From Bend to Beijing, Zamboni drivers are crucial for creating Olympic-quality ice conditions
Five of the 15 winter Olympic sports have two common dominators: The ice they share and the machine that takes care of it.
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Bend’s Tommy Ford set for first ski race back from injury, at 2022 Winter Olympics
Just over a year ago, Tommy Ford was in a hospital bed, recovering from major knee surgery and a concussion, unsure of when he’d be able to race again.
Continue ReadingAs the Olympics heat up, China clamps down on dissent
By Simone McCarthy, Selina Wang and Sandi Sidhu, CNN As Winter Olympians vie for gold in Beijing, global attention has turned to events in the extensive Olympic “bubble” — a zone sealing off visiting athletes, media and participants from the rest of the host city to prevent the spread of Covid-19. But in a different
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Bend Olympian Ben Ferguson trades halfpipe snowboarding for freeriding
Snowboarding the halfpipe allowed Bend’s Ben Ferguson to travel the world, capturing a Youth Olympic gold medal and making two X Games podiums, but following the 2018 Olympic Games, he switched his focus to a more barebones snowboarding approach.
Continue ReadingNathan Chen wins gold with figure skating master class
By Simone McCarthy, CNN American ice skater Nathan Chen has won his first Olympic Gold medal with a flawless performance that set him well above the competition in the men’s free skate. Chen, who had been the favorite going into Thursday’s event, pulled off his win with a long program packed with moves to show
Continue ReadingKremlin won’t confirm positive drug test reports while backing Kamila Valieva and all Russian figure skaters
By Rebecca Wright, Christine Brennan, Helen Regan and Nathan Hodge, CNN Russian teenage figure skater Kamila Valieva, who is at the center of a drug testing controversy at Beijing 2022, has received the support of the Kremlin back in Moscow, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov would not confirm reports of a positive test among the
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‘Wonderful experience’: Bend man reflects on role as team doctor at 1992 Olympics and beyond
When an Olympian makes the podium, they may be the only one to win a medal, but not the only one to share the Olympic glory. There are a lot of people behind the scenes putting in hard work, too. Bend is home to one of those key players.
Continue ReadingFigure skating medal ceremony delayed after positive drug test, reports say
By Nathan Hodge, Mitch McCluskey, AnneClaire Stapleton and Gawon Bae, CNN Figure skaters have not yet received their medals in the figure skating team event at Beijing 2022 after one athlete on the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) tested positive for a prohibited substance, Russian newspaper RBC and CNN Sports analyst Christine Brennan reported Wednesday. The
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Jack Elder turned 15 minutes of luge practice into an Olympic appearance
Jack Elder walked on to the world championships in Davos Switzerland, sled in hand and raced his first competitive race.
Continue ReadingItaly beats Norway to win Olympic gold in mixed curling
By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer BEIJING (AP) — Italy won the gold medal in mixed doubles curling to complete a near-perfect Olympics. The 8-5 win over Norway at the Ice Cube capped a dominant performance for Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini. The Italians were undefeated in the round-robin and then advanced to the gold
Continue ReadingAustrian skier Mayer makes it 3 golds in 3 straight Olympics
By DANIELLA MATAR and ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writers BEIJING (AP) — Matthias Mayer became the first man to win gold medals in Alpine skiing at three straight Olympics after finishing first in the super-G at the Beijing Games. Mayer raised his ski pole in the air as he crossed the line and then faced
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Ski-jumping competition — on Pilot Butte? You betcha!
In a special Olympic Zone segment, NewsChannel 21’s Lee Anderson talks with an organizer and a competitor in the 1965 National Junior Ski Championships, which were hosted in Bend, on Mt. Bachelor and… the ski-jumping competition on Pilot Butte!?
Continue ReadingBEIJING SNAPSHOT: A scramble for scarce Olympic souvenirs
By JOE McDONALD Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — The race is on to snap up scarce 2022 Winter Olympic souvenirs. Dolls of mascot Bing Dwen Dwen sold out after buyers waited in line overnight in freezing weather. People showed up with stools outside the Gongmei Emporium on the Wangfujing pedestrian mall in central Beijing. Some
Continue ReadingUSA Luge’s men’s program looks to the future after Beijing
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer BEIJING (AP) — USA Luge’s Chris Mazdzer had X-rays on his aching right foot a few days ago and the results were as expected. It’s still broken. With that, it became official. The U.S. men’s luge team was never fully healthy at any point this season. There were no
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Wax on: Bend High grad getting Team USA Snowboarding’s Beijing gear up to speed
When it comes to who gets to go to the Olympics, there are so many more involved besides athletes and coaches.
Continue ReadingIn Beijing, Olympic ideals coexist with authoritarian rule
By TIM SULLIVAN Associated Press His collar turned up against the cold, the head of the International Olympic Committee looked out over the stadium and spoke of the ideals that had brought together athletes from all over the world. “In our fragile world, where division, conflict and mistrust are on the rise, we show the
Continue ReadingLost sports of the Winter Olympics: Skijoring, the wild blend of horses and skis
By Jack Bantock, CNN Video by Finn McSkimming This Friday, a highly-anticipated winter sporting competition with a rich history will get underway — but it’s not the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Over 6,000 miles away from the Chinese capital in Kamas, Utah, thousands will flock to High Star Ranch to watch skiers hurtle around a
Continue ReadingAn Olympics like no other: Can sports overcome the controversy of Beijing 2022?
By Nectar Gan, CNN The ice rinks have been smoothed out, the brown mountain slopes draped with artificial snow. The Olympic flame has made its final journey to the heart of Beijing, lighting up the night sky. Defying a raging pandemic and months of international controversy, the 2022 Winter Olympics officially opened as scheduled in
Continue ReadingIndia launches last-minute diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics over Chinese soldier
By Simone McCarthy and Rhea Mogul, CNN India on Thursday announced a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing after a commander involved in 2020 border clashes between the two countries appeared as an Olympic torchbearer in the customary torch relay leading up to the Games. The last-minute boycott, which will see India’s top
Continue ReadingHow to watch the 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony
BEIJING (AP) — Olympic fans in the United States will be able to watch the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games on Friday with their morning cup of coffee. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. in China. That’s 7 a.m. on the East Coast of the United States given the 13-hour time
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