2010 Winter Olympics: Canada's Epic Failure As Host Continues

The Black Cloud that descended on Vancouver more than a week ago continues to rain bad luck down on our favorite country to the north.

Canada has played host to the first Olympics in recent memory to have a death toll, the weather has not cooperated, and the sport Canada is famous for inventing, ice hockey doesn’t seem to be their strong suit so far.

The Whistler Track struck again as Bobsled officials, along with IOC representatives, collectively decided to make more changes on the track to make the competition safer for the athletes.

Ever since the first official day of the games, the Whistler Track has become the most infamous Bobsled/Luge track in the history of each sport. It claimed the life of Georgian Luger Nodar Komaritashvili and already has received extensive modifications.

Several athletes from many different countries have called the track “dangerous,” and Bobsled crashes have been frequent enough for further changes to be instituted.

According to a report from NBC, the ice on turn 13, known to the racers as the “50/50” turn due to the average chance a sled has of getting through it without crashing, will be shaved down several inches. The report also states ice will be shaved down in a few other places.

In the race to claim the most medals, Canada wanted to finish first. They wanted it so badly they launched the “Own the Podium” program as a rallying cry for their athletes. The United States now appears on its way to easily winning that competition.

As for the average performance of the athletes in competition, it seemed that every other profile NBC did of a Canadian athlete on the ice or on the slopes was just a buildup to a spectacular crash or a wince-inducing fall.

On the slopes, it seems the Olympics were blessed with just enough snow to get the events going a few days late. This should be considered a victory since the Whistler Resort already has been removed from the World Cup Circuit due to three straight years of no snow at event time.

Then there is hockey.

Canadians eat, breathe, sleep and dream hockey. They learn to skate as soon as their feet are big enough for the skates. This is an upset so big in Canada, the goalie already has been benched, and may never be able to show his face in Canada again.

Martin Brodeur is one of the finest goalies in the history of the sport with a gold medal in Salt Lake City and three Stanley Cups notched under his belt. Despite all those accomplishments, his name is the equivalent of a four-letter word at the moment in Canada.

There still are a lot of games to get through before this nightmare is over for Canada. Add in the protests at the beginning of the games and you have to wonder whether Canada will be bidding for another Winter Olympics anytime in the next several decades.