Saturday, February 9, 2002
Opening 'ceremony' isn't Swede
By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- Forget all those myths about the great shape those 60-year-old Swedes are supposed to be in.
They can't hold a candle to us Canadians.
While sitting at the Team Sun Olympic dinner at a downtown eatery Thursday, your humble servants had a hearty laugh as a member of the Swedish Olympic committee was helped out of a party being held in another section of the restaurant.
After obviously being over-served in a place where it seems tough to get a drink, the well-dressed Swede, who looked to be in his mid-50s, did a face plant into the ground as our table swung around to take a look.
While Team Sun had a great many laughs over the incident, an ambulance was called. We felt bad about the fact the guy could have been seriously hurt, but the laughter hardly stopped as five paramedics lifted him into a chair.
Somebody wondered aloud if we should have any sympathy for the poor man, but we were warned not to bother. The room was also filled with Swedish journalists and apparently the drinking performance was of gold-medal proportions.
"The guy's just drunk and he's a mess," said our waitress, Kierstin. "They were having that party up there and I think they basically had an open bar all night. I'm pretty sure he's going to be fine, they just have to make sure he can stand."
Next time, we're going to see if Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson can score us an invite to the bash.
THE OPENING CEREMONY:
Sitting behind us at the restaurant, ignoring everything that was happening with the drunken Swede, was two-time Olympic gold medallist Katarina Witt. The gorgeous figure skater from Germany didn't even notice what was happening because she was too busy at her table with three guys who were fighting over the bill. By the way, only one writer at the table had seen her in Playboy and it wasn't me ... Team Canada associate coach Ken Hitchcock was hoping to march into the opening Ceremony at Rice-Eccles Stadium, but his name wasn't selected by the COA. Instead, the coaching spot went to video expert Mike Pelino, whose name was drawn out of a hat ... They're offering free massages to the hard-working media in the Main Press Center. Maybe, I'll stick around there to see if I can get a glimpse of CBC's Brian Williams.
GAMES OF CHANCE:
Olympic athletes aren't allowed to wear ads for sponsors on their uniforms during the Games to cut down on the commercialism. That means you won't be seeing anybody wearing a big Cheerios logo as they cross the finish line. The only advertising allowed on a uniform is that belonging to the manufacturer ... A warning on the radio yesterday morning to people attending the opening ceremony: "Be sure to dress warmly. The Winter Olympics are being held here because of the cold weather." No kidding ... Canadian athletes are wearing pagers which will help locate them in a matter of seconds if there are any emergency situations or terrorist attacks during the Games ... No truth to the rumour Team USA is going to send Cammi Granato to Canada for Hayley Wickenheiser ... Spectators are banned from bringing flags of countries that aren't participating in the Games ... Today will be the first test of the transportation system, as events get under way outside the city. There's speculation getting to Snowbasin for ski events could be interesting ... Under the 'how much security' file: There are 15,000 federal, state, local and military personnel on the security detail, which is a ratio of about six for every athlete. The SLOC is spending $315 million on security ... A journalist from Slovakia was telling reporters yesterday the problems the hockey team is having are huge story at home. "The real story is that the NHL wouldn't allow them to get their best players and that's a tragic injustice," said the TV type. Well, it's not that bad.
2002 Games Columnists
