Thumbs up and thumbs down for Vancouver Games
The Winter Olympics is over, and having spent the last couple of weeks reporting on the Games, I have seen some things I would give a thumbs-up to, and some I would definitely give the thumbs-down to.
THUMBS UP ... for the unseasonal warm weather that allowed Vancouver's fans to sit outside and drink coffee. Some of the cherry blossom in town has already sprung and it was t-shirts only for a few gloriously warm days in the middle of the Olympics.
THUMBS DOWN ... for the impact it had on a couple of the venues - Cypress Mountain especially. It seems, however, as if the competition was eventually even and no athlete has claimed it was unfair.
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THUMBS UP ... for Shaun White who did something no-one else can do and reinforced his status as a one-off.
THUMBS DOWN ... for the 'cross' events where there seems little link between talent and result and the whole event feels like a one-off.
THUMBS UP ... for no positive drug tests. I am not one of those who believe no positive returns equals no cheating with performance enhancing drugs, but I am happier that there seems to be less use of them than in previous Winter Games.
THUMBS DOWN ... for those who, having jumped on the bandwagon that the Olympics are all about drugs, now seem not to notice the reverse of their logic when it isn't a story.
THUMBS UP ... for Team GB's Amy Williams - who will be the shining light of British winter sport for many a year to come.
THUMBS DOWN ... for Team GB in general. Yes, one gold medal is a step on from Turin, when the team took one silver, but we should not let a sidestep up to the middle of one podium in one sport detract from the miss after miss in several others. The athletes themselves will be disappointed and so should we be.
THUMBS UP ... for Sarah Lindsay in taking the end of her career (on a bizarre official decision at the short track skating) with a degree of maturity.
THUMBS DOWN ... on the fans who showered the same referee with thousands of death threats when he disqualified a Korean skater, meaning he had to spend the rest of his Olympics accompanied by a security guard.
Thumbs up for Vonn's achievement but don't forget Bjoerndalen's. Photo: Getty
THUMBS UP ... for Lindsey Vonn, who converted potential into gold in the downhill.
THUMBS DOWN ... for the media that seemingly missed Wang Meng, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen or Andre Lange because they were not such good material for the Swimsuit Edition of Sports Illustrated.
THUMBS UP ... for hordes of hard-working, polite and patient volunteers around the Olympic venues.
THUMBS DOWN ... for the decision to equip those volunteers with just enough information for that particular job and no more. I've lost count of the number of times I have asked one about something and had to be referred to another.
THUMBS UP ... for the US network that got the first interview with speed skater Sven Kramer as he stepped off the ice at the Richmond Oval having won a gold medal.
THUMBS DOWN ... for then asking him: "Can you tell us who you are and what you have won?" Kramer said "no" and wandered away.
THUMBS UP ... for the security assessment that only one in 10 people need to have their bags put through the scanner at every Olympic venue when they go in.
THUMBS DOWN ... for the realisation that London won't take the same view.
THUMBS UP ...for a funding strategy that delivers results for home athletes on home soil.
THUMBS DOWN ... that the name of it ("Own the Podium") somehow put a dampener on the best host nation performance at any Winter Games ever.
THUMBS UP ... for Vancouver. At times it was saddled with issues beyond its control, but it came through with red and white flags flying.
THUMBS DOWN ... we have to wait more than two years for London's turn.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~42~RS~)
In a previous life I won four gold medals at the Olympics between 1992 and 2004 and I now work at the BBC. Whilst I was part of the Beijing team for the BBC in the summer of 2008, my primary role is as reporter for 
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Thumbs down for being too anaytical. You are one of the worlds greatest olympians who reached the greatest peaks of achievement sometimes surrounded by mediocrity. Had you dwelled on analysing ups and downs around you, you probably would have not reached such peaks. I note equal thumbs up and thumbs down. Had it been 80% thumbs up 20% thumbs down that would be a more appropriate blog. You lived this fantastic event. How lucky you were. CTV was fantastic learn from it.
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Thumbs down.. someone died? Admittadly the thumbs up thumbs down format would hardly have lent itself to such a tragedy.. but to not mention it? At all? I guess that was just a middling happenstance.
Jacques Rogge said "I'm sure no one will forget".. Let's hope that's true.
On the plus side, that was an excellent point about the neglected stars of the games. Wang Meng got three gold medals. That's rather amazing actually isn't it? Ah, she doesn't conform to a western aesthetic of beauty. Probably not newsworthy afterall.
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A bit cruel to be giving such cut and dry comments.. And I'm suprised a lot if this was actually Matthew's idea on how it is written..
I don't agree about the CROSS events - I think they were exciting and dramatic. It was nice to see competitors actually racing each other rather than going once at a time - more of this please.
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The cross events were a massive thumbs up for me, everyone else I know who has watched them agrees!
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Cannot agree with comments on "cross" events they have produced some real excitement among people who would never normally choose to watch any winter events. Do agree that "Own the Podium" somehow left a bit of a bad taste. The Canadians have done fantastically and deserve massive credit, but all the talk pre-games of preventing access to some training venues doesn't feel quite right. Perhaps it has always been thus and I am being too "English" - fair play etc !
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I have just come back from Vancouver and have to say it was one of the most exciting Winter Olympics I have seen. After going to Turin 4 Years ago, I didn't think that I would see better. I went to see a range of events from the Men's Half-pipe, Snowboard cross, Figure Skating and even some Ice Hockey (the atmosphere was just truly incredible in the Hockey Arena when Canada was playing).
Where is the 'Thumbs Up' for Bode Miller. His complete turn around from 4 years ago is amazing.
There has to be a 'Thumbs Down' for Evgeni Plushenko's attitude after he came second in the Men's Figure Skating. He was a sore loser.
I went to see the Snowboard Cross and it was amazing. The fact that Seth Wescott came from behind to win it at the last few corners was brilliant and exciting.
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THUMBS DOWN ... for the 'cross' events where there seems little link between talent and result and the whole event feels like a one-off.
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Funny, your collegues on the couch couldn't stop jabbering on about how good they were.
Perhaps the BBC will consider sending someone with some knowledge of the sports they are covering as opposed to someone who used to sit in a boat.
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Agree with all the other comments so far about the cross events. The majority of opinions so far seem to suggest they were the most popular events of the games.
As to no link between talent and results... Maelle Ricker and Seth Wescott won the womens/ mens boarder cross, both best in the world along with Lindsay Jacobellis and Nate Holland.
Likewise, if you look at the X-games, Ophelie David just won her 4th title in a row (making a mistake and falling in the Olympics, otherwise she too would have been up there), Nate Holland his 5th in a row and Lindsay Jacobellis her 3rd in a row (for the second time). That suggests a pretty good correlation between talent and success to me.
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Well done Matthew - great comments put in an entertaining and "un-pretentious way".
I loved the Olympics
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"THUMBS DOWN ... for the 'cross' events where there seems little link between talent and result and the whole event feels like a one-off."
Ice hockey and the cross events were the only sports that had people biting their nails but I can understand this comment coming from someone who comes from such a straightforward and predictable sport like rowing.
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THUMBS DOWN ... The next Olympics will be a disgrace to the Olympic movement... and yes I mean the 2012 Games ! £9 billion and still it's going to be so bad !
THUMBS UP ... The next Winter Olympics will be in Sochi - at least a convenient time zone for Europe and part 1 of the Olympic rescue process.
THUMBS UP ... Rio 2016 will be part 2 of the Olympic movement rescue and so much better than the 2012 Games...not going to be hard is it?
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"THUMBS DOWN ... for the 'cross' events where there seems little link between talent and result and the whole event feels like a one-off."
Surely the balance of tactics vs pure skiing/boarding skill is true sport. Or did you never win a race against a physically better opponent who made a tactical error?
And how are they any less valid than the subjectively judged events where popularity with the judges counts for more than skill? Shaun White can make his case that he doesn't leave it to the judges, and even the lay-viewer can count his turns, but the same can't be said for the silver and gold performers, or any of the ice dancers, ariels, moguls etc.
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I have to disagree regarding the ski cross events.
OK I can see why, from a competitor point of view, why this may seem less than satisfying. It certainly - at times at least- required as much luck as skill but speaking as a viewer; it was incredibly exciting.
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Thumbs up for the "Cross" events, one of the highlights of the games.
Thumbs down to the American and Canadian officials who complained about Amy Williams helmet design. Sour grapes, just accept that the best slider over two days won.
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#12
Physically better then Pinsent? There weren't many!
As for the ski cross, I was always quite worried when someone went flying out of a jump and landed in a heap. It seemed a bit too dangerous and designed more to be exciting for the audience then anything else. Snowboard cross wasn't as bad, mostly because the legs don't go flying out at odd angles just before they hit the ground . . .
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Couldn't disagree more regarding the 'cross events' – this was a highlight for me. More disappointed that Curling (lawn bowls on ice) was given so much coverage on the BBC rather than some of the more interesting events.
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The first comment should have been about the tragic death of the luge slider Nodar Kumaritashvili.
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Have to agree with the other 'cross' comments. Boarder cross was good, but ski cross was the best event of the Olympics from my point of view. I'm a big fan of the traditional alpine events, but getting to see guys and girls racing head to head, elbow to elbow was fantastic. The clear favourites are not always going to win, it's the nature of the sport. There is a certain element of luck, but that's in small measure in comparison to the skill, tactics, nerve, and on this course, an explosive start. BMX racing made a successful Olympic debut in Beijing and these cross events follow a very similar format.
As for my 'Thumbs Down' - Too much curling coverage. Ok we (GB) won a medal in it 8 years ago (I think), but it's pretty dull! I'm sure there must have been something better they could have aired! Maybe watching the skiers and boarders taking the ski lifts up to the start line might have been more exciting!!
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11. At 11:14am on 01 Mar 2010, NonEnglish wrote:
THUMBS DOWN ... The next Olympics will be a disgrace to the Olympic movement... and yes I mean the 2012 Games ! £9 billion and still it's going to be so bad !
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Nothing like a positive attitude is there?
The person who posted comment 1 should have a little bit more respect for Matthew and his "mediocre" team mates.
I agree with the comments about the cross events, but that doesn't take away from the fact they were a lot of fun and very exciting.
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I'm afraid Matthew I'd rather watch the cross events any day before rowing or any other summer olympic event.
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Although I agree with most of what Matthew says, I have to take issue with his assessment of the "cross" events: 1) If it was unrelated to talent, we would all be doing it in the hope of getting an olympic gold medal; 2) it appears to have drawn huge TV crowds; and most importantly 3) as an olympic sportsman he should know better than to poo-poo other sports. It is like me saying that to be successful in rowing you only need rich parents that can afford an education that will put you in Oxbridge.
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THUMBS DOWN - Evgeni Plushenko and the inability to be graceful in defeat after he didn't win the gold in the figure skating. He believed he should have won the gold because he put a quad in and lysacek didn't even though the rest of his run was ropey at best.
THUMBS UP - Skier and Boarder Cross. Pretty sure the winners were the best in the field. Michael Schmid number 1 in the world, Seth Wescott defending champion, Ashley McIvor qualified 2nd and Maelle Ricker number 1 in the world.
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The 'thumbs up' and 'thumbs down' at the heading of this piece is very limp indeed - typical commentator, no substance just wrapping paper.
For those volunteers who only had enough information for the job they were doing and no more, which Matthew Pinsent gave a 'thumbs down'. Now, I would have thought that those volunteers would have had enough on their hands just knowing about their specific area of responsiblity after all, could you reasonably expect them to know everything. And anyway Pinsent should have been able to find his own way to the toilets, without having to ask someone.
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THUMBS UP ... Ski cross
THUMBS DOWN ... Reporters who don't know their sport
Have you done much skiing Matthew?
It requires a lot more talent than rowing a boat, albeit less brute strength and stamina.
I'm pretty sure you haven't seen much ice hockey, cos I saw you acting as a hockey pundit last night!
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I knew the cross event thumbs down would be unpopular! - but it's what I feel. I'm happy they are part of the Games but I'd prefer to watch biathlon or speed skating and yes, I know that that is a minority view.
and *2 Tiny dingle (?) you got it - the format simply didn't suit including the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili.
now back in London and feeling very "un-Olympic" all of a sudden.
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Matt, thanks for the reply. Personally I think you could have mentioned it in a preface, which would have been separate from the rest of the article. However, as #3 disagrees with me, and barely anyone else seems to care then I guess I was a being a tad harsh.
Still thought the blog made very good points, and am interested that no one else has mentioned your thumbs down about certain athletes being ignored in the media. Seems important. But I guess nowadays there is a policy within the media of, not necessarily appealing to the LCD, but enforcing and creating it.
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#24
I'd imagine Matthew has probably done quite a lot of cross country skiing as part of winter training camps with the Gb rowing squad.
And as for talking about sports we don't know much about, rowing requires quite a lot of 'talent' or technique as well as the physical attributes. Otherwise Graham Benton would have an Olympic gold medal by now too.
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Thumbs up - ski cross and boarder cross.
Very exciting and despite what the author seems to think, talent plays an enormous role. Winners like Ashleigh McIvor, Nicolien Sauerbreij and Seth Wescott were favourites for the gold going in and both won. Jasey Jay Anderson, Maelle Ricker and Michael Schmid were all - while not top favourites - among the serious medal contenders at the outset. Luck plays a role in every complex competition from football and ice hockey to skiing. Very surprised and disappointed at what seems an ill informed comment.
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Matthew, of course you are entitled to give a thumbs down to the cross events from a personal point of view, as nothing appeals to everyone.
It just seems incorrect to have the statement 'there seems little link between talent and result' when the reality is that the favourites went through in almost every heat unless they fell, which of course can happen in most of the events. The winners were all considered amongst the favourites for medals.
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I, like most, was glued to the Cross events. I do think, however, that more distinction should be made between the two versions. The course at Cypress was clearly designed for boarders and didn't suit skiercross at all, especially those first two obstacles. The greater speed of the skiers inevitably meant more airtime on the kickers, which IMO led directly to some of the more spectacular crashes. I hope that Sochi learns from this and has separately designed courses for the two events.
The media (and I include the BBC in this, though most of the coverage was, as usual, exemplary) needs to take some of the blame for the negativity of the initial coverage, and for the focus on the more photogenic of the competitors. Meng Wang's achievement is simply sensational, as was American Apolo Anton Ohno's. And the sheer effort and will of the cross-country skiers and biathletes deserves much more attention than they seem to get.
If England remembers that the Olympics is about celebrating athletic endeavour and success in all disciplines, then London 2012 will strike the right note and gloomy forecasts can be ignored.
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