Saturday, January 26, 2002

AP has Canada falling

By STEVE BUFFERY -- Toronto Sun
 The feeling south of the border is that Canadian Olympic Association officials must be wearing rose-coloured glass when it comes to predicting the outcome of the Salt Lake Games.

 Team chef de mission Sally Rehorick confirmed yesterday the association's hope for the Canadian team is to finish third overall in total medals in Salt Lake -- two spots up from the 1998 Nagano Olympics, where the squad finished in fifth. Not only was that a record placement for Canada, it also marked the first time the team placed ahead of the Americans.

 "We're looking for a short-term goal of third place in total medals with the idea that we would shoot for second in Turin (the 2006 Winter Games) and first in Vancouver, keeping our fingers crossed (that Vancouver will win the nod to host the 2010 Winter Olympics)," Rehorick said yesterday.

 A TREND

 Rehorick said the third-place finish prediction is more or less based on the fact Canada has moved up consistently in the medal standings since the 1992 Albertville Games.

 "So this is part of the upward trend," she said. "We have a lot of depth on this team and I'm continually amazed how good they are."

 However, many Olympic insiders believe the COA is delusional and that third overall is not realistic. Somehow, the COA believes Canada can become the dominate power in international winter sport, despite the fact the federal government has implemented financial cutbacks for years.

 The Associated Press wire service released its medal predictions yesterday and the prediction for Canada is much less optimistic than the COA's. In fact, not only does the AP believe Canada will not move up to third in the medal standings, its prediction is Canada actually will drop a spot from Nagano to sixth overall. Canada earned 15 medals (6-5-4) in Nagano, behind Germany (29), Norway (26), Russia (17) and Austria (17) and two ahead of the Americans.

 Fueled by an increase in spending in winter sports in the U.S. and the fact the Games are on home soil, the AP has predicted a huge improvement for the American team from Nagano. Indeed, the service is predicting the Yanks will win 31 medals in Salt Lake and will finish second to Germany with 34.

 Following those two teams, according to the AP's predictions, will be Norway (25), Austria and Russia (both with 17) and then Canada (16). A far cry from third-place overall.

 Many believe competing on home soil in front of supportive fans is not always an advantage.

 "The American team is doing well," Joze Sparovec, Alpine Canada's high-performance director, said. "It's in a good position going into the Olympics. On the other hand, there is a lot of additional pressure with racing at home."

2002 Games News Coverage