It was another gorgeous sunny morning in Sochi and although I had lost my voice, I was finally starting to feel a bit better from that nasty flu.  Day 7 was my last day in the mountains for men’s ski cross and ladies half-pipe skiing.

There was a pretty big Canadian presence at the men’s ski cross event and after a week of events I was starting to know and recognize many of the Canadian fans. Canada made it to the big final along with three French competitors, but sadly came in 4th. The three Frenchmen took all three medals!

 We headed to Austria House next where we met a crazy crew of Americans who pumped us full of beer and vodka… (Thanks for the good times Boys!)

 After I was fed and ‘watered’ I went up the mountain again where the ladies’ half-pipe event was making its Olympic debut. There were several injuries during the evening, but it was amazing to watch these women compete! Awesome!

 

Before the finals of the event, Sochi volunteers skiied down the halfpipe in the shape of a heart to honour Sarah Burke’s memory. Sarah Burke was a pioneer in the halfpipe event and won four X-Games titles before she suddenly died in early 2012 due to a skiing accident. It was nice to see her remembered at the ladies halfpipe Olympic debut event.

The final results of the event: USA – Gold, France – Silver, Japan – Bronze.

The biggest Winter Olympics in history is set to take place in the biggest country in the world starting on February 6th, 2014 in Sochi, Russia, and there are some new events making their Olympic debuts:

Ski Halfpipe – Men and Women

Competitors get two separate runs in the preliminaries to qualify for two final runs for 12 skiers. Judges score on take off, height, landing and difficulty of trick. Skiers are ranked based on highest score taken out of the two final runs.

Women’s Ski Jumping

Each competitor gets two runs, and are scored based on distance and style. The athlete with the highest combined score from all four jumps is the winner.

Biathlon Mixed Relay

There are two males and two females per team. Female athletes start the relay, each with two six-kilometer kegs. The two male athletes then follow with two 7.5-kilometer kegs. Each competitor shoots twice (one prone, one standing) and there is a 150 km penalty loop is added on for each miss. The team with the lowest combined time wins.

Figure Skating Team Event

Teams of six skaters from each country perform in four separate categories: men’s, women’s, pairs and dance. There will be two skaters each for pairs and dance, and one male and one female skater for individual runs. The team with the highest aggregated score wins. The event will be spread over three days.

Luge Team Relay

The new race format comprises three teams: a doubles sled, a woman’s single sled and a men’s single sled. Each sled slides one after the other as teams compete for the fastest combined time. A touch pad at the finish line must be activated by a teammate to open the gate for the next sled in line.

Ski Slopestyle

Skiers make their way down an obstacle course of rails, jumps and other features. They are judged on the quality, style and originality of their tricks in both men’s and women’s competitions.

Snowboard Parallel Special Slalom

Athletes race head-to-head downhill between gates. The one who gets to the bottom first, without falling, wins. This event is seen as more technically challenging than the snowboard parallel giant slalom, which was introduced to the Olympics in 2002.

Snowboard Slopestyle

Snowboard slopestyle works the same way as its ski counterpart: athletes jump, twist and grind down an obstacle course and are judged on the tricks they perform. Both men and women will compete.

 

The Canadian Paralympic Sledge Hockey Team warming up for the Bronze Medal game at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games!

For more images, please visit the Set on Flickr!

The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is pleased to announce that Dr. Gaétan Tardif has been named Chef de Mission for Team Canada at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Dr. Tardif is a dedicated long-time volunteer within the Paralympic Movement. He first became involved during the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games as a member of the Canadian medical team and has been part of the 6 consecutive Mission Staff Teams for all subsequent Games, making London his 7^th Games.

“It is an honour to be selected as Chef de Mission and given the chance to represent Team Canada at the London 2012 Paralympic Games,” said Dr. Tardif. “From the first time I began working as a part of the medical team for the Paralympic Games, I was captured by the incredible drive, athleticism and spirit of Paralympic athletes. They continue to inspire me, and I intend to work tirelessly with the Mission Staff to ensure our athletes get all of the support they need to reach their dreams of standing on the podium.”

Dr. Tardif is Vice?President Quality, Patient Care and Chief Medical Officer at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. He is also a Professor in the Department of Medicine and Director, Division of Physiatry (Physicial Medicine & Rehabilitation), at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Tardif has extensive experience at the Paralympic Games as he was part of the medical team for the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Paralympics, as well as Chief Medical Officer for the Salt Lake City 2002 and Torino 2006 Paralympic Games. Most recently he served as Assistant Chef de Mission for the Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games, where Canada achieved its best ever performance. He is also a member of the Board of Directors with the Canadian Paralympic Committee as Director of Administration, a role he has had since 2008.

“We are thrilled to have Gaétan as our Chef de Mission for Team Canada at the 2012 Paralympic Games,” said Carla Qualtrough, President of CPC. “Gaétan is incredibly qualified for this role and has been an invaluable member of the Canadian Paralympic Team Mission Staff for the past six Games. We look forward to having his expertise again in London and know he will excel in this new leadership role.”

The Chef de Mission is responsible for helping Canadian Paralympic athletes achieve their performance goals by acting as the official representative and spokesperson for the Canadian Paralympic Team. In this role Dr. Tardif will oversee the Canadian Team’s operational planning and logistics, promote the exploits of Canada’s elite Paralympic summer athletes, and raise awareness of Paralympic sport and the Canadian Team across the country and around the world.  The Chef de Mission will lead team building initiatives for the Canadian Paralympic Team volunteer mission staff to create a strong and cohesive support team for Canadian athletes at the Paralympic Games.

Dr. Tardif’s initial key priorities as Chef de Mission include an initial visit to the London 2012 Summer Paralympic Games site, selecting the Assistant Chef de Mission and key volunteer Mission Staff, and meeting regularly with athletes and coaches to understand their needs and provide them the support and services they need to succeed.

Dr. Tardif was born in Saguenay, Quebec, and completed his medical degree at l’Université Laval and has obtained specialty certifications in Quebec, Canada and the USA following his residency training at the University of Ottawa. He subsequently obtained a diploma in Electrodiagnostic Medicine from the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine as well as a diploma in Sports Medicine from the Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine. Dr. Tardif also has a keen interest in physician leadership development and was recently appointed to the Faculty of the Physician Leadership Institute of the Canadian Medical Association.  He also became President of the Canadian Society of Physician Executives (CSPE) in April 2009.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games will take place August 29 to September 9, 2012.

(source: Media Relations, Canadian Paralympic Committee)

For more information about the Canadian Paralympics Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Team, please visit http://www.paralympic.ca.

This August, Singapore will host the first ever Youth Olympic Games. Overall, there will be over 3500 athletes competing in 201 events, divided by age groups 15 to 16, 16 to 17 and 17 to 18. Over all there will be 26 sports represented.

Qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games requires at least the top four youths from each National Olympic Committee to qualify and go on to the Youth Olympic Games. Over all, all 205 National Olympic Committees are participating with mixed gender results and bringing the chance for attending the Youth Olympics to many members of the younger generation. Qualification events include competitions like the Junior World Championships, Continental Championships or any other official junior ranking lists.

Sporting events to be represented at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games:

Aquatics: There will be two events for both Youth Men and Youth Women, leaping from a 3m springboard or a 10m platform. For Swimming, events include Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly and Medley, testing the speed and endurance of participants in Individual and Team competitions.

Archery: There are individual Junior Men, Junior Women and Mixed Team competitions. The distance that athletes will be shooting is 70m. The Olympic Round starts with a ranking match, followed by the individual and team elimination format.

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Athletics: Athletics, or Track and Field, is about running faster, jumping higher, throwing further than competitors and enduring long distances. For the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, Athletics comprises a total 36 track and field events for both Boys and Girls.

Badminton: Shuttlers will only compete in the Singles event. The objective of the game is to score points by hitting the shuttlecock over the net into the opponent’s half of the court, so that it hits the ground before the opponent is able to return it.

Basketball: There will be two teams made up of three players each on court at any one time. This adrenaline-packed game is played on a half court, with one basketball hoop. It includes three intensive periods of five minutes each. The team to first score 33 points or is leading the game after the regular game time is the winner.

Boxing: Each bout is made up of four rounds; each round lasts two minutes, with a one minute rest period between the rounds. The winner of a bout is decided by a win on points by five judges or the referee.

Canoe-Kayak: n the Canoe Sprint event, the athletes paddle on a circuit, and compete against each other over a 420m course. For Canoe Slalom, the athletes compete on a calm water surface and not on a natural river or artificial slalom course.

Cycling: Each team consists of three Junior Men and one Junior Woman, with the three Junior Men required to compete in one discipline each (BMX, Mountain Bike and Time Trial) while the Junior Woman has to compete in all three disciplines. All male riders also have to compete in the Road Race.

Equestrian: There will only be the Jumping event (Team and Individual) and the horses will be provided by the organising committee. For the Team event, there will be six teams representing each continent – Africa, Asia, Australasia Europe, North America and South America. Penalties are given to teams in cases such as riders knocking down fences or when horses refuse to jump. The team with the lowest demerit points wins.

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Fencing: Fencing is a traditional sport developed based on ancient sword fighting, involving two competitors contesting bouts using light weapons: épée, foil or sabre. There will be Individual and Mixed Team competitions during the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Football: Playing time is made up of two periods of 40 minutes with a half-time break of 15 minutes. At the final whistle, the team which scores more goals is the winner.

Gymnastics: Judging for Artistic Gymnastics is based on the level of difficulty and actual execution of the moves, while Rhythmic Gymnastics has an additional criterion on artistry.

Handball: A game consists of two 30-minute halves with a 10-minute half-time break. Amid intense physical contact, players pass, throw, roll, catch and dribble the ball with their hands while trying to score goals. The level of difficulty is heightened with the inclusion of restricted goal areas beyond which the players must attempt to score from, on top of the last line of defence put up by the goalkeeper. At the final whistle, the team which has scored more goals than the opponent is the winner.

Hockey: At the completion of each match during pool play, three points will be awarded to the winner; one point will be awarded to each team in the event of a draw; zero points are awarded to the loser. To determine the final standings after the end of one pool competition, teams will play the final competition in the form of single elimination.

Judo: Judo involves two individuals who, by gripping the Judo uniform or Judogi, use the forces of balance, power and movement to throw the opponent over. There is no kicking, punching or weapons involved. There are a total of eight weight categories for both Boys and Girls at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Modern Pentathalon: The Modern Pentathlon for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (Singapore 2010) consists of four of the five Modern Pentathlon disciplines: fencing, swimming, running and shooting. The fifth discipline, riding, will not be competed at Singapore 2010. Pentathletes achieve points in each discipline according to their performance.

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Rowing: For the regatta, crews or individuals race each other on the same course for positions, which then determine their progression to the final. The winning boat is declared when its bow ball, attached to the tip of the boat, crosses the finish line first.

Sailing: The Sailing competition at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games comprises four medal events with Boys and Girls sailing in either the Byte CII boat (one person dinghy) or Techno 293 (windsurfing).

Shooting: A total of four events, the Men and Women Air Rifle and Air Pistol will be competed in for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. Shots are fired at a ten-ring target. The higher score is awarded when a shot touches the line between two zones. The shooter with the highest total score based on the addition of the qualification and finals score is the winner.

Table Tennis: In Table Tennis, a game is won by the player or pair who first scores 11 points. Should both sides score 10 points, the game shall be won by the first player or pair that subsequently gains a lead of 2 points. A player wins the match when he or she wins the number of games (three out of five or four out of seven).

Taekwondo: A martial art sport, involves the use of both hands and legs to overcome an opponent. The trademark of the sport is its combination of kick movements. Athletes will be competing in five weight categories per gender during the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Tennis: A Tennis match is a game of endurance, quick-wittedness and precise execution. For the Singles competitions, all matches will be determined through the best of three tie-break sets. For the Doubles competitions, all matches will be determined by two tie-break sets and a match tie-break game (10 points) in place of a third set.

Triathlon: The Triathlon competition format for individual competitions includes a 750m swim in open water, a 20km cycle ride (three-lap course), and a 5km run (two-lap course). The 4 x Mixed Team Relay competition includes a 250m swim in open water, a 7km cycle ride (one-lap course), and a 1.7km run (one-lap course). The competitors’ official time includes the transition time between the individual legs of the race. The winner is the first athlete to complete the entire course.

Volleyball: Volleyball games are played to 25 points. The first team to score 25 points (and be two points ahead) will be awarded the set. Matches are determined through the best of five sets and the fifth set (if necessary) is usually played to 15 points.

Weight Lifting: The Men will compete in six bodyweight categories, while the Women will compete in five bodyweight categories. The combined results of the Snatch and the Clean & Jerk will produce the champion of each bodyweight category.

Wrestling: Wrestlers will be competing in the three Olympic wrestling styles during the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games: Greco-Roman, Men’s Freestyle and Women’s Freestyle. In Greco-Roman wrestling, the wrestler is forbidden to grasp the opponent below the waist, or to use the leg to trip or actively perform any action. In Men’s And Women’s Freestyle wrestling, however, it is permissible to grasp the legs, or to use the leg to trip or actively perform any action.

I’m looking forward to photographing as many of these sporting events as I possibly can with my International Olympic Committee Media Accreditation! Which events would you be interested in seeing images from? Only 68 days to go!!

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The city of Singapore will host the first ever Youth Olympic Games this coming August! Check out the winning bid video that the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010 bid team used to woo the International Olympic Committee, and sway their votes in Singapore’s favor against the other short-listed competing city, Moscow.

Watching this has raised my excitement to new levels! It promises to be an amazing inaugural event!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMJCjut7rVE

(source: http://www.singaporeyoutholympicgames.com)

This past Tuesday I was invited to attend the Coca-Cola Live Positively Awards, held during the 2010 Olympic Games at the BC Media Center in Vancouver.

“Live Positively” represents The Coca-Cola Company‘s philosophical approach to building sustainable communities through initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where it operates. The Live Positively concept grew from the recognition that sustainable growth for The Coca-Cola Company is integrally connected to both its business and its marketing success, as well as its societal role.

The Coca-Cola Company is honouring individuals, families and organizations with the Coca-Cola Live Positively Award during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Each recipient was chosen because of his or her efforts to turn their passion for improving the well-being of Canadians into important changes that have positively impacted their local communities. With a focus on either active living or environmental sustainability, each recipient has a unique and inspirational story to share.

The following were honoured on Tuesday afternoon:

Jennifer Heil & Dominick Gauthier – on behalf of B2ten:

B2ten is a not for profit organization that supports Canadian elite athletes so they may succeed at the highest level of international competition. For more information, visit http://www.b2ten.com/.

Sami Jo Small:

Sami Jo is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the 2009 recipient of the Athletes CAN Leadership Award. Sami Jo is also the co-founder of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. Her commitment to sport and her involvement in developing the Canadian Women’s Hockey League has helped create a forum for women across the country to participate in our nation’s sport at an elite level.

Canadian Olympic School Project:

The Olympic School Program is the Canadian Olympic Committee’s primary education program aiming to spread the positive message of the Olympic Games to all students between grades 2-12. The organization has been providing teachers with Olympic Games themed resources for over 20 years.