Olympic Notebook: Canada’s Quest for Gold

Wednesday, 10 February 2010 | by Pat's Picks

I’m headed to Vancouver this weekend for the Winter Olympics. I’ll be checking in on the blog with updates. Today’s New York Times previews the games with a look at Canada’s unapologetic quest for gold.

I was in Calgary for the Olympics in 1988, so I have a close connection to the winter games. As the Times notes this morning, Canada didn’t take a single gold medal at the ‘88 games, so Canadians are eager to improve. The Times makes note that Canada has abandoned its traditional modesty by creating an “Own the Podium” committee to ensure first-place finishes. With a goal of 30 medals, the Times says: “Talk like this, so nakedly ambitious, makes some Canadians uneasy.”

I’m not uneasy about it. I’ll be happy to see a few American wins. But 30 or more Canadian medals sounds good to me.

RELATED: Olympic torch relay makes brief stop in USA

The Wall Street Journal says the US isn’t just going for the glory in downhill skiing or figure skating - it’s hoping for gold medals in “oddball events” like luge and Nordic Combined as well.