XXI Olympics - Winter 2010
by Kelly S. Croslis

January 1st will not only bring us a New Year, but also the 21st Winter Olympics, or as it will be known the XXI Olympic Winter games.

The winter games are being held in Vancouver, British Columba, Canada, from February 12 - 28, 2010, and will be the third time the Olympics have been hosted by Canada. The 1976 summer games and 1988 winter games are the previously held games.

At the end of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, the Olympic flag was given to the mayor of Vancouver and has been on display a city hall, and will remain there until the 2010 opening ceremonies.

The Olympics bring together the best athletes from around the world, in a series of 86 winter sports events. The sports are categorized as Ice Sports, Alpine, and Nordic Events. This winter Olympics will also be the first time the men's and women's ice hockey teams will play on a NHL sized rink.

As with most major sporting events, there is controversy. Seven sports were proposed to be added to the Olympic Games, of them only one, Ski cross, was accepted. Women's ski jumping, which was rejected, found its way to the supreme court of British Columbia. It was decided that an effort will be made for it to be included in the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia.

The ceremonial torch relay began on October 22, 2009 in Olympia, Greece. The Canadian journey of the torch began in Victoria, British Columbia and has been carried by thousands of Canadians of all ages and cultural backgrounds and by every known means of transportation known to Canada. In the end the torch relay will be the longest in winter Olympic history - raveling across all of Canada.

The Olympic Games, whether summer or winter, shows the dedication and determination of those participating and this is shown to those watching, in many cases, as many young kids begin their own Olympic Dream. These athletes are someone they look up to and want to emulate.

The Olympics bring to the forefront home town pride, not only in local athletes but in the country as well. We are before the world and want to show what we are made of.

The Olympic Games are many things to many people, what do the Olympic Games mean to you?

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