Videos of the Week – 2006 Winter Olympics

Time to finish our look back at the TV coverage of the Winter Olympics. This week will begin another Winter Olympiad, this time on the North American continent. It might be the last for a while so enjoy it while you can.

In 2006, the youth of the world gathered in Turin, Italy for the Winter Olympics. NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol fell in love with the Italian pronunciation of Turin and called it Torino. However, the Associated Press and the BBC called it by the correct English translation, Turin. Besides, the Shroud of Turin is not called the Shroud of Torino, but Ebersol insisted his entire announcing team call it Torino so it was. It was kind of pretentious of Ebersol to do so and the opening of the Olympics for NBC’s coverage was quite pretentious, but it’s also very well produced. So check it and then look for Jim Lampley kicking off NBC’s opening night in 2006. Watch him very closely as you won’t see him this year.

In 2006, CBC began what would be its last two Olympic broadcasts as it discovered the year before that CTV would air the Games from Vancouver, but CBC plugged on. CBC also decided to label this as “Torino”. The volume on this opening is low so you’ll have to turn up your speakers for this video.

Here’s the open of BBC’s coverage as introduced by the lovely Sue Barker.

This is a promo for BBC’s coverage leading up to the 2006 games. Pretty cool.

To the men’s ice hockey competition and Canada could not repeat its glory in Salt Lake. Here’s 3rd period highlights from Team Canada’s game against Finland. CBC’s Bob Cole and Harry Neale are on the call. Look for the classic, “Ruutu is a Turtle” sign near the end.

Here are highlights of the Gold Medal Game between Sweden and Finland, certainly not expected. I guess this is from the Swedish feed. Sweden won the game, 3-2. Just watch.

Our only figure skating video is going to be devoted to Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto in the Ice Dancing Original Dance. Tanith is hot. This led to them taking silver in the event. And this is the call from EuroSport. Tanith and Ben are looking for gold in Vancouver.

Let’s go to Short Track. Here’s Ted Robinson calling the 1,000 men’s final and called by Ted Robinson on NBC. Apolo Anton Ohno of the US skated against his South Korean rival Ahn Hyun-Soo and here’s how it transpired.

This is the Short Track 5,000 men’s relay as called by CBC. I believe this is Scott Oake and Karen Auch in the broadcast booth. South Korea won the exciting 45 lap race over defending gold medalist Canada in a very close contest.

Let’s check out Sh
aun White in the half pipe as called by CBC’s Brenda Irving and Tara Teigan.

And this is Lindsey Jacobellis’ tremendous error that cost her the gold in the women’s snowboard finals. She’s still trying to live this down.

This isn’t great quality, but here’s the race as called by the BBC’s Ed Leigh. He captures the moment perfectly. Tanja Frieden of Switzerland wins the gold after Jacobellis hot dogged it on the second to last jump.

Here’s the medal ceremony is downtown Turin. Lindsey actually looks happy taking the silver.

As get ready to conclude our video presentation, this is CBC’s opening to the final day of competition. Again, the volume is low.

This is CBC going over Canada’s record medal output in Turin, 7 golds, 10 silver and 7 bronze. Once again, the volume is low.

I can’t embed this next video, but I can link you to the closing of NBC’s coverage with the credits.

That will do it for our look back at the Winter Olympics. Next week? I have no idea what I’m going to do for Videos of the Week. I’ll think of something.