of the day leading the early medal count with 1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze. Other countries that captured their first Gold of the games on Saturday include Switzerland, South Korea, Netherlands, and Slovakia.

Let the games begin.

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What the Olympics mean to the World

After months and months of predictions, hype, and speculation, the Winter Olympics are finally here. Although the Olympic Games started on a sour note, with the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, the Winter Olympics in Vancouver promise better things to come.

In fact, the Olympics in general are a sign of world togetherness you don't often see. Where else would you see the USA standing beside Iran and North Korea? These countries aren't competing against each other out of hate; rather, they're competing in peace and sport.

The Olympic Games are unifying for all people. It's a chance for us to forget the wars we fight, the terror in our world, and to focus on a sense of togetherness that is often overlooked.

Starting with the spectacular and theatrical opening ceremonies and the lighting of the torch by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, the Winter Olympics utlilize one of our planets greatest common grounds, sport, to bring people together...even if it is only for a few weeks.

Sure nations compete against each other, battle on the playing field, and will push, pull, and claw their way to a place on the podium; but athletes from countries at war, countries who are political adversaries, show respect and sportsmanship to each other during the Olympics.

97 nations are competing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. 97 countries in one peaceful place for sport. I've heard people argue over and over that sports are just games, that people take athletics too seriously, and that athletics are not important.

Looking at the Olympic Games, it's obvious they are wrong. Sports can mean so much more, they can bring unity and peace. They can bring hope and inspiration. From the moment the torch is lit, to the moment the last medal is awarded, the Olympic Games are a tie that bonds all of humanity through sport.

Let the games begin.

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Meet Ghana's Winter Olympic hope

When you come from a country with an average annual temperature of nearly 80 degrees fahrenheit, downhill skiing is not common place.

When you have a nickname like "snow leopard" and you hail from Ghana, an African nation, downhill skiing is even less common.

Despite the odds, Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong is Ghana's one and only Olympic hope in Vancouver. I feel a little bit of a 'cool runnings' story in this one. Starting to ski in 2003, it is amazing that any athlete would be able to qualify for an Olympic Games after only 7-years. What is more amazing, it that Nkrumah-Acheampong learned alpine skiing on a dirt hill.

There are so many twists and turns in the story of this Ghaniaan's that it sounds like a movie in the waiting. His nickname the "snow leopard" comes less from his ability on the slopes, and more from the fact that he is working for a charity organization which works to protect the endangered snow leopard.

So what is a man from a warm African nation doing at the Winter Olympics, flying down a hill of snow? Simple, he's proving to himself, his family, and his nation that he can. Nkrumah-Acheampong isn't just in this to participate either, he wants to compete. He wants to honour the tradition of sport and alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics.

Anything is possible in sports. This man first saw snow when he was 25-years-old. Now, he is a Winter Olympian, Ghana's first ever Winter Olympian to be exact.

He will be alone at the Vancouver Olympics, but alpine skiing, and sports fans across the worlds, along with the entire population of Ghana will be cheering for this unique, exciting, and inspiring athlete. Good luck Kwame Nkurumah-Acheampong. Hopefully you will inspire a new generation of athletes to compete.

Let the games begin.

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