Canadian VJers Commentary on Winter Olympics 2010...

[antda 13]

There's quite a story behind the Olympic flowers

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver...?urn=oly,220230

After every Olympic event, rather than receiving their medals, athletes are given a bouquet of flowers. At the Beijing Olympics, roses dominated the bouquets. In Turin, it was rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias. This year, it's green mums and hypericum berries.

The bouquets come from Just Beginnings Flowers and Margitta's Flowers in Surrey, British Columbia. Their entry was chosen from 58 contending florists. June Strandberg, the bouquet designer and owner of Just Beginnings, teaches floristry to women who have left prison, are recovering from addiction, or have been victims of violence. It's a pretty amazing program, and Strandberg has even taken it behind bars, where she educates convicts. She believes it's her work with these correctional programs that secured the Olympic contract.

For the Vancouver Olympics the florists made 1,800 bouquets, 1,707 of which will be given to medal-winning athletes in the Olympics and Paralympics. The flowers are grown locally, but they aren't in season during February, so additional supplies were flown in from Ecuador.

The flowers were chosen to represent British Columbia and Canada, and are intended as keepsakes for the athletes. There are even strict regulations for the bouquets presented at the flower ceremonies. Per IOC protocol, bouquets must be 20 to 30 centimeters tall and about 25 centimeters across.

Though these flowers might look like something you give your mom at a homecoming football game, a lot of thought and planning goes into choosing and making these bouquets. When you consider the societal benefits behind these flowers, it almost makes the bouquets as valuable as the medals.

Interesting Read...

Ant

Edited February 18, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[neiks 19]

I'm starting to get tired of NBC coverage. All I hear is Lindsay Vonn, Shaun White, Apolo Ohno, etc etc. Plus, the only curling games they broadcast are the US teams and they are really really struggling right now. I just want some CBC or CTV!!!!! I tried the live streaming on CTV but it doesn't seem to work for me.

Another silver for Canada - womens short track speed skating. If it wasn't for the internet I wouldn't have a clue how the Canadians were doing. Keep er up Canada!

Edited February 18, 2010 by neiks

[OBX 51]

I'm starting to get tired of NBC coverage. All I hear is Lindsay Vonn, Shaun White, Apolo Ohno, etc etc. Plus, the only curling games they broadcast are the US teams and they are really really struggling right now. I just want some CBC or CTV!!!!! I tried the live streaming on CTV but it doesn't seem to work for me.

Another silver for Canada - womens short track speed skating. If it wasn't for the internet I wouldn't have a clue how the Canadians were doing. Keep er up Canada!

Same here.

[Abby62 23]

We gots the GOLD, no more to say here..

[warlord 72]

I am actually enjoying the olympics this time, I haven't really watched the winter ones in the past, but this year with the more extreme events and the fact it's pretty much live on tv rather then previous days it makes it more exciting. Loved watching the womens Alpine and mens Halfpipe last night and yay for 2 more gold. I just love watching the French wipe out too, though unfortunatly they have some good competition.

As for other countries, I'm surprised that Russia isn't doing that well this year. I was sure it would be Russian and the US and Switzerland up in the top 3. But the stupid French are in there instead (I don't mind Germany at all).

NBC I feel has done a good job, though I do cheer for the US, it's always fun to watch other nations compete as well. I know each country will generally have their home teams events on their networks, but I would like to see a lot more. NBC though has been making some great progress with this as I'm getting to see some of the other nations compete more.

I just hope more countries come up to bury France. Go Switzerland, Norway, Canada, freaking China I don't care, just as long as it's not France ewwwww...

[Galateia 1]

I don't mean this in an attractive way (looks like my cousins, EW) but White after his winning run was the cutest thing ever. He was like a puppy on speed. The olympics may be totally "heavy" dude, but it's been, like, sick. He was like a little tigger, bouncing around. No arrogance, just "Wheeee!"

I was also really impressed with his (unnecessary) second run where he had NO speed and yet was able to pull off some absolutely amazing tricks that were for the fun of it and for the fans. That's sweet that he did that and didn't just coast through on a guaranteed win, and he even had HIGHER points after the second run.

[Flames9_RN 358]

S. White rocked!!! Im no snowboarder,but wow,love watching that! That guy is way beyond the others!! And still give it 110% when he didnt have to, that was awesome!!

[OBX 51]

I was also really impressed with his (unnecessary) second run where he had NO speed and yet was able to pull off some absolutely amazing tricks that were for the fun of it and for the fans. That's sweet that he did that and didn't just coast through on a guaranteed win, and he even had HIGHER points after the second run.

I think he showed a lot of respect for the fans to do such an amazing second run. He could have played it safe but he put on a show and pulled it off.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I think he showed a lot of respect for the fans to do such an amazing second run. He could have played it safe but he put on a show and pulled it off.

and especially since his last trick he did was brand new "top secret" could have just saved it for another competition! But again 99% of the people watching now, wont see the other competitions!! Total class though, glad i stayed up and watched

[neiks 19]

NBC I feel has done a good job,

I do agree they have done a good job. They have done some wonderful pieces and stories on history and communities around Canada and have portrayed Canada beautifully. I am really impressed with that.

I just need to see some Canadian curling!

[warlord 72]

and especially since his last trick he did was brand new "top secret" could have just saved it for another competition! But again 99% of the people watching now, wont see the other competitions!! Total class though, glad i stayed up and watched

Definatly a highlight watching him do this. I didn't know what to expect from the 2nd run at all. I also really liked the Finish guys run as well. I actually thought he would have got higher in his second run, but still glad he got the silver at least.

I also knew nothing about snowboarding before these olympics and now I find it really fun to watch...

[Flames9_RN 358]

I guess Red Bull made him hi sown personal $500,00 training area--one has to helicopter in just to get to it!! You would think after making close to $10 million in endorsements last yr, the poor kid could get a hair cut,lol

[OBX 51]

I guess Red Bull made him hi sown personal $500,00 training area--one has to helicopter in just to get to it!! You would think after making close to $10 million in endorsements last yr, the poor kid could get a hair cut,lol

Silly me, I thought he built that "secret" half pipe with his own $.

I can't imagine him with short hair.

Edited February 18, 2010 by OBX

[SonoranSongbird 3]

Sorry...I couldn't help but notice that...while watching the olympic games...

Some of the atheletes have multiple citizenships.....

They "pick and choose"....I suppose...

Some choose their former country, some choose their current country....

Which country would you choose to be an olympic team member of???...Hmmm.....

Ant

I think most athletes in that position go with whichever country they are more likely to make the Olympic team (which is usually the one where there is less competition). One of the Blues players is a dual citizen of Canada and (I think) Sweden. He isn't in the Olympics, but has played for Sweden in the past in international events.

I saw a cool story yesterday about one of the guys from the real 1988 Jamaican bobsled team. He is now a dual citizen of Canada and Jamaica and competes for Canada. The Jamaican team has not qualified for the Olympics since Lillehammer. Cool Runnings is fictional aside from the bit about the team walking its sled down the course after crashing, but I still love that movie and especially love the scene where they land at Calgary's airport and are shocked by the cold when they try to leave the building. Haha, that was me visiting my husband in Edmonton!!

Definatly a highlight watching him do this. I didn't know what to expect from the 2nd run at all. I also really liked the Finish guys run as well. I actually thought he would have got higher in his second run, but still glad he got the silver at least.

I also knew nothing about snowboarding before these olympics and now I find it really fun to watch...

Yeah, me too. I did not expect to like the snowboarding, but wow, how impressive.

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Shawn White was amazing, that air he was getting in the half pipe? Insane.

Blew me away.