With snow comes fog
Vancouver's Cypress Mountain had its first dusting of snow in weeks Wednesday, but the first day of competition at the troubled venue was thrown into jeopardy because of a new menace -- fog.
Vancouver's Cypress Mountain had its first dusting of snow in weeks Wednesday, but the first day of competition at the troubled venue was thrown into jeopardy because of a new menace -- fog.
The snow arrived after organisers had been forced to initiate a round-the-clock operation involving helicopters and fleets of lorries to transport snow to Cypress, the site for the freestyle and snowboarding events.
Games officials said later that Saturday's women's moguls competition could be delayed if weather conditions persist because the judges, who watch from a cabin near the finish line, must have a clear view of the entire course.
Snow and fog interfered with official training Wednesday, raising questions over what officials will do if a similar situation arises on the first day of competition.
Keshavan eyes top-20 finish
A stress fracture in his back threatened to come in the way but fit-again Indian luger Shiva Keshavan is all set to represent the country for the fourth time in the Winter Olympics this weekend, hoping to finish at least inside the top-20 in Vancouver.
Keshavan recently picked up the back injury after clinching the silver at the Asian Championship in Nagano, Japan late last year.
But having recovered from the injury, the 27-year-old, part of a three-strong Indian contingent in Vancouver, said he would be aiming to better the 25th place finish in the 2006 Turin Olympics.
“I want a good result and will be happy to achieve my goal of entering the top 20. I have trained hard during the last four years for this,” Keshavan said from Vancouver.
No problems with Arnie
The IOC has no problem with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger running with the Olympic torch, despite his past admission of steroid use. Schwarzenegger is scheduled to carry the torch on Friday, the final day of the relay in Vancouver.
He will hand off the torch to Sebastian Coe, the two-time Olympic gold medalist who heads the organizing committee for the 2012 London Games. Schwarzenegger has said in the past that he used steroids in his bodybuilding days, long before they became illegal without a prescription.