Springfield

I am not a die-difficult sports enthusiast, but confess I enjoyed watching the winter Olympics held in Turino Italy. It was great to watch some thing positive and motivational for a change and to delight in some really remarkable and generous acts. I discover the wide range of sports showcased fascinating, proving there is a lot one can do in cold climates of winter! graig presti Think about the spectrum of sports. There are the several varieties of skiing. The downhill occasion has skiers reaching speeds of 140 kilometres per hour (87 mph), you get speeding tickets for going that fast in a auto! Think about what it takes to be a ski jumper as you attempt to imitate flight and defy gravity the longest once you are airborne. Image the freestyle skiers who twist and turn in the air so rapidly I don't know how the commentators can describe their amazing aerial feats. The cross-country skiers have tremendous endurance, and some stop to shoot rifles even though attempting to manage their beating hearts and gasping lungs. We had been witness to a newer Olympic event that debuted in Nagano in 1998, snowboarding. I believe the snowboarders had the most fun producing their lexicon when they speak of a McTwist, Fakie, Duckfoot, an Ollie or a Nollie! Didn't it just used to be Narly ... or was that suffer speak and I've just dated myself? There are these flashy speed skaters in their skin-tight outfits who fly around an oval ice surface at up to 60 kph (37 mph) battling G forces in the turns. The figure skaters entertained us with their dance routines and inspiring jumps. They also showed tremendous grit when Zhang Dan a Chinese pairs figure skater had a magnificent fall which created anyone watching cringe. To our disbelief, this 20 year old got up, completed the routine, and won the silver medal. Wonderful. We can't forget the curlers. A sport numerous uncover unusual, but appreciate the accuracy involved in curling your rock down a 44 meter (49 yard) ice surface and trying to hit a bulls eye with two sweepers helping handle speed and path of a heavy stone, even though you opponent is attempting to block you or knock you on every single throw. Lots of yelling and physics accompany this sport! Think about 4 Newfoundlanders winning the gold - talk about a celebration when they get property! There is the luge exactly where, based on the occasion, one or two men and women lie on their backs on a sled going down a tight twisty run ... feet very first. You may assume that is scary enough till you see those in the skeleton event, maybe appropriately named. These athletes go down a steep ice track, on a sled, that has no brakes, headfirst. Hmmm ... exactly where do they find individuals to do this? local search for dentists Then there is ice hockey. Grown males and girls strap on boots with blades on the bottom, use curved sticks to shoot a tough rubber disk in the opponents net. This occurs as they skate at up to 50 km per hour (30 mph) and shoot the puck at more than 150 kph (95 mph) while maneuvering around on ice. A shame each the NHL laden U.S.A and Canadian teams did not even make it to the semi-finals. Perhaps as well considerably talent, not adequate "team". More than the 17-day period, 2,500 athletes from 85 nations competed for 84 medals in seven sports. We shared the pride of these on the podium as they smiled or cried as their national anthem played before the globe. Two single acts at this twentieth Olympic Games stand out in my mind and will for a lot of years. I applaud gold medalist Joey Cheek, the USA speed skater for donating his $25,000 bonus to Right to Play, an organization of former Olympic, Paralympic and professional athletes worldwide who assistance utilizing sport for development, health and peace. Great for you Joey, you are an inspiration to numerous. Possibly the defining moment of the Games was when Sara Renner, a Canadian broke her ski pole in a cross-nation group sprint occasion. A Norwegian coach gave her a pole to finish the race. She and teammate Beckie Scott went on to win the silver medal. To me this unselfish act defines sportsmanship and is tough evidence the accurate Olympic spirit lives on. See you in Vancouver in 2010.