2006 Turin Winter Olympics Blog

It seems that many of you who watched the opening ceremonies opted out of the closing ceremonies? Is that a matter of battle fatigue or lack of interest?

Will you be watching the closing ceremonies tomorrow night?
Yes: 55% (93)
No: 27% (46)
Maybe: 18% (31)
Total Votes : 170

The majority of our readers liked the lighting of the torch best, followed closely by the giant skier (that was my personal favorite). Pavarotti got edged out by the Ferrari.

Here are the poll results for the question: “What was your favorite part of the opening ceremonies?”

Lighting of the torch: 25% (289)
The Giant Skier: 20% (237)
The Ferrari: 16% (191)
Pavarotti singing “Nessun Dorma”: 13% (153)
Parade of nations: 11% (130)
The fiery rollerbladers: 5% (63)
other: 5% (60)
Peter Gabriel singing Imagine: 5% (54)

Total Votes : 1177

As some of you know, we had polls on this site at one point in time. Well, we discovered that, with they system we were using, when people went to the poll answers there were sometimes ads that we don’t want associated with our site. So, we’re looking for a new polling system, but in the meantime, I still want to hear from you! So, how many of you are planning to watch the Olympic opening ceremonies? You can just answer a yes or no, and I’ll compile the results and send them out later. Now, if you like, you can also tell why or why not or anything else about Olympic viewing.

Update: We now have an Olympic poll on the upper left sidebar. Go cast your vote now.

I first saw the pictures of the new medal design for the Torin Olympic medals on a fellow blogger’s site. After a little bit of looking around, I found more about it on this site.

The basic jist is that it’s a donut, or a bagel, or whatever you want to call it, but it’s round with a hole in the middle. Apparently, this is supposed to represent the Italian piazza. But, honestly, a gold circle with the hole in the middle is really going to look like a nice, chewy Lender’s bagel hanging around the neck of the winner.

So, I’d like to know what you think about the medals. Take a look at the pictures on one of the above links, and then take our poll.

The poll has been closed. Most people weren’t crazy about the medal but didn’t hate it, either. Leave any further comments in the comment section.

World-beating figure skater Mao Asada will not skate for the Japanese team for the Winter Olympic Games because she is too young, the Japan Skating Federation said. International requirements say that a skater must turn 15 by July of an Olympics year to compete in the Olympics. Mao’s birthday was in September.

While I think that Mao Asada has clearly proven that she can compete on the international stage, I still think it’s a good thing that a minimum age has been instituted. I remember a few years when it seemed like the skaters (and gymnasts) were getting younger and younger. It was a little disturbing to see these children competing under so much stress.

So, what do you think? Should there be minimum age requirements for Olympic events? Take our poll!

The poll has been closed. The results were almost 50/50, with a small majority favoring minimum age requirements.

Here are the results of our poll about favorite Olympic sports. An overwhelming majority (over 50%) favored figure skating. 14% of participants like ice hockey. 10% favor ski jumping. Curling and speed skating tied at 7%. Freestyle skiing, luge, and snowboarding each received 2% of the vote. The rest of the sports received no response.

I was somewhat surpised that the various skiing events didn’t receive more response. And ice dancing. Doesn’t anyone out there like ice dancing?

Thanks to those who participated.