orangeman

Most provinces in Canada are starting to very slowly ease some restrictions. Some provinces have had no new cases in a few days, so they are going a bit further. In my province (Ontario), some big open retailers like garden centers and car dealerships are opening up this week. It'll be another couple of weeks until anything else happens, though. In Quebec they're starting to allow some retail stores to open, and are talking about schools reopening (outside Montreal), but both businesses and school boards have said they have no intention on doing that any time soon. I used to live in South Korea and my friends there say it's almost back to new-normal now, posting pics at restaurants and such. However, there was just a report that a Covid19-positive person went clubbing in Itaewon, the popular foreigner area, last weekend. I also used to live in China and friends there say it's getting more normal now. You must wear masks and some things are still closed, but you can eat in restaurants and go to bars that are open. There is a strict tracking program in place, though, as you have to use the app wechat (like whatsapp) at police check ins around town and at every business. If you leave your province you have to quarantine for 2 weeks, and all foreigner visas have been put on hold indefinitely. I, of course, accepted a position in China for August because I like to live dangerously, haha. They're throwing money at anyone willing to go, and it's not like I'm doing anything else right now. If the visas are still on hold by then I've lost nothing. I the country opens back up and lets me in, I've gained a good contract. It's not like Canada's economy will be swinging any time soon.

Oh, yes, of course. In 2018 Canada was the best 2nd place team and made it to the quarters. So I mean I expect Canada to either do that again or make it through the first round no problem. But the quarters will get dicey, as they met Finland last time and squeaked out a win. But maybe the NHL will be so damaged by covid19 that they decide they need the advertisement of the Olympics and allows their players to play again. A boy can dream...

After last Olympics, I'm a bit scared of Germany being in Canada's group. The USA is a chief rival, and China is the host country. Not exactly ideal for us. Should obviously still make it to the quarters but a good chance Canada won't finish first in their group.

Reading and watching videos about this subject, I would love in 3 months we all look back and say it was an overreaction. I just lost my mother and my aunt (my closest relative) in the last year to cancer. Now I live with my dad who isn't super old, but is within the danger zone. To think of losing him to COVID now is painful. Moving the Olympics a year sucks because I was really looking forward to it as always. But priorities have shifted. I am a history teacher. It's not names and dates, it's the people. I always said this to my students, but now more than ever: We are history. What will they read about us? It's never been easier to be a hero. Literally, do nothing. And wash your hands! Stay safe, friends!

Just brought this to the Canada thread. Late as usual!

Happened a week ago, but Laurence Vincent Lapointe has been cleared by the International Canoe Federation of alleged doping from this past summer. She's a gold medal favourite in two events, so that's great for Canada and the sport. Always good to have the best compete, especially in a new discipline. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/canoe-kayak/laurence-vincent-lapointe-doping-verdict-1.5441395

I used to live and work in China, and still have many local and foreign friends there. I lived near Shanghai, so not around Wuhan. It would be like New York City vs Oklahoma City. It is the Lunar New Year holiday there, so people are already traveling all around the country and beyond. Some of my Chinese friends cut their vacations short so they could get a flight back home before airlines/countries discontinued service. They're not too concerned besides now trying to deal with the closed borders. We're all in education, so teachers not returning after break and students staying home is the problem. Local governments have already extended the "holiday" by a week to see what happens, but most schools have started to set up online classes. Foreign friends cannot get back into the country. Maybe are working to extend "vacations". That might sound fun, but it's a mad scramble right now logistically. They left their homes thinking they'd be gone 2-3 weeks, and now are locked out for lord knows how long. Who knows if they'll get paid while this is going on, but they have to arrange flights and hotels and everything else. But the worst is the foreigners who had friends/family visit over the break. Now it's a dash trying to get them out of the country. Stories of Westerners with Chinese spouses and mixed children being torn between being evacuated by their government of staying with their families. Trying to get visiting relatives through checkpoints and to the the airports. All the same, China gets a bad rap but it's a pretty cool place. Sad to see this happening. Racists gonna racist, but the country is beautiful and the people are delightful. People blaming their way of life need to consider that 20% of the world's population lives in China. Chances are poop's going to start there.

She'll always have her bobsleigh bronze medal!

Canada's protest against the USA in the relay has been denied. I would still love to see a replay since everyone saw problems in real time.

Hmmm... That would put 9 teams in the final. It's frustrating that Canada had a better time than both USA and Italy, but they did finish 6th in their heat.

That's great and all, but I wonder why. It'll just move Italy into the final. We'd need someone from heat 2 to get DSQ to make the final.

Canada out by thousandths of a second, ugh. Always suspicious to me when the don't show replays of dsq or near dsq. Maybe I've just watched too much NHL.

I'd like to see the replay on that. The second exchange for the USA looked a bit sketchy. Edit: Maybe it was the 3rd exchange.

To be fair, Yu Wang deserved it.

I also don't like fantasy (I'm more of a hard sci-fi guy myself) but GoT drew me in. It did spin its wheels for a while in the middle seasons and the ending was underwhelming. But there were some great stories along the way. I also think watching them without 1-2 years between seasons would help.

Why do you say that?

Basically, it came down to De Grasse. He won 3/6 of the medals in athletics for Canada in Rio. He's been injured and hasn't really produced since then, so it just depended on whether he was back in form for Doha or not. He definitely seems to be, so going to Tokyo Canada has some good shots at some medals. Warner was expected, but Dunphee in race walking and Ahmed in the 5000 were surprises. Not huge shocks since both of them finished 4th in Rio, but they're still probably not favourites for medals next year. I'm happy with Canada's performance so far. Not just medals, but making finals and semis as well. The only disappointment, if you can call it that, is Warner. But with decathlon, anything can and often does happen.

Not illegal, just impolite. Sorry.

With Mayer out, that was Canada's only real shot at gold here. Unless the 4x100 M team can work magic, which is not impossible given De Grasse and Brown's performances in Doha so far. Still, it's a long shot. Sage Watson could put together a surprise tomorrow in the 400 hurdles since she's been having a great season, but even a medal for her would be incredible. 5 medals so far, and another 1 or 2 would be great leading to Tokyo. For years Canada had nothing in swimming or the track, and Rio gave us 6 medals in each. Canada just got their most medals at the swimming champs this year, and could tie their most in Doha with some break throughs (8 medals). So that's nice.

I think Warner is on his way out. But at least we have LePage!

To go with our 200 silvers from the PanAms.

So basically it's a race for the medals in the 1500m. Whatever order Warner, Uibo and Kaul finish in, that's the medals most likely.

Kind of sad to think that if Mayer didn't get injured Warner probably wouldn't even have gotten a medal here. Heck, Victor may have surpassed him.

Unless Warner has a massive throw in his last try, they're basically tied going into the 1500m, but Kaul has a much better PB.

I think that basically gives him the gold.