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VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC MEN’S HOCKEY ODDS LIST CANADA AS BIG FAVOURITE
By A J Ryder
October 20, 2009
The European bookmakers have already released their odds for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the host country looks to be in the driver's seat- by a considerable margin. Top UK bookmaker Ladbrokes has listed Canada at a 1.9 price to win Men's Olympic Hockey Gold. This means that a £100 bet would pay out a total of £190.91. Punters can also get in on the each-way betting, which offers 1/2 odds on the top 2 finishers.
Canada boasts some of the biggest names in global hockey and the quality on display, coupled with home ice advantage, means that the odds won't come as a dramatic surprise to many observers of ice hockey betting. We'll see superstars like Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, Jerome Iginla, Vincent Lecavalier and Roberto Luongo.
The Russians are expected to meet the Canadians in the final and you'll see Russia listed at 3.5 with most major bookmakers. Sweden is the 3rd favourite and they are available at a 6.5 price. The United States can be backed at an enticing 8.0 and I think that may attract a lot of action from bettors.
The odds then take a big jump after the four major powerhouses are out of the way. Upstart teams with outside shots at the Gold Medal include Finland at 15.0 and the Czech Republic at 17.0.
The other contenders include Slovakia at 51.0, Switzerland at 101.0, Belarus at 251.0, Germany at 501.0, Latvia at 751.0 and Norway at a titanic 1001.0.
Ladbrokes has also listed Canada at 1.25 to win their Group in the round-robin phase. They are paired up with the USA, who carry a 3.25 price to win the group. Switzerland are at 51.0 while Norway look just happy to be there at 501.0.
Russia are the big favourites to win their group at 1.36. The Czech Republic could pull an upset here if they can beat the Russians at 3.0 with Slovakia listed at 21.0 and Latvia at 101.0.
Sweden are also odds-on favourites to win their group at 1.5 with Finland close behind at 2.37. This looks to be the most competitive group with Belarus at 41.0 and Germany at 67.0.
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Jody Lawrence announced as 2010 Olympic torchbearer
By LANA VRBANIC
October 19, 2009
He is the first to be named torchbearer in Labrador West.
Jody Lawrence will carry the flame as the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay passes through the celebration community of Labrador West on Nov. 11.
The Wabush native is among 12,000 Canadians who will carry the Olympic Flame across the country over the course of 100 days.
Although all the torchbearers haven't been announced in Labrador West, it is expected each person will carry the flame 300 metres.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet how big a deal it is to carry the torch," says Jody's father, Tony Lawrence.
He entered Jody's name, as well as his own, on the RBC site for the torch relay selection in June.
The next thing the Lawrence family knew Jody had been pre-selected and the Olympic organizers were asking for his measurements. The week before last, they received final confirmation that Jody would bear the torch.
Jody's very happy about being chosen and his mother Rhonda Lawrence says he'll probably be asking "when's the relay?" until the day it comes.
His mother explains Jody is quite involved in the community and volunteers many hours for the Grade 5 Ski School Program, the Menihek Nordic Ski Club, CACL Bowling Tournament, and as water boy for a soccer league.
In 1998, Jody had the honour of lighting the torch with a female volleyball player at the Newfoundland and Labrador Games held in Labrador West. At the games, Jody participated in cross-country skiing, which is a sport he will look forward to watching at the Olympics.
Although it was not mentioned on his application to bear the torch, Jody has Down syndrome and has faced many challenges in his life.
"Disability or not," says Rhonda, "I think anybody would be honoured."
His parents explain they are proud of what he is doing and that he will be representing the community and all of Canada.
They note he has received many phone calls from family and friends, and the more people are congratulating him, the more excited he gets.
To prepare for the relay, he is jogging with his mom everyday, which she explains is part of his lifestyle anyway.
He is planning to buy the torch he runs with and proudly display it in his room when the celebration is over.
The excitement in the Lawrence household is palpable and Jody can't wait for the big day to come.
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New rules mean new approach for Ted Ligety at 2010 Vancouver Olympics
By Andrew Dampf
October 20, 2009
Ted Ligety isn't preoccupied with defending his Olympic combined title in Vancouver this February.
That's understandable, since the traditional combined event doesn't exist anymore, having been replaced with the super-combi.
Instead of an event combining one downhill run with two slalom legs, the super-combi consists of one downhill or super-G run with just one trip down in slalom.
Since the American is a slalom and GS specialist, the new format doesn't favour him as much.
"I wouldn't say my main focus in the Olympics is trying to defend that," Ligety said in a recent interview. "Giant slalom and slalom, especially the giant slalom, is definitely my best chance at a medal, so that's going to be my main focus."
Since his combined gold in Turin, Ligety's best results have come almost exclusively in giant slalom. He won the World Cup giant slalom crystal globe in 2008 and a bronze medal in GS at last season's world championships in Val d'Isere, France. He has four race victories on the World Cup circuit - each in giant slalom.
Ligety will be among the favourites when the World Cup season opens with a GS in Soelden, Austria, this weekend. He said he is 100 per cent again after injuring his right knee at the U.S. championships at the end of last season.
"I would like to go for the GS globe again. I was third last year - good, not great - and try to be somewhere in the mix in slalom this year," he said of his World Cup goals.
Expanding his program to be more of an all-around skier competing in all four disciplines is on hold.
"If you start doing too many downhills, you take away a lot of training time for giant slalom and slalom," Ligety said. "Especially in an Olympic year, you want to ski enough where you're feeling strong in those events."
After Soelden, the circuit travels to Levi, Finland, for slalom races Nov. 14-15, then hits North America with the men in Lake Louise and Beaver Creek and the women in Aspen, Colo., before heading up to Lake Louise.
Ligety noted that slalom specialist Jimmy Cochran has skied "really well" in preseason training, while men's coach Sasha Rearick picked out Andrew Weibrecht as a potential surprise in the speed events.
Weibrecht burst onto the scene by placing 10th in his first World Cup downhill at Beaver Creek, Colo., two years ago but failed to crack the top 10 last season, when his best result was 11th in the super-G on the famed Streif course in Kitzbuehel, Austria.
"I would say in general, Andrew Weibrecht has made the biggest improvement this year," Rearick said. "Technically and tactically he's found a bit more speed."
Speed specialists Scott Macartney, TJ Lanning and Steven Nyman are each working their way back from injuries.
While Lindsey Vonn defended her overall World Cup title, the rest of the U.S. women's team struggled last season. Bothered by hip and back problems, Julia Mancuso failed to record a top-five finish, and nobody besides Vonn recorded a podium result.
"I was disappointed in a few of them last season," women's coach Jim Tracy said. "We had opportunities and we didn't take advantage of those opportunities, and that's something that I'm going to stress this year."
Entering her fifth season on the World Cup, Stacey Cook is coming off a season in which she showed potential in the biggest race - placing ninth in the world championship downhill won by Vonn - but failed to crack the top 10 otherwise.
"Stacey Cook is definitely skiing better this summer than last," Tracy said. "She's got a new service guy, she's definitely fit and her times were really competitive down in South America.
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Bombardier Reaches Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Production Milestone
MONTREAL, QUEBEC — Global train and plane manufacturer Bombardier, designer and manufacturer of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch, reached a milestone today with the completion of 6,000 of the 12,000 torches that will be used in the cross-Canada Olympic Torch Relay. Production of the torch began in June 2009 and is on schedule to be completed in December 2009. More than 50 Bombardier employees have been involved in the torch design, testing and manufacturing process.
"The Olympic Torch project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Bruno Comtois, Lead Project Engineer with Bombardier Aerospace. "As transportation engineers, we all had to step out of our comfort zone and push our limits. The result is an Olympic Torch that embodies the spirit of the Olympic Games as well as Bombardier's long history of ingenuity."
Inspired by the contours of Canada's winter landscape, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch is designed to withstand colder temperatures than any other torch in Olympic history and uses a dual burner system to guard against extreme weather conditions.
Bombardier manufactured the torch components and sourced parts from different suppliers. The torch is made from anodized aluminum, stainless steel and a composite compound. Each torch weighs 1.6 kg, including fuel, which is a mix of propane and isobutane. The final components are assembled by hand, giving Bombardier employees a unique opportunity to connect with the Games.
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch represents an extensive collaboration between Bombardier's Aerospace and Transportation groups, in partnership with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
"This is one of the most important highlights of my career," said Daniel Deschenes, Industrial Designer for Bombardier Transportation. "We followed the same rigorous production standards that Bombardier applies to the design and manufacturing of planes and trains, so we are excited to put the torch to the ultimate test in Canadian winter weather conditions."
Background: The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch, designed and manufactured by Bombardier, features a curved, modern design inspired by the Canadian winter landscape. Its robust technology was developed to weather the rugged and varied journey of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay during the Canadian winter. From the mild climate of Vancouver Island to the bone-chilling Arctic cold of Canadian Forces Station Alert located less than 900 kilometres from the North Pole, the torch will be operational from -40 degrees C to +40 degrees C through rain, sleet, snow and wind.
About Bombardier: A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2009, were $19.7 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.
About VANOC: VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X 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 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.
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