Every four years, the Winter Olympic Games delight and wow sports fans across the world. The Games are only able to put on a fixed number of events, and after watching the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics for two straight weeks, the Emerald editorial board voted* for the top five events we think should be included in future Games.
* Disclaimer: Vote trading, bribery, intimidation and hanging chads were not part of the editorial board’s voting process.
Our top choice was a tie: figure skating and curling. Figure skating is a popular favorite, mainly because it combines artistry and athleticism in an entertaining way. Plus, audiences can always count on figure skating for a good scandal. From Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, to this year’s placement conspiracy — more popularly known as “Skategate,” or the “axel of evil” — the sport keeps viewers engrossed as the soap operas unfold.
Curling is simply fun to watch, and it presents a peculiar intensity. The athletes slide their “stones” down the ice as teammates rush in front of it with push brooms, the stone handler usually barking instructions the whole way. Curling is an acquired taste, but this year’s competition has drawn more interest, if only from those wondering what’s so exciting about stones and brooms on ice.
Skeleton was another notable sport, especially since it debuted into the Salt Lake City Olympics after a 54-year hiatus. We hope the skeleton competition will continue in the future — what other sport has humans sliding headfirst, 2 inches away from a slick track of ice and going upwards of 80 mph?
Half-pipe snowboarding was celebrated this year, not only because four Americans took medals, but because of the joy in watching the talking heads on NBC try to incorporate snowboarder lingo into the winner interviews.
Aerials was another sport where the athletes faced certain death after launching themselves more than 50 feet in the air, twisting and turning and then landing on a steep hill. Although all of the Olympic sports are infinitely dangerous, aerials are particularly exciting to watch because of the apparent insanity of the athletes.
We hope the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, will be as exciting event-wise as the Salt Lake City Games.