by Sue-Lynda Bate | Feb 8, 2002 | Member News
With all eyes on Salt Lake City and the Opening Ceremonies, we thought it would be timely to dig up some interesting Olympic statistics:
15 medals were won by Canada in the 1998 Nagano Games, two more than the United States. It was the first time Canada topped the United States in the overall medal standings.
160 Countries are televising the 2002 Games, which will be broadcast in 50 languages.
294 athletes participated in the first Winter Games in 1924, representing 16 nations. The 2002 Games will have about 2,500 athletes from 80 nations.
$885 USD is the cost of a ticket for Salt Lake's opening and closing ceremonies.
1485 is the largest number of volunteers ever at a venue for downhill racing.
2,900 is the vertical drop, in feet, for the men's downhill and Super G races at Snowbasin Ski Area.
by Sue-Lynda Bate | Feb 8, 2002 | Member News
It's our turn to get a little (ok, a lot) patriotic as David Anderson (Rossland), Emily Brydon (Fernie) and Allison Forsyth (Nanaimo) head-up the list of BC athletes competing for Canada on the Canadian Alpine Ski Team squad. Eleven Canadian Alpine Ski Team athletes are in Salt Lake City. The world is watching as we wait for Gold! Go Canada Go!
by Sue-Lynda Bate | Feb 7, 2002 | Member News
National Development Team member Ben Thornhill announced his retirement Wednesday from the Canadian Alpine Ski Team. Thornhill, 18, had seen mixed results this season, which included a season high fourth-place finish in a FIS GS at Panorama.
A strong technical skier, Thornhill entered the 2002 season with a World Age Rank of 12 in giant slalom, 14 in super G and 23 in DH. He first made his mark on the international scene almost seven years ago, becoming the first Canadian to win the prestigious Trofeo Topolino children's race in Courmayer, Italy.
With that finish, he joined a distinguished list of racers including Alberto Tomba, Marc Girardelli, Pirmin Zurbriggen and Benjamin Raich. “I guess I felt a change was needed,” said Thornhill of his decision. “I've been doing this for a long-time and there are other things I would like to pursue. I don't have the desire to compete at this level right now,” he continued. “It's time to take a break.”
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