As many as three million people are expected to attend the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. The security concerns and economic opportunities are great for both Canada and Washington state.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
We have been actively trying to have New York City host the 2012 Olympics.
I think the Winter Olympics are definitely on a smaller scale than the summer games, but with the inclusion of cool new sports like slope style skiing and snowboarding, it is going to breathe new life into them and attract a whole new crowd.
The Olympic dream was born in 2010 during the qualifications to Vancouver. And when I was watching those Olympics from the sidelines, I felt that I wanted to have my Games. I understood that it wouldn't be easy to make them, especially now that in Russia there are a lot of strong girls.
In Montreal, I kept thinking, 'Pay attention: this is the Olympics! It only happens once every four years!'
Even if you've been involved in a World Cup, the Olympics is huge. Only the Games has the power to change communities.
The Olympic Games are for the world and all nations must be admitted to them.
The Olympics are a wonderful metaphor for world cooperation, the kind of international competition that's wholesome and healthy, an interplay between countries that represents the best in all of us.
No one pretends anymore that the Olympics are just about sports. It's routine to talk about what effect holding the Games in this or that capital will have on the host country's international reputation, how a nation's prestige can be raised by its medal count.
Not a lot of people get to go to the Olympics - especially with the chance I've got.
Unfortunately, there are not many people in the world who get to experience the Olympic Games.