2010 Winter Olympics Captivate UNH Students

The start of the 2010 Winter Olympics has diverted many UNH students’ attentions away from their studies this week.

The Olympics, which will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, began on February 12 with an opening ceremony. Over 80 countries will send a total of over 5,500 athletes to the competitions. This is the third Olympics held in Canada, the first in 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.

“The opening ceremonies were amazing,” said sophomore Erika Swanson. The ceremony, which included many performances, a traditional parade of nations, an honoring of the late Nodar Kumaritashvili and the lighting of only three of four Olympic caldrons, due to a mechanical flaw, took place Friday night.

The United States athletes also received one of the warmest welcomes while entering BC Place. Only Georgia, home country of Nodar Kumaritashvili, and Canada were greeted with bigger cheers. Absent from the United State’s team was Linsey Vonn, an alpine skier who is facing an ambitious five-race schedule.

“I’m just so worried about Vonn,” said Swanson, “I love skiing and I really want her to do well.” A favorite from the American team, Vonn recently suffered a calf injury which severely bruised her shin. Not wanting to risk worsening her injury, Vonn did not join the other athletes in the opening ceremonies. Instead, Vonn was in Whistler during the festivities, recovering from her shin injury.

Apart from skiing, other events in the Winter Olympics include ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, snowboarding, luge, bobsleigh, skeleton (a type of sledding), curling, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, slalom, alpine skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined (skiing plus ski jumping), and biathlon (skiing and shooting).

“My favorite is the figure skating,” said sophomore Nicole Labbe. “I used to skate, so I love watching the sport. It's so impressive."

Olympic history was created on Valentine’s day for figure skating. The French pair, Yannick Bonheur and Vanessa James, became the first black couple to compete in figure skating at the Olympic Games. They have been together for two years since James answered Bonheur’s advert on the internet for a new partner.

The winter games will continue until February 28, 2010. “I’m really excited to see how America does,” said junior Julia Laroche. “It’s really such a big even that it’s hard not to get somewhat excited,” said Laroche.