Team USA Ready for Vancouver Winter Olympics

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics are starting soon, which will relieve many peoples need for an Olympic fix. The simple fact that the Olympics only comes around every 4 years means that it garners attention worldwide when it is here. Millions of people around the globe will be tuning in to watch their fellow countrymen and women compete for national pride and a shiny medal.

I got so into the last Summer Olympics that I found myself awake at 4 A.M. watching Table Tennis matches and Equestrian events! It can be addicting. Essentially, you can lose a lot of sleep during the 2 week event.

The Vancouver Winter Olympics starts on February 12 and ends with closing ceremonies on February 28. I look forward to the opening and closing ceremonies almost as much as the athletic events themselves. Vancouver is a beautiful part of Canada, and many of us wish we could be there in person to attend the Olympics.

If you can't be there, you can watch many of the Winter Olympic events on NBC. According to CBS News, NBC paid (Canadian) $820 million for the rights to televise the Winter Games.

Some of the popular Winter Olympics sports include Men's and Women's Ice Hockey, Alpine Skiing and Ski Jumping, and of course the super fast Luge events. The Winter Olympics features Speed Skating, Figure Skating, Snowboard competitions and even a fun little sport called Curling. How many World Records will fall this February?

One of the favorite events in the Winter Olympics is the Bobsled. A 3-Time Olympic American bobsledder,Todd Hays, was badly injured during training in December 2009. Due to his injury, he was not going to be able to participate in the Vancouver Winter Olympics, so he chose to retire.

Kevin Pearce was considered a shoo-in to make the U.S. Men's Snowboarding Olympic team. However, in late December he was critically injured during a practice run in Salt Lake City. These Olympic athletes literally put their lives on the line to excel in their sports and to represent their individual countries. Remember that when you are watching them and cheering them on.

The United States Women's Ice Hockey team has been hot lately. The only team that seems to have their number is those pesky Canadians. I look for Team USA to break through the maple leafers and bring home the gold. If you are interested in buying U.S. Olympic Apparel you can find it here. If you want to read up on our American athletes, click here for the Team USA website. You can also find the Vancouver Winter Olympics website by clicking here.

Sources: Vancouver Olympic website
USA Hockey website
Boston Herald
CBSNEWS.com
TeamUSA.org