Olympics News and Info

Ice hockey: Crosby show as Canada beat USA in gold thriller – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Vancouver (AFP) – Sidney Crosby scored the winner in overtime as Canada won the Olympic title Sunday, beating the United States 3-2 to become the first host nation to capture men’s hockey gold in 30 years.

Crosby got the winning goal 7:40 into the overtime period, taking a pass from Jarome Iginla and sliding a shot under the pads of US goaltender Ryan Miller.

“It doesn’t even feel real. It feels like a dream,” said Crosby as Canada clinched a record eighth Olympic men’s hockey gold.

“Our team worked really hard in regulation time and they got that one by us in the end. But we came out in overtime and this is just an unbelievable feeling.”

Canadian forward Patrick Marleau added: “It is unbelievable. I have never felt something like this before. As far as hockey goes it is the best moment I have ever had.”

Crosby was held off the scoresheet for most of the tournament but he has a knack for scoring dramatic goals. Earlier in the tournament he scored the game winner in a shootout as Canada beat Switzerland 3-2 in the preliminary round.

Jonathan Toews and Corey Perry had earlier given Canada a 2-0 lead before the US fought back, equalising with just 24 seconds left in regulation time.

Roberto Luongo was superb in goal, making 34 stops for Canada who became the first host to win an Olympic final since the US triumphed at Lake Placid in 1980.

Ryan Kesler and Zac Parise scored for the US who suffered their first loss of the tournament after five straight wins.

“It is devastating,” said US defenceman Jack Johnson. “We were one goal shy of a gold medal. It is the biggest game any of us have ever played in. Nothing we did before compares to this. You lose the silver you don’t win it.”

Canada had a 2-1 lead in the third and looked headed for victory but the US clawed back with Parise scoring his dramatic late leveller to send the final into sudden-death overtime.

Over 10 million Canadians were expected to watch the game on TV while, inside the arena, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was joined by Hollywood actors Vince Vaughn, Michael J. Fox and William Shatner as well as singers Michael Buble and Neil Young.

Crowds began forming outside the Canada Hockey Place arena four hours before the highly-anticiplated showdown between the two best teams in the tournament.

The game lived up to its billing as the teams traded chances throughout, and both goalies Luongo and Miller had to be at the top of their games.

It was a battle between Canada’s potent scoring attack and the American defence anchored by Miller.

Forward Toews opened the scoring with just over seven minutes left in the first period beating Miller after picking up a rebound.

Mike Richards stole the puck from defenceman Brian Rafalski at the side of the US goal and took the first shot but it bounced right to Toews. It was the first goal of the tournament for Toews to go with seven assists.

Forward Perry picked up a loose puck and wristed it past Miller in the second period to make it 2-0 for Canada.

Ryan Getzlaf started the play by carrying the puck into the US zone. He tried to backhand a pass to Patrick Marleau but it hit a skate and Perry picked it up and easily beat Miller.

Kessler scored on a tip in just over four minutes later to cut the Canadians lead to one goal. Luongo got a piece of it but not enough as it trickled in to make it 2-1, setting the stage for Parise’s game tieing goal.

Finland beat Slovakia for the bronze on Saturday.

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Alpine skiing: Razzoli wins Olympic slalom – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Whistler (AFP) – Giuliano Razzoli of Italy stormed to a convincing win in the Olympic slalom on Saturday as Austria’s men’s team were comdemned to a medal-less Games for the first time in 74 years.

Razzoli clocked a combined total of 1min 39.32sec over the two runs, 0.16sec ahead of Croatia’s Ivica Kostelic with Andre Myhrer of Sweden taking bronze, a further 0.28sec adrift.

The Italian, whose sole World Cup victory came at Zagreb this season, led by 0.43sec after the first run but put any nerves to one side on the second run to nail an impressive day’s skiing in difficult conditions that included heavy rain, thick fog and very wet snow.

Razzoli edged Austrian Benjamin Raich into fourth place, meaning the Austrian men’s team remained medal-less for the first time since 1936 when alpine skiing was first introduced at the Olympic Winter Games.

“It’s a dream because I’ve been training a lot for this day. It’s incredible,” said Razzoli.

“It’s been a long time coming, the last time Italy had a medal in the slalom was in 1992, and now in 2010, it’s fantastic.”

The Italian who won silver at the Albertville Games was Alberto Tomba, who is now Razzoli’s coach.

“It’s an amazing day,” Tomba said. “He won a gold medal and it’s great.

“He lives close to my house. He was first in Zagreb, then first in Kranjsak Gora but went out in the second run.

“So he came here in great shape. I told him to keep quiet and keep focused.

“Watching the slalom in the finish area is unbelieveable. Now I can imagine what it’s like for parents. He’s like a son to me.”

Kostelic, who also claimed silver in the super-combined, said the snow conditions had been to his liking.

“I really like to ski in these conditions,” he said. “It’s spring snow, but we always train in this kind of weather.

“This result means, realistically speaking, that I had two chances for medal in the super-combined and slalom and I took both.”

Myhrer, who finished fourth in the slalom at the Turin Games four years ago, said: “The slope was okay, but there was a track and I tried to stay in it.

“I’m really happy with the medal. It has been a huge goal for me, my whole life to take an Olympic medal, and it’s an amazing feeling to get one.”

With Raich in fourth at 0.49sec, team-mate Marcel Hirscher was next at 0.49sec.

Slovenian Mitja Valencic, who was second after the first run, lost his speed in mid-course and finished in sixth at 1.03sec.

In poor visibility and heavy rain, the course claimed a number of high-profile casualties, notably Austria’s reigning world champion Manfred Pranger and American Bode Miller among 47 who did not finish the first leg.

American duo Ted Ligety and Miller also skied out, the latter after only three gates to bring his Olympic Games to a sad end after he had won super-combined gold, super-G silver and downhill bronze.

If Miller had medalled he would have become the first skier to have won medals in all five disciplines, but it was not to be as later racers were hampered by deteriorating visibility in thick fog.

But the 32-year-old American said he would leave the Games pleased with his three-medal haul.

“I’m 100 percent pleased. It couldn’t be better,” he said.

“Slalom’s always had a special place for me. I skied it well in the super-combined and it won me gold. And it’s the Olympic medal I don’t have.

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Curling: Sweden win women’s curling gold – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Vancouver (AFP) – Defending champions Sweden won the women’s Olympic curling gold on Friday, beating Canada 7-6 in a thrilling climax after China had earlier sealed the bronze.

Canada were on the verge of the title after taking a two-point lead into the tenth end but Sweden stayed cool to draw level and force an extra end before sealing the match and silencing a capacity crowd at the Vancouver Olympic Centre.

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Nordic Combined: America’s Bill Demong wins Nordic Combined gold – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Whistler (AFP) – America’s Bill Demong won the Olympic Games Nordic Combined gold on Thursday.

Fellow American Johnny Spillane took silver with Austria’s Bernhard Gruber claiming bronze.

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Speed skating: Sablikova grabs third medal with 5,000m win – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Vancouver (AFP) – Czech Republic speedskater Martina Sablikova added the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games 5,000m title to her 3,000m gold and 1,500m bronze on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old 5,000m world record-holder and three-time reigning world champion took victory in a time of 6min 50.91sec with Stephanie Beckert of Germany claiming silver in 6:51.39 and Canada’s Clara Hughes taking bronze in 6:55.73.

Sablikova’s winning time was just outside her season best in the distance of 6min 50.07sec.

The Czech, who just missed the 2006 Olympic podium in fourth, had already joined Katerina Neumannova as the only athlete from her country to claim two medals at the same Olympics thanks to her surprise 1,500m showing.

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Nordic Combined (Team): Austria claim combined team gold – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Whistler (AFP) – Austria claimed gold in the Nordic Combined team competition on Tuesday with the United States finishing second and Germany claiming bronze.

Having started the relay in third position and 36sec behind leaders Finland after the large hill ski jump, the Austrian quartet produced a strong performance in the cross-country as third leg Felix Gottwald put his side into the decisive lead.

The United States finished second at 5.2sec behind to claim silver, while Germany’s quartet, sixth after the ski jump, took bronze at 19.5sec.

Bill Demong anchored the United States team and battled Austria’s Mario Stecher all the way to the line, but came off second as heavy snow fell at Whistler Olympic Park.

“It looked to me like he had some pretty slow skis and if you don’t have fast skis, it makes it that much tougher,” said team-mate Johnny Spillane. “It just didn’t go our way in the end.”

There were some anxious moments for German Tino Edelmann who fell on the second leg, but still managed to hand over with his side ranked fourth as Germany claimed third.

“It happened pretty fast,” he said of the fall. “I don’t know what happened, it hasn’t happen to me since I was a teenager.

“There wasn’t any opponent doing anything to my skis. I am glad it didn’t cost us a medal.”

Despite producing a strong performance on the Large Hill, where Janne Ryynaenen produced the biggest leap of the day of 138.5m, the Finland team finished in a lowly seventh at 2min 21.5sec off the pace.

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Cross-Country Skiing: Norway storm to men’s team sprint gold – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Whistler (AFP) – Norway’s Petter Northug pulled off a stunning final leg to claim gold in Monday’s men’s team sprint final with Germany second and Russia finishing with bronze.

After reigning world champion Ola Vigen Hattestad withdrew on the morning of the race with a sore throat, Norway’s Oeystein Pettersen stepped in at the 11th hour to partner Northug, who came home in a time of 19min 01.0sec.

Germany took the silver at 1.3sec behind and Russia earned their bronze at 1.5sec back, but there was heartbreak for Canada who finished fourth after being in contention for much of the race and finished at 6.3sec back.

But the day belonged to Norway and it was World Cup leader Northug who blitzed the opposition on the last leg.

Germany’s pairing of Axel Teichmann and Tim Tscharnke had fought their way up from sixth after the first leg and Teichmann took a sizeable lead into the sixth and final leg.

On the last hill, Teichmann was chased down by Russia’s Alexey Pettukov in second before Northug turned on the pace to make a decisive charge for gold.

The 24-year-old sailed past the Russian and then asserted himself by leaving the German in his path on the final approach into the stadium to win gold for Norway.

This was Northug’s second sprint medal of the Games after he took bronze in the individual competition.

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VANOC Statement – Thérèse Rochette’s passing – News Releases : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Vancouver, BC ― We learned of the tragic news that Mme Thérèse Rochette, mother of Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette, passed away at the Vancouver General Hospital.

On behalf of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and the thousands of employees, volunteers and partners of the Games, we offer our deepest condolences to Joannie and to the family and friends of the Rochettes.

We have been informed that Joannie will continue to compete in the Games this week and we salute her courage and strength of character during these difficult times.

We ask the media to respect the privacy of the family during these difficult times.

Be inspired and celebrate the endless possibilities of the human spirit by attending the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games – News Releases : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Tickets available at www.vancouver2010.com for $30 to $175

Vancouver, BC ― Capture a piece of the magic and be there in person as Canadian and Paralympic history is made on March 12, 2010 as the world’s best winter Paralympians are officially welcomed during the dazzling and awe-inspiring Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

The two-hour ceremony, which will take place indoors at BC Place in downtown Vancouver, is an affordable way for families to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience one of the most magical moments of Canada’s Games. Tickets range in price from $30 to $175 and are available to Canadian residents on a first-come, first-served basis at www.vancouver2010.com.

“The Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games will be a wonderful, affordable celebration with spectacular performance components that showcase dance, highlight unique abilities and celebrate the athletes,” explained ceremonies producer Patrick Roberge. “We have assembled a top creative team and thousands of volunteers who are just brimming with excitement. We want the entire audience and the athletes to get swept up in the magic as we celebrate their incredible stories and encourage them to reach for their dreams here in Canada in 2010.”

The Paralympic Opening Ceremony will be officially opened by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and promises to be a world-class celebration that will capture the unique spirit and heritage of Canada and the Host Region of the Games. More than 4,000 volunteer performers including dancers, singers, acrobats, athletes, and musicians will celebrate the compelling achievements of the 1,000 athletes and officials from more than 40 countries around the world at the Games.

At the end of the ceremony, the lighting of the Paralympic Cauldron will signal the official start of the Games and the end of the 10-day Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay, which will start on March 3, 2010 in Ottawa, ON.

An all-Canadian team of 15 experts in costumes, lighting, music, and stage direction are part of the creative team tasked with orchestrating the magical and awe-inspiring moments celebrating the dramatic achievements of Paralympians at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

On March 21, the Paralympic Winter Games will draw to its official close in the Host Mountain Resort of Whistler in a unique amphitheatre designed especially for the Olympic and Paralympic Victory Ceremonies and the Paralympic Closing Ceremony. The ceremony will be an intimate open air event that will include breath-taking entertainment and the parade of Paralympians from around the world as they march into the amphitheatre. Closing ceremony tickets cost $60.

Tickets for all Paralympic events are available at www.vancouver2010.com. Individual ticket prices to sport events start at $15. Group ticket prices — available for most sport events for groups of 20 or more people — are just $10. More than 70 per cent per cent of all individual tickets are priced at $20 or less.

Customers may also purchase tickets at Main Ticket Centre locations in Vancouver and Whistler operated by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), or by phone at 1.800.TICKETS (1.800.842.5387). A TDD/TTY service is available for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing at 604.629.7140.

For more information, visit www.vancouver2010.com.

About VANOC

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

About Patrick Roberge Productions (PRP)
PRP Inc. is a live entertainment and show production company that specializes in creating spectacular, large-scale shows and events. Based out of Vancouver, BC, PRP’s award-winning team boast more than 22 years of high-profile international events and entertainment production.  Visit www.prpconnect.com.

Cross-Country Skiing: Bjoergen lands cross-country double – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Whistler (AFP) – Norway’s Marit Bjoergen on Friday won the women’s 15km cross-country pursuit to add to her sprint crown.

Sweden’s Anna Haag took bronze ahead of Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk as Bjoergen made it two titles in three days.

Bjoergen, a 28-year-old from Trondheim, crossed the line in 39min 58.1sec to see off Haag by 8.9sec with Kowalczyck 0.4sec further back.

The champion also won a bronze in the 10km as she tries to keep the Norwegians on the trail of Germany, who stand second in the overall medal standings behind the United States while keeping hosts Canada at arm’s length.

Bjorgen, who appeared to find her second wind in the final three kilometres, showed her versatility in dominating a course where racers have to do 7.5km in classic style then switch skis and do the same again freestyle.

At the half-way mark Charlotte Kalla, champion over 10km, trailed by just 28sec before she fell away but the course proved too much for 2006 champion Kristina Smigun-Vaehi of Estonia, who threw in the towel.

Italian Arianna Follis and Finn Aino-Kaisa Saarinen also made challenges that ultimately petered out as Haag and World Cup champ Kowalczyk dug in to keep further Norwegian medal hopes Kristin Stoermer Steira and Therese Johaug off the podium.

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