02-08-2002, 05:52 PM
Quote:Friday, February 8, 2002
First Olympic action delayed by high winds
SALT LAKE CITY -- Winter weather got the best of the Winter Olympics on Friday.
Ski jump qualifying on the 90-meter hill, the first competition of the Winter Games, was delayed for at least three hours because of high winds and blowing snow at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City.
Practice for the men's downhill, the premier event of alpine skiing, was canceled, and so was women's downhill training. Practice runs for men's singles luge were delayed.
A snowstorm moved into Utah the morning of the opening ceremony, bringing with it strong winds and making visibility difficult at mountain venues.
"It's almost a whiteout situation," Utah Olympic Park press marshall Dee Corum said. "It's not snowing right now, but it's blowing hard and very fast. The front is coming from the north, which is absolutely the worst position to come from if you're a jumper."
Venue managers announced that the ski jumping competition, originally scheduled to start at 11 a.m. EST, would be pushed back until 2 p.m.
The Utah Olympic Park is 28 miles east of downtown Salt Lake City.
At Snowbasin, 33 miles north of Salt Lake City, training for the men's downhill was canceled because of strong winds that whipped snow across the Grizzly course. The men had a practice run there Thursday, and have another scheduled for Saturday. The race is set for Sunday.
The women now hope to have their first training run Saturday. Their downhill is set for Monday.
So, let me get this straight because maybe I am a tad slow today.
The winter olympics were delayed because the weather was, I don't know, wintery?
What the fuck did they fuckin expect? 80 degrees, Sunny with a chance of clouds????