The Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver, British Columbia is upon us and the Olympic TV schedule is about to begin. Here is Bodog' s guide to the Olympic Games.
Although there was a buzz in the air in downtown Vancouver this morning, in Whistler, tragedy. Georgian luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled while traveling at about 90 mph, and crashed during a training run at the Olympic Sliding Center. Kumaritashvili, just 21, later died at the hospital.
IOC president Jacques Rogge said the death hours before the opening ceremony "clearly casts a shadow over these games."
Kumaritashvili struck a steel pole. A video of the crash was on YouTube but was taken down. Another surfaced later, though it, too, was taken down. A very sad opening day for the Vancouver Olympics.
Vancouver, Canada: Reporting live on the scene of the 2010 Olympicks, you'll have to excuse my lack of Schwarzenegger shots. Truth is, I missed him. Hey, the line-up at Starbucks was long. But I heard that the sun was coming up over beautiful Stanley Park when Arnold Schwarzenegger began his leg with the flame at 7:03 a.m. with screaming fans cheering him on. Apparently, he walked the flame to Lighthouse Point and handed it off to former British Olympian Sebastian Coe, who heads the London 2012 Organizing Committee. Our inside sources who were actually on the scene (and not in line at Starbucks) claim Schwarzenegger said, "I'll be back" as he handed the torch off to Coe. Although Arnie is awesome for constantly dropping Arnieisms, we're not really sure how "I'll be back" makes sense in this context – unless he plans to drive his Hummer into GM place as they're about to light the cauldron, steal the torch from the bearer and monotone, "I told you I'd be back!"
Word is Arnie got mobbed at one point, as the crowd overpowered him and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell. Anyway, we did get a picture of the torch being handed off, as well as the people, the mayhem and police horse poop. You're welcome.
Other torch carriers include Rolly Fox, father of Terry Fox, Wayne Gretzky's father Walter Gretzky, legendary Vancouver big band leader Dal Richards, and sports stars Stan Smyl, Beckie Scott, Bob Lenarduzzi and Lui Passaglia. The Torch relay officially finishes its 45,000-kilometer journey at 1:45 p.m. today pacific time, where it will stay until it is carried into BC Place Stadium sometime in the evening to light a giant cauldron. Although the final torchbearer remains a secret, word on the street is that Wayne Gretzky will carry the torch into BC Place where singers Bryan Adams and Sarah McLachlan are expected to perform.
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The city of Vancouver has more excellent restaurants than you can shake a fork at, but these are considered the best.
The top restaurant of 2009 is Chef Pino Posteraro's Cioppino's. Everything from the pastas to the four-hour-braised veal cheeks and porcini mushrooms are excellent. The best new restaurant of 2009 is the Northern Italian themed La Quercia, which serves excellent food in a great setting.
Next on the list is Yaletown sushi restaurant Blue Water Café. Freshness, high quality, and meticulous preparation are the hallmarks of this establishment, which is led by Chef Frank Pabst.
If you're looking for food that sticks to your ribs a little more, check out the best BBQ in Vancouver at Memphis Blues. Ribs, pulled pork, and sides like cornbread, beans, and slaw come supersized.
If you like Thai food, the best there is in Western Canada can be found at the Salathai restaurant on Burrard Street. You know your Thai restaurant is good when it's frequented by visiting celebrities, and even the Thai royal family.
The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver will draw people from just about every corner of the globe. Accommodations in Vancouver will be to capacity, and just about every attraction in the city will have a lineup or delay for the next couple of weeks. But if you've got the big bucks you might be able to avoid some of those lineups. Vancouver has many exquisite dining establishments to choose from, and the best bets for fine dining include West Restaurant + Bar, blue water café, and CinCin.
If you've got the big bucks you want a five-star location for your Olympic experience. Your best bets would be accommodations at the 503-room Pan Pacific Hotel situated atop Canada Place complex on Vancouver's waterfront. Another five-star hotel only eight miles from Vancouver is the La Grande Residence at the Sutton Place Hotel. Both hotels have an average room price of just under $400 per night, but those rates are likely to be inflated during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
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