As millions of Canadians and Americans (and others worldwide) sat down last night to watch the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, CTV and NBC seem to have made a barbaric and Machiavellian ratings decision to broadcast the Olympic equivalent of a snuff-film.

While CTV and NBC have made attempts to justify their decision to broadcast the death of a Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, one really needs to wonder (little) if the nationality of Kumaritashvili had been Canadian or American, would the network executives have made a different decision.

[Firstly, congratulation to Squamish's Maelle Ricker for winning gold today in women's snowboard cross.]

Things seem to be going from bad to worse for VANOC -- the "dream team" tasked with making Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics a profitable reality.

We are only into Day 5 of this 17-day mega party and already, VANOC has endured the untimely death of Georgian luger, Nodar ­Kumaritashvili, the cancellation of 28,000 spectator tickets at Cypress Bowl for the snowboard half-pipe, ski cross and snowboard parallel giant slalom, electrical problems, confused bus drivers, and long food lineups at Cypress Mountain.

Where is it safe to protest in Vancouver during the Olympics? Everywhere, actually. Canadians have the right to assemble and protest wherever we like. However it seems that the Integrated Security Unit (ISU)for the Vancouver Olympics would like protesters to think that they have to limit their opinion-laden activities to specific areas within the city, called "Safe Assembly Areas."

"In an effort to facilitate the right to lawful protest, where possible, security planners will identify visible areas where people may CHOOSE to lawfully express their views in safe locations close to Olympic venues," says the ISU.

I wanted to share VANOC's manifesto for non-rights holding broadcast organizations during the 2010 Games. Very thorough and interesting reading for those of you who are into the "fine details" and will be watching the two-week extravaganza on either CTV or NBC.

Straight from VANOC's press release:

TELEVISION NEWS ACCESS RULES APPLICABLE
TO NON-RIGHTS HOLDING BROADCAST ORGANISATIONS
AT THE VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES

I don't usually gamble, mostly due to lack of skill and knowledge of the odds, but when it comes to the Olympics I'd bet on practically everything on the horizon. Why? Because predicting future Olympic outcomes are less about chance than sound empiricism.

My statistical abilities have in fact been particularly acute about Vancouver's 2010 Winter Games, now just three weeks from the opening ceremonies. So here are a few of my predictions for February's circus, one for each day:

With one month to go before the 2010 Olympics, organizers are matching wits with Mother Nature to save every flake of white gold on them ther hills.

For once, I agree with Vanoc. These might be the "greenest games ever" now that the grass is starting to poke through the melting snow. The green trees will match the mysterious green Olympic rings that were recently erected on the Dave Murray Downhill course in Whistler.

Reports from New York confirm that talks between the two hedge fund owners, Fortress Investment Group and Davidson Kempner have reached an impasse. With Intrawest late on a $524 million debt payment, it now appears that the Canadian government may need to step in to save the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Not the kind of news that Olympic organizers need with just over a month before the opening ceremonies.

During the Depression, people were asked, "Brother, can you spare a dime?"
In the prelude to the 2010 Olympics, Vanoc is asking, "Brother, can you spare an extra room?"

This week, local papers reported that Vanoc is looking for housing for 700 Whistler-area Olympic Games volunteers. With less than 63 days before the Owe-lympics, that's a whole lotta beds to fill, putting many volunteer positions in jeopardy.