For a country of only 4 million people, Norway is doing pretty well in the olympics (OL in Norwegian), but you wouldn't know it being here. Everywhere you look are headlines of the "katastroffe" (catastrophe) in the OL. The Norwegians failed to get a medal today in the biatholon relay race and only got a bronze in the team ski jump. Along with the Norwegian men's curling team being upset, many of the supposed Norwegian medal contenders just haven't come through. And, unfortunately for Norway, all Norwegian media lists the medal count based on gold medals and not overall medals. So, instead of Norway being second (because they have the second most medals) they are somewhere around 10th with only 2 golds, tied with Sweden. The ultimate embarassment.
Despite the Norwegian disappointment, there is definitely olympic fever here. Every store you go into, including the grocery store, has a small tv showing the olympics. Today we even turned on a tv in our peace center and gathered around watching the biatholon relay. Hopefully things will turn around for the Norwegian team, but I think most of their best events are done (basically anything with skies.) Keep your fingers crossed though, the Norwegian women's curling team is in the semifinals and ready to make this country proud! While the Americans are all watching figure skating, I'll be watching "chess on ice": curling!
1 Comment:
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2:57 AM
HiScott, I agree - I thought Norway was doing pretty well in the Olympics and I was kind of proud and rooting for them. Mom and I were both pumped up for the cross country relay after watching the dramatic story about Italy and Norway. Too bad Norway really did not show up for that race! If you find out what happened, let me know. I would love to be over there and watch it with some of you guys and the norwegians perspective. Have fun and GO NORWAY!
