15.02.06

Don’t knock the Curling

Posted in Canada, Sport at 11:46 am by AB

Not that you’d probably know about it in Australia, but the Winter Olympics are on Italy as I write. It’s still early morning on Thursday in Australia, but by the time you wake up you’ll know. Australia won a Gold Medal in Men’s Moguls Skiing. Yes a Gold, yes in Skiing!! As i have already told some Canadians the fact that Dale Begg-Smith was born in Canada, but defected to Australia because he was fed up with the Canadian Ski Federation is not important. Neither is the fact that he still resides quite a bit in Vancouver. Canada’s loss is Australia’s gain.

Dale Begg-Smith was just interviewed by the Canadian Broadcaster and it was pretty obvious that he still harbours a bit of resentment to the Canadian Program. He was a little abrupt and standoffish. I’d be interested to see how he comes across when he is interviewed by the Australian Media, as I’m not going to see that if anyone has an answer for me i’d be interested to know. Regardless, nice work Dale, our third winter olympics Gold Medallist.

Here are a few other things I have learned about winter sports and the Winter Olympics while living here in Canada.

1) Just like Australians at the summer games, Canada has very high expectations of it’s team.

2) The way the media here in Canada portrays the Olympics it appears to be a Hockey Tournament with a few other minor sports also taking place at the same time, which seems to be poor planning on behalf of the other sports.

3) Don’t knock the Curling. Throwing rocks at the house appears to be the Number two sport in Canada, maybe because like Lawn Bowls it looks like a sport that the average punter can play with a beer in the other hand. I mean even the National Junior Championships are shown live on TV here.

4) Never complain out loud that the TV Broadcaster should be showing another sport at the olympics when the Women’s Hockey game is clearly over. Even though the score is 7-0 and the game is only two minutes into the 2nd of three periods. Thats just sacrilege. Seriously people they aren’t even allowed to hit each other!! My sister Alice playing Australian football makes these girls look like princesses. It’s Hockey, What are all those pads for?? Hit someone! Oh that’s right they can’t! Boring! (**Editors Note: The Author does not hold the same view about Men’s Hockey, which is fast becoming his second favourite team sport behind Australian Football.)

5) Doubles Luge - enough said!

6) Although i knew this before i left home figure skating is just plain boring. Case Closed

7) The coolest event is the Biathlon. There is something to be said for an event that makes you work your arse off for 30 kilometers yet every 7.5 compose yourself enough to shoot a rifle five times accurately over 50m despite your heart rate going at 180bpm. Plus who is going to pick on you while you are out skiing with a rifle slung over your shoulder.

Alright i have to do something more constructive then watch the olympics.

Have fun everyone.

Aaron…

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