are they there already? Wow. Did not know. When do official practices start? I guess after opening ceremonies?
Here's a very short Korean news clip. I don't understand Korean, but I think it tells about Yuna Kims practice group. Pair skaters shown at the Oly practice: Kemp/King, Volosozhar/Morozov, Savchenko/Szolkowy, Morand/Dorsaz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxyhChaRUPs
"Inconvenient Meeting Avoided" (This is the translation of the headline of this you tube clip).
It's saying that Yuna's practice schedule could not be "better" Yuna's practice team includes ladies skaters from Croatia (world rank 13), Estonia (18th), German (20th), Korean (Kwak, ranked 57th) and Austria (61st). (Don't recognize the names so I won't try to list the names even though they are written in Korean on the screen).
Mao on the other hand is in a practice group that includes Ando and Akkiko. It says that ladies practices will begin on the 9th until the 21st and ladies are allowed to practice every day but in the same assigned groups. Yuna is not going to arrive in Vancouver until the 21st so the fans will have to wait until then.
This is a strange story since if Yuna doesn't arrive until 21st, it shouldn't matter who she is in a practice group with since she wouldn't be practicing much with them. I think it's just Korean media wanting to get their first story on Yuna vs. Mao.
Then the story moved onto the Pairs practice, which has already begun. and then the Ladies Hockey Team and how Hockey is the #1 sport in Canada and it's feeling more and more that Olympics is here.
That's my take on the clip.
After a seemingly innocuous question, Amanda almost broke down in tears thinking of how far she and Mark have come. That led to her telling the room that a woman at her church told her that if she ever felt like she was going to cry, to press her tongue to the roof of her mouth, and that will hold off the tears. She managed to keep them back, but just barely.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100209/ARTICLE/2091045/-1/NEWSSITEMAP?p=3&tc=pg
"Ladwig, who has a 5-month-old son with his wife, Janet, is the only one of the skaters who is married.
Barrett's mother, Laurie Andrews, is quietly wishing that changes.
"I am so hoping there will be six rings at the Olympics this year instead of five," she said."
Is this the engagement Sarah and Drew were predicting and then retracted at Nationals?
Anyways, I am off to the Games today so won't be posting on here - except a couple practice reports if I have time. Good luck to all skaters!! Hopefully all the disciplines will be very exciting and full of great performances! :thumbsup: