Diary Vancouver
Medal tally – week one
Friday 19 February – Day 8. After the first week of competition, the medal tally is as follows:
| United States (18) | Gold 6, Silver 5, Bronze 7 |
| Germany (11) | Gold 4, Silver 4, Bronze 3 |
| Norway (8) | Gold 3, Silver 3, Bronze 2 |
| Canada (7) | Gold 3, Silver 3, Bronze 1 |
| France (5) | Gold 3, Silver 2, Bronze 0 |
The Netherlands have received 3 medals so far. After the gold medal for Sven Kramer for the 5000m speed skating, the second and third Olympic medal for the Dutch Olympic Team were won by Annette Gerritsen and Laurine van Riessen, claiming silver and bronze for the 1000m speed skating at the Olympic Oval in Richmond.
One week into the Games
Thursday 18 February – One week into the Winter Games; where do we stand? The organizing committee, VANOC, has really been challenged. The fatal accident of the young Georgian luger on the sliding track on the day of the opening; unseasonably high temperatures and rain that caused several delays and resulted in cancellation of up to 28,000 tickets for spectator stands for snowboard events on Cypress Mountain. Also, the logistics around the venues have been widely criticized. Will these Games be unsuccessful and not lead up to expectations? VANOC’s volunteers are proving this wrong - their enthusiasm and tireless help make this an unforgettable experience for everyone participating in and attending these Games. Around 25,000 people have given up their time and have taken on a wide variety of roles in order to ensure that the world’s best winter athletes can compete to their full potential.
A golden day for the USA
Wednesday 17 February - Day 6. Cherry blossoms bloom, but no one seems to complain about the weather any more. In Whistler the skiers call it a blue-bird day when the sun is out and the snow is right. These picture perfect conditions sparked an Olympic gold rush by the USA, winning a record number of gold medals in a single day: Lindsey Vonn gets her gold medal for downhill skiing in Whistler; Shani Davis completes his gold-medal 1000m skate at the Olympic Oval in Richmond; Shaun White celebrates his winning score in the half pipe final at Cypress mountain.
Swiss team claims third gold
Monday 15 February – Day 4. Didier Defago receives Olympic Gold by winning the men's downhill race at Whistler Creekside, one of the most prestigious events of the Olympic Winter Games.
This puts Switzerland on top of the medal tally, after victories in the men's ski jump and the 15 km cross-country skiing event.
The ‘Spring Games’?
Sunday 14 February – Day 3. Temperatures today rise to well over 10°C in Vancouver and VANOC, the organizing committee of the Winter Games, continues to fight the bad snow conditions on the slopes of Cypress Mountain facing rain and high temperatures. However, it is a beautiful day for Canada: Alex Bilodeau becomes the first Canadian to win a gold medal on home soil in the men’s moguls – on Cypress Mountain!
Skin suit made with Dyneema® makes Olympic speed skating debut
Saturday 13 February - Hot on the heels of the official opening ceremony of the XXI Olympic Winter Games comes the start of the speed skating tournament. The Dutch Olympic short-track team will be wearing a new and innovative CRAFT one layer skin suit, made with Dyneema®, which is lighter and more comfortable due to intrinsic cooling properties than comparable alternatives, whilst offering for the first time, full body protection. Previously, Olympic athletes wore two layer skin suits – an under layer for protection purposes and a surface layer for aesthetic appearance. DSM has developed this one layer full body protection skin suit in cooperation with the Royal Dutch Skating Association.
The Games have begun!
Saturday 13 February – Day 2. After a dazzling opening ceremony it is time for the athletes to get engaged in the Olympic competition. Several competitions kick off today, including alpine skiing, biathlon, ice hockey, short track skating and speed skating.
In the Olympic Oval in Richmond, the men’s 5000 m speed skating competition brings the first gold medal for the Dutch team, with Sven Kramer beating the competition in a new Olympic record time!
Bobsled pusher Timothy Beck to carry flag for the Netherlands
Friday 12 February - Opening of the XXI Olympic Winter Games. Today, during the grand opening of the Vancouver Winter Games, Timothy Beck, member of the bobsled team sponsored by DSM, carries the flag for the Netherlands. Timothy, a 33-year old Dutch sprinter, has the position of pusher in the 4-man bob. He also competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where he finished in a seventeenth position in the 4-man bob. During the 2010 winter Games Timothy will compete on 26 and 27 February.
One day to go…
Thursday, 11 February. With only one day to go, the world can look forward to seeing spectacular athletic competition, as the world’s best athletes take to the Olympic sports venues of Vancouver. Canada is counting down for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Olympic flame will arrive in Vancouver on Friday evening 12 February, after a 106-days trek across Canada. During the next 17 days, athletes from all over the world will compete for Olympic glory in 15 different sports disciplines. And, also for DSM, it will be an exciting time with several innovative products being put into practice in various disciplines.
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