The Glitch Games

[Cateyes]

You are too funny Al....and very predictable.

What about lugers dying. That just a minor glitch? Or ice machines that don't work on an olympic speed skating rink? Or timing errors on the biathalon today. TIMING problems....for the Olympics! Just minor things? Can't wait for your response to the 'minor glitch' of a luger getting his head cracked opened.

You know what? The luger dying was a tragic accident. With all the real screw-ups plaguing our games, trying to include that is sad and pathetic.

You are trying to dismiss it as some freak accident and not a safety 'glitch'. And them putting up a plywood wall afterwards was just window dressing to appease people? And them lowering the start gates for all the luge events just window dressing?

You trying to brush it off is what is REALLY sad and pathetic!

[Cateyes]

I too think that was less than tasteful, and fell into the category of "extremely rare occurence"

The ice machines were an attempt at going green that obviouslly failed, that to me is just what happens when you try to please some people with the use of less than adequate newer technologies

Actually the ice machines were part of an Endorsement deal with the IOC/Vanoc so they probably got them for free. Bet that is not looking like such a good deal for anyone anymore.

[mountain_climber4567]

You are trying to dismiss it as some freak accident and not a safety 'glitch'. And them putting up a plywood wall afterwards was just window dressing to appease people? And them lowering the start gates for all the luge events just window dressing?

You trying to brush it off is what is REALLY sad and pathetic!

You catching any trout out there? If you are (trolling) can you tell me what lures you're using? I'm thinking of going fishing on the weekend. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Cateyes]

You are too funny Al....and very predictable.

What about lugers dying. That just a minor glitch? Or ice machines that don't work on an olympic speed skating rink? Or timing errors on the biathalon today. TIMING problems....for the Olympics! Just minor things?

Can't wait for your response to the 'minor glitch' of a luger getting his head cracked opened.

I said “or extremely rare events” which that most certainly was.

I don't know much about luge but I do know something about physics and geometry. Hurl an object at a curve fast enough without something to stop inertia from doing what it does and it was very much predictable. Don't know who you choose to listen to but I have read many stories from luge teams saying it was a safety oversight and the track is dangerously fast.

[Al Czervic]

You are too funny Al....and very predictable.

What about lugers dying. That just a minor glitch? Or ice machines that don't work on an olympic speed skating rink? Or timing errors on the biathalon today. TIMING problems....for the Olympics! Just minor things?

Can't wait for your response to the 'minor glitch' of a luger getting his head cracked opened.

Oh please...everyone in the professional level of luge, be it competitors, coaches etc., have all agreed it was his error. Tragic, yes, a fault of the course, no.

Since they put in measures to make the men start at a shorter distance, the remaining competitors have ALL complained that they didn't agree. And prior to the tragic luge run, there had been over 5000 runs on that track with NO incidents.

Keep on trollin'!!!

Exactly ! But don’t tell Cateye’s the facts…after all the games were going to be “cancelled” (according to Cateye’s) and there that was the $ 90 Million dollar payment Cateye’s brought up….and on it go’s. Cateye’s does deserve to win the gold medal for Olympic bashing though….

[mountain_climber4567]

*try reposting without the personal attack/Jo*

[Al Czervic]

I too think that was less than tasteful, and fell into the category of "extremely rare occurence"

The ice machines were an attempt at going green that obviouslly failed, that to me is just what happens when you try to please some people with the use of less than adequate newer technologies

Actually the ice machines were part of an Endorsement deal with the IOC/Vanoc so they probably got them for free. Bet that is not looking like such a good deal for anyone anymore.

Actually the “ice machines” (resurfacers actually) was all about promoting “Made in Canada” as Olympia’s are built in Ontario. Zamboni’s are built in the USA. Hence why NBC (American Network ) loves to flame this issue.

[dirtybiker]

Cateyes, get one thing straight. The 'bobsled ' track was built for and run by
"The Bobsledding Federation" all that the IOC and VANOC do is work with them.

They do not tell them how to run their show, the decissions made to alter the start positions
was all Bobsled Federation and IOC and VANOC only helped implement the changes that the Federation wanted. Safety measures were taken, changes were made.

Hopefully nothing like this happens again...

People succumb as victims of circumstance in any and all endeavors everyday...

And I sure hope that this does not come off as being callous, as that is not my intent

[hellomynameis]

Well, here's hoping the Brits are paying attention and learning something. They already failed the first part of the test - don't bid on the Olympics! We'll see how they do with the rest of it or if it is just their turn next to massively and expensively flop.

Incredible that none of us can find a few million to invest in marginalized persons and groups that would actually result in real lasting social benefits and long term savings to the taxpayer, but we can blow billions (yes, that was billions with a “b”) on two week hiatus for the rich and famous that not only has no lasting long term positive effect but places us in a debt position we cannot redress in our lifetime. Is growing collective stupidity part of some evolutionary process?

A slightly different view.

I absolutely love the idea of the Olympics (an event that can bring much of our diverse world together, it transcends sports.) and unlike the United Nations the Olympics engages the general public in a mostly uplifting and celebratory nature.

Granted that both the Olympics and the UN have quite a few flaws but they are the best fully multi-national utilities we have.

My problem with the 'games' mirrors yours Steven. I strongly believe that it was irresponsible for the BC government to invest in this financial risk. As a province we are encountering all kinds of hardships from the 49th parallel up to the 60th and if we have billions to invest, it should be done province wide and knowledgeably targeted.

Regarding the topic:

I think some of the mistakes made by Vanoc have been horrendous:

- Buying new ice resurfacing machines, battery run in lieu of the Zambonies already available was a mistake, I have not seen any foreign media trumpeting our "green focus".

- Cancelling tickets. 28,000 tickets cancelled for events on Cypress mountain? My understanding is that the province is looking for a image boost because 14 days of Olympics doesn't pay for itself. The equation, as I see it, looks like this:

(1.5 million in ticket sales) + (value added products) + (image) - (the hiring of a small battalion of labours to put down more snow and plywood) = Cancelling the tickets!?

- Transportation. Wasn't the sole reason for dividing events between Whistler and Cypress to also divide transportation routes, to minimize congestion? And isn't access to Cypress restricted to ticket holders? Seems like a basic, mildly intelligent, office temp's job to figure out how many buses are required to get spectators to their venue. Christ...

- Putting a crude barrier between the outdoor torch and the public? CTV ran a segment on this subject tonight and nailed it, their reporter who posed questions to Vanoc nailed it. Another blow to the 'image' factor.

Re: the belief that these examples constitute horrendous PR mistakes. I'll grant that I'm not disinterested in the subject and could be magnifying the negative impact of these faux pas but if anyone believes that I am, I'd hope they could explain why that's the case.

To me hosting the Olympics is primarily a noble altruistic endeavour with a slim chance of financial benefit (province wide) that must be weighed against every other possibility of equal-dollar investment that this province could have made.

One Note: I'm really sucking on the Castnetter/media *bleep* when it comes to garnering my "Olympic economy" information so add as many grains of salt as necessary. Also, if you have a good source of information that contradicts my pessimistic outlook please post a link to it.

[rookie314]

This was all started by the British media. The British media!!!! That in its own should cause this thread to be moved into the comedy section. The British media who think that news consists of naked women on the third page of their paper. The same ones who think that Prince Charles is an alien and that Lady Di was killed by Hitler. :ohmygod: :coffeecanuck:

[LoneWolf_53]

Oh please...everyone in the professional level of luge, be it competitors, coaches etc., have all agreed it was his error. Tragic, yes, a fault of the course, no.

Since they put in measures to make the men start at a shorter distance, the remaining competitors have ALL complained that they didn't agree. And prior to the tragic luge run, there had been over 5000 runs on that track with NO incidents.

Keep on trollin'!!!

Exactly ! But don’t tell Cateye’s the facts…after all the games were going to be “cancelled” (according to Cateye’s) and there that was the $ 90 Million dollar payment Cateye’s brought up….and on it go’s. Cateye’s does deserve to win the gold medal for Olympic bashing though….

Ah but he wouldn't get a gold medal after drug testing revealed the ongoing use of banned troll supplement steroids. :dyinglaughing:

It doesn't matter whether it's the Olympics or the William Bennett Bridge his sole purpose is to pee on as many parades as possible.

[Liberty and Truth]

ha....sorry you cannot just start blaming brits. CTV reporting Spanish media, German, and several other countries complaining. All about different things. So you are gonna be pretty busy trying to find a single target to shoot back at or a single issue to defend.

So latest updates. Complaints about Athletes village. Noisy and god knows what else. Mens GS cancelled today due to...you guessed it...weather.

I can blame who ever I want - it's a free country. If you've ever known anyone who has owned a Jaguar or a Range Rover, you'll know why their games are going to be full of glitches too. Such is life with a production of this size.

[Al Czervic]

Exactly ! But don’t tell Cateye’s the facts…after all the games were going to be “cancelled” (according to Cateye’s) and there that was the $ 90 Million dollar payment Cateye’s brought up….and on it go’s. Cateye’s does deserve to win the gold medal for Olympic bashing though….

Ah but he wouldn't get a gold medal after drug testing revealed the ongoing use of banned troll supplement steroids. :dyinglaughing:

It doesn't matter whether it's the Olympics or the William Bennett Bridge his sole purpose is to pee on as many parades as possible.

Ahhh…one of THOSE types. I didn’t realize Cateye’s was a Bennet bridge basher as well. Not surprised to hear that.

[Liberty and Truth]

oh man - bashing the Bennett Bridge? What? How is that even possible? Why? To what end? Thoroughly ridiculous if true.

[Al Czervic]

oh man - bashing the Bennett Bridge? What? How is that even possible? Why? To what end? Thoroughly ridiculous if true.

Exactly things were so much better in the past when people spent upwards of 2 hours a day trying to get across the old bridge. I really miss those days the bridge would have to raise and get “stuck” as well. Maybe he misses those Union guys sitting up in the old control tower doing squat. Maybe he was one of those guys. Might explain the negativity and bitterness.