Vancouver is gearing up

In less than a year, Vancouver will be host to sixteen countries, all competing to be on top at the XXI Winter Olympic Games.

With little time left before British Columbia becomes host to the world, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (VANOC) officials are in full swing, putting touches on all final details.

The official Olympic countdown kicked off on Feb. 12, with Jacques Rogge unveiling the torch bearer uniform.

Besides finalizing the Sport Venues and Opening/Ceremonies, VANOC has put out a call for 25,000 volunteers.

Canada has held two past Winter Olympic Games, the last one being in 1988 in Calgary, Alberta.

Gretzky says no

Those hoping to see the Great One representing Team Canada will be disappointed. Hall of fame hockey player Wayne Gretzky will not be a part of the 2010 Canadian Olympic hockey team in Vancouver.

“I don’t know how many times I can say this,” Gretzky told Ballhype.com, “I’m not involved. I don’t plan on being involved. I really enjoyed my time with Team Canada. I think it’s a privilege to be part of Team Canada. It was a great honor for me. And I loved it. But I really felt stepping aside and having a new regime take over—a fresh start heading into Vancouver—was the best for Canada.”

Gretzky was last involved as the executive director of the Canadian men’s hockey team in 2006 at the Winter Olympic games in Turin, Italy, where the team lost in the quarter finals, failing to medal.

Good steroid news?

With all the controversy surrounding sport and steroids it is good to see a positive story.

One of the biggest worries with sports role models using steroids is how it might affect the youth but, according to SI.com, testing in Texas shows only nine out of about 19,000 high school athletes tested positive for steroid use.

The last test on about 10,000 high school athletes only reported four cases of steroid use.

Politics and sport still don’t mix

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) is fining the organizers of the Dubai Tennis Championship $300,000 after the Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer was denied a visa by the United Arab Emirates.

According to SI.com, the WTA plans to compensate Peer and put measures forward to assure that this will never happen again.

U.S. tennis star Andy Roddick is taking a stand as well as he will not defend the championship he won at the tournament last year.

“I really didn’t agree with what went on over there. I don’t know if it’s the best thing to mix politics and sports, and that was probably a big part of it,” said Roddick.

Like father, like son

Notre Dame faithful might see a familiar sight playing at the quarterback position. The name Montana may grace the back of a Fighting Irish jersey once again.

According to SI.com, Nick Montana, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana, has shown interest in playing with his father’s alma mater.

Nick Montana has also received offers from Florida State, Maryland, Ohio State, LSU, South Carolina, Arizona, and Sanford.

Published in Volume 63, Number 21 of The Uniter (February 26, 2009)