US and Canada May Have Won Winter Gold, But Not As Successful in Green Olympics

By Nicole Malczan

Although both the United States and Canada were very successful in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, there is apparently much improvement that could be made in terms of going green. According to an article from The Star, both the US and Canada rank amongst the top ten per-capita emissions, landing them at about 20 tons per person, while countries like India or China rank at one ton and four tons respectively.

Despite that in the United States climate change bills have been passed, polls reflect that Americans are focusing somewhat less on climate change and its effects. A recent poll conducted this year found that only 57 percent of Americans believed that climate change is actively occurring, as opposed to the 71 percent from 2008’s poll. In Canada, a poll from this year discovered that Canadians find climate change to be a bigger threat than terrorism.

Still, both the United States and Canada should be doing more on their part to ensure a greener future, not just for the Olympic games, but for the world as well.

Q & A With Oakley Sunglasses

I had the chance to interview Jason Bielawski an employee of Oakley Sunglasses who spent a week at 2010 Vancouver Games while on assignment for his company. I asked him several questions about his experiences in Vancouver and the type of work he did.

Q: What is your position at Oakley, that gave you the opportunity to travel to the Olympic Games?

Jason: Actually, I work in the finance department and a friend of mine in a management position at the company asked if I'd be interested in going up to Vancouver to represent the company. Normally, I don't do work like this as I'm a finance guy, but given the opportunity I couldn't say no.

Q:What type of work did you do in Vancouver?

Jason: To be honest it felt more like a vacation than work. My typical day was meeting with represenatives from other companies and networking with them in order to promote Oakley's name. I spoke about new products and ideas the company is throwing around and got ideas from other companies and competitiors.

Q:Would you consider it public relations work, considering you were there to speak about and represent your company?

Jason: You could definitley say that. The purpose of my trip was to be a positive representation of the company and speak on behalf of them. I was very concious of what I said and how I presented myself knowing I was representing the company. I had never done public relations work before, but I really enjoyed it and who knows maybe I'll be moving into their department soon.

Q: Did you attend any of the events or ceremonies?

Jason: Unfortunatley, I wasn't able to get a chance to go to the Opening Ceremonies, but I attended alot of the events mostly the snowboarding and skiing events. Oakley does alot of work with snowboarding and has partial representation with some of the athletes. I was most drawn to watching Shaun White's runs just like everyone else there. You don't realize how amazing these athletes are until you see them live.

Q:Do you think companies such as your own can profit off the Olympic Games and how so?

Jason: Definitley, from a marketing standpoint there is a great opportunity to get your name seen and talked about. When the best athletes in the world are wearing your equipment your sales will definitley increase. I don't know the numbers exactly, but I do know the industry has profited as a direct result of the games.

Q&A with Olympic Manager Brian Eaton

With a little help from a family friend, Brianna Burns had the opportunity to interview Brian Eaton, venue general manager for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics/Paralympics Centre. Eaton has eight years of experience working for the Olympics, National Governing Body event management, public relations, marketing and management. Brianna Burns spoke to Eaton about working within the Olympics and any future goals he has regarding the Olympics.

BB: First off, how did you end up working for the Olympics’ eight years ago?

BE: Well actually the first Olympics I technically went to was in 2000 in Sydney but I wasn’t working for the Olympic committee. It was the best experience going there and after that I knew I wanted to start working for something in the Olympic fields. After that I started real low going to the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics as a supervisor and working my way up to being the general manager.

BB: So, how did the position of general manager get in your hands this year?

BE: Well in September 2009, I joined the Vancouver Olympic Committee only as general manager for Whistler Media Centre, which was where the athletes housing and media centre’s and parking lots were. But then in December I got moved to the Vancouver Olympic centre which was where all the competitions were held.

BB: Does being the general manager of such a big organization like the Olympics ever get stressful?

BE: Absolutely. It can get really stressful having to make sure everything goes smoothly, every event starts on time, making sure all the other people working for the committee are getting their jobs done and more. Being manager of any company would be stressful, it comes with the job title but I would never give it up.

BB: Looking back now in 2002 in Salt Lake City, did you ever picture yourself becoming general manager for the 2010 Olympics?

BE: To be honest, I don’t want to sound cocky but I had a good feeling. I’m good at what I do. I’m a hard worker, determined and optimistic about things. So, when I started at the bottom then I knew I could work my way up eventually to something big.

BB: What has been your most memorable Olympic experience or performance?

BE: That is a hard question because there has been so many to choose from. But one recent one that stands out the most to me was during the Vancouver Olympics Shaun White’s amazing performance where he gained two gold medals and unveiled his death defying trick, the Tomahawk.

BB: Do you see yourself in this position for the 2012 Olympics in London?

BE: I’m hoping to continue my career on the Olympic committee because it has been a dream come true these past years and an experience that is invaluable. If all goes well, I will be in London to experience more amazing performances that I can take with me for the rest of my life.

By:Brianna Burns

Advertising Remains

By: Stephanie Trabold

The Olympics has traveled across the globe and has been hosted by approximately 20 different countries worldwide within the past 200 years.

Like a parasite traveling from host to host, the Olympics leave remains of advertising in each host city.

As one can view from the pictures above, people can buy Olympic brand merchandise in the Vancouver airport. This method of advertising draws tourists to Olympic host cities and further draws in revenue for both the hosting country and the Olympic brand long after the Olympics are over.

Also featured above is the slogan for the Beijing 2008 summer games. This was located at the Great Wall located in Badaling, China. Badaling, China is the closest Great Wall location to Beijing and is about a two-hour drive from the city. The Great Wall is undoubtedly the largest tourist spot within mainland China.

People travel from across the globe to see this iconic ancient relic and as tourists travel up the stairs, one can see the sign over the hills. This is very reminiscent to the American “Hollywood” sign in terms of its location and structure.

The sign’s placement is very interesting. In terms of advertising, the sign is in an ideal location as thousands of tourists will see an ancient relic with an advertisement for the Olympics. The fusion of the modern and ancient times is somewhat inspiring yet demeaning to China’s history.

The Great Wall stretches over 8000 miles and was intended to keep invaders out of the country. Ironically in comparison, the Olympic sign brings a message bringing people into the country, stands right next to the wall that protected and isolated China for thousands of years.

Q&A with Sarah Hughes!

BY: Stephanie Pugliese

Sarah Hughes is a professional ice skater who won a gold medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Sarah Hughes graduated from Yale in May, 2009. I recently got the chance to have an interview with her. I would like to thank Jessica Abruzzo, who she was the one who helped me get in contacted with Hughes. I also would like to thank Hughes for taking time out in her busy schedule to take part in this Q&A.





SP: I saw in a recent article that you attended the United States Olympic Committee's celebration at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, how does it feel to be part of this?

SH: I started ice skating at the age of three/four so ever since then I always knew I wanted to be apart of such a committee. I felt honored that I made it that far. Just knowing that I was able to meet some big timers.


SP: How did you jungle your social life and skating?

SH: It was hard. I had to travel every day to Hackensack NJ, may I add I lived in Great Neck NY! I personally didn’t have trouble jungle my social life and skating since I didn’t have a social life in high school. I would and still rather be in the rink then going to the mall. It’s nice having that time to me in the rink. I can think about what’s going on in my life at that moment.


SP:Knowing that you wanted to be a Yale student and being an Olympian, how did you jungle your studies?

SH:It was hard but I got through it. Let’s just say, I didn’t sleep a lot. It was hard since my studies was and still is really important to me but yet again, so was ice skating. I tried to get my studies done before training, or on the days I didn’t train.



SP:After winning gold in the 2002 Olympics, did you have a hard time with the students at Yale?

SH:I actually get this question a lot. I was only 16 at the time I won gold, but when I an incoming freshman, Yale’s newspaper wrote an article about my story. So a lot of people knew who I was but they just congratulated me in passes.


SP: Since you graduated in May 2009, what have you been doing?

SH:I teach figure skating and support figure skating in Harlem New York. It provides free skating lessons and tutoring to girls in the area who have the love of the rink as I do.

Countdown to 2014

By:Corey Diamond

Although four years may seem far off, preparation for the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia has already began. The first stages of construction have begun on the Olympic venues as cement and other materials bearing the Olympic Rings have arrived in Sochi's port.

The port which will be used to transport in all construction materials for the games, is set to recieve 5 million tons of material from now until December in order to begin the first stages of construction.

After the port has recieved all of its shipments it will transform into a luxury bay where the wealthy can park the yachts while enjoying the Olympic Games. The port will be able to house 6,000 to 7,000 yachts and provide ammenties and hospitality for the more priveleged Olympic goers.

Vancouver Committee Makes bucks for Olympic Pucks

BY: Brianna Burns

After watching Canada’s hockey team defeat the United States in the final, the Vancouver Olympic committee is auctioning off certain items from the number one team in the world.

Scoring the winning goal for Canada, Sydney Crosby is getting his jersey that he wore during the Olympics auctioned off for roughly $35,000.


An Ohio state resident has the puck from the overtime period of the gold-medal from the hockey game, which was $13,088. The tray that held the medals of the gold-medal winning men's hockey team sold for $4,990.

The committee is also using an online auction site to sell artwork, replica tickets, mascots and copies of their pitch book, including one signed by CEO John Furlong.