Olympics Notebook: Vancouver 2010

Raining hockey pucks at the Olympics

Molly Riley writes:

Covering hockey at ice level is rarely without excitement but usually without injury to photographers … until the game I was working at last Friday.

I was covering the last of three hockey games in one day from our assigned position in a seat against the glass. During second period a puck that was shot up to the net above the glass dropped straight down and hit me on the leg. I didn’t think much of it and while fans scrambled for the loose puck I thought ‘what are the chances of that happening?’

Then during the third period another puck was shot up into the net and came straight down, this time on my head.

I did not see it coming but knew what it was when it hit, and I thought ‘hmmm I just got hit on the head with a puck…’ It didn’t hurt much but I felt my head and found it bleeding. I cleared my cameras and laptop away, leaned over the isle watching blood drip from my head to a pool in the floor, and signaled for help.

A doctor from the crowd came down and said the cut didn’t look too deep. Soon a couple of medics appeared, moved me to a seat a couple rows up, and proceeded to wrap an over sized bandage around my head. They stood me up and as we walked up the isle, spectators in the two neighboring sections applauded. The medic told me that they were applauding for me. Embarrassed and laughing, the only thing I could think of to do was to wave to acknowledge their applause.

We arrived to the clinic onsite and after getting treatment I walked out to a group of waiting colleagues who were concerned and eager to show me the photos, some of which had already been tagged on Facebook.

Olympic ice hockey final, closing ceremony — live

We’re at rinkside in Vancouver to bring you live coverage of the Winter Olympics ice hockey final between Canada and the United States. And join us later for the closing ceremony of these Games.

Winter Games, day 14 — live

The men’s ice hockey semi-finals pitting the United States against Finland and Canada against Slovakia are the highlights of the day … but with the mayhem of short track speed skating and the women’s curling final there’s plenty of other action to shout about… Join us here today and every day of the Games.

Winter Olympics, day 13 — live

There’s a surprise winner in the women’s giant slalom, and medals to be decided in cross-country skiing, nordic combined, freestyle skiing, women’s hockey and, tonight, one of the most eagerly awaited events of the Games … the women’s figure skating, with the decisive free skate pitting South Korea’s Kim Yuna and Japan’s Mao Asada.

Winter Games, day 12 — live

Lindsey Vonn goes for gold again in the women’s Alpine skiing giant slalom and we’ll be here to follow that and all the action, including some spectacular freestyle skiing late on, on day 12 of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The other event not to be missed is Russia v Canada in the men’s ice hockey quarter-finals, starting at 1630 local time, 1930 ET and 0030 GMT. Can the hosts overcome the Red Machine and keep their golden dream alive? If not, there are going to be a lot of glum faced Canadians on the streets of Vancouver.

Winter Games, day 11 — live

Canada v Germany in the hockey is the highlight of the Winter Olympics programme today, with the host nation facing a test of nerve in this sudden death play-off.

That’s not all, though, folks, with the men’s giant slalom in alpine skiing one of five medal events.

Olympics Hockey Super Sunday — live

We’re running a live blog on the mouth-watering line up of hockey on Sunday, featuring Russia v Czech Republic in Group B, Canada v United States in Group A and Sweden v Finland in Group C.

We’ll be talking hockey all day so please feel free to dip in. The fun starts Sunday. Early.

Winter Olympics — day four

Our live blog on the Winter Olympics is up and running. Follow it in this window (or by clicking on the headline) and follow the main medal action, with on-the-spot comments from our team of reporters.

“Support Our Troops” slogan falls foul of Olympic rules

Trouble is brewing over United States ice hockey goalie Jonathan Quick and the “Support Our Troops” slogan on his helmet. Slogans of this sort are banned under Olympic rules and Quick will be told to remove it, the International Ice Hockey Federation has told Reuters.

Ryan Miller has also been told to remove the slogan “Miller Time” from his helmet while the third American netminder Tim Thomas had already placed a sticker over a slogan on his mask for the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

IOC rules forbid political propoganda or advertisements being placed on equipment. “If the players don’t agree with the interpretation they can ask the USOC (United States Olympic Committee) to petition the IOC.”

Miller said he had agreed to remove “Miller Time”, which is also a popular beer company slogan, but might fight to keep “Matt Man”, a tribute to a dead friend from being taken off his helmet.

What do you think? Should athletes be allowed to carry personal or political messages on their clothing or equipment at the Olympic Games? Or is the IOC right to keep such messages out of the Games?

Comments welcome…