Ooh, this does not look good:
From February 10, 2010, Toronto Sun (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/columnists/rob_longley/2010/02/10/12815276-sun.html):
In case they pull the story
We're in it to win it
Don't be fooled by our lugers smiles, they have a take-no-prisoners strategy
By ROB LONGLEY (
[email protected]), TORONTO SUN
WHISTLER -- When it comes to Olympic Games in our home and native land, no one knows better than Canadians where nice guys usually finish.
So as B.C. readies to welcome the world, perhaps it's time to be less than gracious hosts.
The griping from afar is reaching full volume, framed with surprise that the friendly northern nation could be so cutthroat.
Arguably most vocal has been the U.S. luge team, complaining about restricted access to the tricky track at the Whistler Sliding Centre.
To that, Canadian officials say: Tough sliding.
"From my position, we would be stupid not to take home-field advantage," Canadian coach Wolfgang Staudinger said here on Tuesday.
"I'm quite happy we did what we did. I wish we would have done it a little more."
Earlier this week it was the Austrian ski team moaning about restricted access to the Dave Murray Downhill course. Before that it has been speed skaters denied exposure to the Richmond Oval. So the whiners of the world are claiming we are taking home ice/slope/track advantage a little too far.
"I've been in this position for 25 years and I won't forget," USA Luge executive Ron Rossi said recently. "The U.S. will also be fortunate enough to have a Games at some point in the future."
That hardly has the Canadians shaking in their sleds. To a man and woman on Tuesday they said it's all fair play, a situation encountered any time they venture abroad for a World Cup event.
"As traditionally modest Canadians, maybe it took some people by surprise," women's single competitor Regan Lauscher said. "Olympic Games or not, home ice is home ice and any nation would take advantage of that."
The athletes and coaches have seen it first hand, especially Stuadinger, who was hired in 2007 to help take Canadians from mere participants to contenders. The former German Olympian says gamesmanship always has been part of the Euro-dominated sport.
"We face this as soon as we enter European soil," Staudinger said. "The Germans basically put a lock on the tracks and you do not get extra runs.
PLAYING BY THE RULES
"We did everything we had to do. We followed the international rules. I don't see any cause for (the complaints.)"
The tiff has roots back to 2002 when the Canadians were granted extra runs to prepare for the Salt Lake Games. But that was a lifetime ago in the sport for both countries. Now, the U.S. has a medal contender in Erin Hamlin and the Canadians have their own woman prospect in Alex Gough, a regular in the top 10 who could make a surprise leap to the podium here.
The Americans argue there was a handshake agreement that would allow their athletes to have similar access to that given the Canadians prior to Salt Lake.
That deteriorated a year ago when the Canadians asked for an extra week to prepare for the world championships in Lake Placid in exchange for the Americans getting one extra week here. When USA Luge said it wanted four weeks in Whistler, all bets were off.
"You always want more (practice) especially on an Olympic track," USA Luge veteran, Tony Benshoof said on Tuesday, biting his tongue. "And the Canadians gave us the bare minimum."