There is no denying that mistakes have been made at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Some big ones, too. Tragedy. Logistical problems. Breakdowns involving prototype ice resurfacing machines. Flawed -- and baffling -- planning around the outdoor Olympic cauldron.
Yet those visiting international media who waited only four days -- or less than a quarter of the 17-day event -- before slamming Vancouver 2010 with over-the-top hyperbole such as “Worst Games Ever” are either guilty of sticking their necks out way too far or irresponsible journalism.
Most professional journalists covering the business of sport editorialize in the right context and with proper background and comparative analysis. They don’t sensationalize.
Yet that's exactly what happened in the case of some foreign press headlines screaming about Vancouver 2010 -- after only the opening weekend -- in the most negative of terms.
The analogies are imperfect, but it’s akin to football reporters covering this year’s Super Bowl XLIV between New Orleans and Indianapolis using the first quarter results alone to declare the Saints performance the worst in Super Bowl history or those suggesting at the start of the second quarter of Super Bowl XXII that the Washington Redskins played a poor game against the Denver Broncos. History shows both the Saints and Redskins overcame 10-point deficits and were ultimately measured on the strength of their whole-game performance...as Super Bowl champions.
Even if some or even most of the international media criticism is valid, the hyperbole and "Worst Ever" tag is both unfair and inaccurate. But if the media criticism has been too harsh to be justified, the reaction of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee has been equally problematic -- especially on its handling of the outdoor cauldron issue, which has bordered on unfathomable.
VANOC would be doing itself a huge favour if only it acknowledged some of its mistakes and took the opportunity to remind everyone of its commitment to delivering a terrific Games for the athletes, paying customers and the international media and sponsors. It would likely gain more of the benefit of the doubt from the media if it did.
On the issue of the media reviews, the initial mistakes and disappointments can't be erased and their damage has been done...but let’s wait for the paint to dry on the canvas before fully judging the artwork.
Let American superstar snowboarder Shaun White and others do their extraordinary stuff. Let the natural environment of British Columbia speak for itself as a big plus of Vancouver as an Olympic host city. And let the biggest hockey tournament in our lifetimes -- played at the best hockey venue in the history of the Winter Games -- tell its story.
Those storylines should weigh in before any definitive judgements are applied to Vancouver 2010.
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