Olympics Update:Bobsledding is Back

Foe the first time since the St.Moritz Olympics in 1948,when Lake Placid police officer Francis Tyler led Team USA to gold down a natural track,American bobsledders won the four-man event at Whistler,BC on Saturday night.Steve Holcomb drove the winning sled,"The Night Train,"designed by NASCAR veteran Jeff Bodine,through 5gs of gravity-the equivalent of a rocket launch-down the fastest track in history.Holcomb drove impeccably,keeping to the clean lines characteristic of champions of the sport. Holcomb,of Park City,Utah,described the sled as very slick,very dynamic.As he stood on the medal stand with his three team mates,Holcomb blinked back tears.He had nearly retired when his eyesight deteriorated from a corneal disease.A new treatment consisting of a contact lens implant restored his vision to 20/20 and the United States to gold,displacing German great Andre Lange,who had driven his sleds to four gold medals.Lange reacted with good sportsmanship,applauding the American victory and cheerfully posing for pictures with Holcomb at the awards ceremony in Whistler,living up to his gentlemanly reputation.Lange and his team took the silver medal and Canada's Lyndon Rush drove his to the bronze.

An Olympic Respite

The Winter Olympics will provide a welcome respite for weather beaten citizens.From mudslides to blizzards,this winter has been a burden for many,and deadly for a few.Two weeks of games in Vancouver will help us recover from the meteorological trials that have recently beset us.The spectacle of winter competition will be front and center from February 12-28.About 2500 athletes will participate in seven sports and 86 medal events.
Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined lead the games off on Friday at Whistler,British Columbia.Nordic Combined joins ski jumping with cross-country skiing.Six gold medals will be awarded on Saturday,and another five on Sunday,in a number of disciplines.Figure skating begins on Sunday.Many of the NBC channels will broadcast the games.Surely the diversion will improve the world's wellness and knowledge of aboriginal culture,which Canada is highlighting at the games.