pegs 14
tuesday, february 12, 1980
daily nebraskan
Lake; Placid Olympics to start today
From press reports
The United States is expected to enter
its largest and most talented contingent in
the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, which
begin today in Lake Placid , N.Y.
More than 1,400 athletes from 38
countries will gather in the small, eastern
town to participate in nine sports events
spread across two weeks. The Americans
will field the largest team of any country
124 members and are hopeful of surpass
ing their all-time high of 12 medals won at
the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid.
Although the United States is not
known for its dominance in winter sports .
other than figure skating, the Americans
are expected to offer stiff competition in
almost every event.
Here's a capsule look at the American
chances in each event.
Figure skating
The United States has dominated this
sport in the last few winter Olympic
Games. This year should be no different.
Linda Fratianne, 19, has won the
women's world crown two of the last three
years and Charles Tickner took the men's
championship in 1978. Tai Babilonia and
Randy Gardner also are gold medal hope
fuls, but will be hard-pressed by the Soviet
Union.
Hockey
The Soviet Union, which has won the
world and Olympic championships 16
times since 1964, and Czechoslovakia, a
three -time world titlist, are the teams to
beat for the gold medal. The U.S. squad,
coached by Minnesota's Herb Brooks,
doesn't appear to be strong enough to win
. - -1 j . 1.1 4 -M u. s n
a goiu rncuai. a mivci ui a uiuh a
possibility.
Speed skating
The U.S. brother-sister act of Eric and
Beth Heiden are the favorites for the gold
medals and the VS. husband-wife team of
Peter and Leah Mueller should also win
medals. ', -
Alpine skiing
The United States is expected to field
its strongest alpine team in many years, but
it's doubtful it can beat out the powerful
Austrians for the gold medal. America is
depending on Cindy Nelson, a bronze
medalist in 1976, and Phil Mahre to bring
in medals. '
Bobsledding
The Americans have not won a medal in
the bobsledding event since 1956.
Although competing on a "home' course,
their hopes this year for a medal are dim.
Winter Oly
. .
television schedule
mpics
However, they expect to finish in the top
ten.
Luge
This is perhaps the most dangerous
sport in the Winter Olympics, and one
which is practically foreign to U.S.
athletes. A luge is a one-man sled in which
the rider has to be on his or her back, feet
forward, with one hand holding onto a
steering strap.
The rider then races down an icy , twist
ing, 1 ,000-meter path-known as a bahn
without the aid of a seatbelt of breaks.
Since there are fewer than 200 lugers in the
United States, American chances of getting
a medal in this event are slim.
'Ski Jumping
.The United States is counting on Jim
Denney, the oldest of three jumping
brothers, to produce America's first medal
ever in this event. Denney, perhaps the best
jumper ever produced by the U.S.
established himself as a medal threat by
winning the 70-meter competition in the
Salpausselka Games at Lahti, Finland
toward the end of the 1978-79 season.
Norway, East Germany and the Soviet
Union still rank as the medal favorites,
however. ,
Cross Country Skiing
Bill Koch, a silver medalist in 1976,
looms as a gold medal threat this year. The
women also boast a potential medal winner
in Alison Owen Spencer of Alaska. The
Soviet Union, Norway and Sweden should
dominate this sport.
. Biathlon
This sport, which involves cross country
skiing and target shooting, is not very
familiar to the United States. Norway , East
Germany and the Soviet Union should post
, the medal winners here.-
announced
, Tuesday, Fab. 12
Ice hockey-Two rinks, games at 12, 12:30,
3:30,4,7 and 7:30 p.m. ,
Wednesday. Feb. 13
1:30 p.m Opening Ceremonies, Lake Placid
High School Sports Stadium. 6 p in .-Luge, 1st
run, men and women.
Thursday, Feb. 14
8 a .m .-Cross country skiing, men's 30 kilo
meters. 9:30 a n .-Speed skating, women's 1,500
meters. 10:30 a .m -Alpine skiing, men's down
hill. 12 and 12:30 p.m.-lce hockey, 1 p.m.
Luge 2nd run, men and women. 3 and 3:30
p.m.-lc hockey. 6:30 p.m.-Awards, Mirror
Lake. 7 and 7:30 p. m. -Ice hoc key.
Television coverage is scheduled daily
on ABC-TV. Coverage may be altered to
present the high-interest events, ABC has
reported. The TV schedule by days.
Central Standard times:
Wednesday: 1 to 3 pnj 8 to 10 pn.
Thursday: 7:30 to 10 p.m4 10:30 to
10:45 pn.
Friday: 7 to 10 pn.; 10:30 to 11 pn.
p.m.
Saturday: Noon to 2:30 pn.; 8 to 10
pn.; 10:30 to 10:45 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 17: Noon to 2:30 p.m.; 6
to 10 p.m.; 10:30 to 10:45 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 18: 8 to 10 p.m.; 10:30
to 10:45 pn.
Tuesday, Feb. 19: 7 to 10 pn.; 10:30
to 10:45 pn.
Wednesday, Feb. 20: 8 to 10 p.m.;
10:30 to 10:45 p.m.
Thursday. Feb. 21: 7 to 10 pnj
10:30 to 10:45 pn.
Friday, Feb. 22: 8 to 10 pn.; 10:30
to 10:45 pn.
Saturday, Feb. 23: 1 1 :30 a.m. to 2:30
pn.: 7 to 10 pn.; 10:30 to 10:45 pn.
Sunday, Feb. 24: 10 a.m. to 12:30
p.mj 1:30 to 4 p.m.; 6 to 9:30 pn.
(closing ceremonies).
Friday. Feb. 15
8 a n. Cross country skiing, women's 5 kilo
meters. 8:30 in.-2nan bobsled, 1st and 2nd
runs. 9:30 a n .-Speed skating. 500 meters, men
and women. 1 pn.-Fkjun skating, ice dancing.
2 compulsory dances; luge 3rd run, men and
women. 6:30 pn .-Awards, Mirror Lake. 8
p.m.-Figure skating, pairs short program.
Saturday, Fab. IS
8 an .-Biathlon, Individual 20 kilometers.
8 30 a n .-Two-man bobsled, 3rd and 4th runs.
9:30 anj-Speedskatlng, man's 6JD00 meters. 12
p.m.-lce hockey, two games. 1 p.m .-Luge. 4th
run, men and women. 3:30 pn. Ice hockey,
two games. 6:30 pn.-Awards Mirror Lake. 7
and 7:30 p. m. -Ice hockey.
Sunday, Fab. 17
8 a.m. Cross country skiing, men's special 15
kilometers. 9:30 a.m .-Speed skating, women's
1,000 meters. 10:30 a.m.-Alpine skiing,
women's downhill. 12 p.m .-Ski Jumping, 70
meter special Jump. 1 p.m .-Figure skating, ice
dancing, 1 compulsory dance and original set
pattern. 6:30 p.m.-Figure skating, pairs free
skating; awards, Olympic Center and Mirror
Lake.
Monday. Feb. 18
7 p.m.-Flgure skating, men's compulsory
figures. 8 a .m .-Cross country skiing, women's
10 kilometers. 10 a.m.-Alpine skiing, men's
giant slalom 1st run. 1 1:30 a.m .-Ski jumping, 70
meter combined. 12 and 12:30 p.m.-lce hockey,
3:30 and 4 p.m.-lce hockey .6:30 p.m .-Awards,
Mirror Lake. 7 and 7:30 p.m.-lce hockey.
Tuesday, Feb. 19
8 a.m.-Biathlon. individual 10 kilometers.
9:30 a .m .-Speed skating, men's 1.000 meters. 10
a.m.-Alpine skiing, men's giant slalom, 2nd run.
11 a.m .-Cross country skiing, men's 15 kilo
meters combined. 1 p.m.-Figure skating, men's
short program; men's double luge, 1st run. 6:30
pn.-Awards, Olympic Center and Mirror Lake,
7 p.m.-Figure skating, ice dancing and free
ctonco
Wednesday. Feb. 20
7 a .m. Figure skating, women's compulsory
figures. 8 a .m .-Cross country skiing, men's 4x10
kilometers relay. 9:30 a.m .-Speed skating
women's 3,000 meters. 10 an.-Alplne skiing,
women's giant slalom, 1st run. 12 and 12:30
p.m.-lce hockey. 3:30 and 4 pn.-lce hockey.
6:30 pn. Awards, Mirror Lake. 7 and 7:30
p.m.-lce hockey.
Thursday, Fab. 21
8 a.m .-Cross country skiing women's 4x5
kilometers relay. 9:30 a jn. Speed skating, men's
1,500 meters. 10 a.m.-Alpine skiing, women's
giant slalom, 2nd run. 1 pn.-Figure skating,
women's short program. 6:30 pn.-higure
skating man's free skating; awards, Olympic
Center and Mirror Lake.
Firktay.Fab.22
8 an.-8iathton, 4x7J5 kilometers relay. 9
an .-Alpine skliing, man's slalom. 12:30 pn.
lce hockey. 4 pn.-lce hockey. 6:30 pn.
Awards. Mirror Lake. 7:30 pn.-lce hockey.
Saturday, Fab. 23
7:30 an .-Cross country skiiag. men's 60
kilometers. 8:30 an .-4 -man boosted, 1st and
2nd runs; speed skating, man's 10JD00 meters. 9
a.m .-Alpine skiing, women's slalom. 11:30
pn.-Skl Jumping. 60 meter. 6:30 pn .-Figure
Center and Mirror Lake. - '
Sunday. Feb. 24
8:30 a.m.-Four-man bobsled.Srd and 4th
runs. 10 a.m .-Ice hockey, 1 :30 pn. Ice hockey.
4 p.m .-Awards, Olympic Center. 8:30 p.m.
Closing ceremony.
Trouble seen in treatment
of Russians in New York
Today begins an important two weeks
in sports.
The Winter Olympic Games in Lake
Placid, N.Y. may become the final Olym
pics ever, and even now, trouble may be
brewing for this Olympiad.
Sunday's developments brought more
concern as a Soviet airliner was refused
service at Kennedy Airport in New York,
and was forced to continue to Dulles
Airport near Washington, D.C.
The Soviet flight carried 134 passengers,
122 destined for the Winter Games in Lake
Placid.
The stalemate at the airport has its
roots in the Soviet invasion of Afghani
stan. Ground crews at the airport, members
of the Teamsters Union, refused in early
January to service planes from the Soviet
Union in protest of the takeover.
little do these objectors realize that
they may be nailing t coffin shut for any
chance of United States participating in
the Summer Games in Moscow.
I can only imagine the outrage of the
United States if our people and athletes
were treated thesame way this summer, if
we attend the Games.
The Soviets were forced to remove their
own baggage from the plane. Could you
imagine what we Americans would do if
we were forced to "do the dirty work"
on a trip to Moscow?
t Don't get me wrong, I dont support
the Soviet intervention, but I think the
United States treatment of the Russians
while they are in this country could be an
even greater mistake.
The United States is feeling great pain
now because of the Iranian situation and
the threat of the Soviet push. But still,
I hope we are not hurting ourselves with
this retaliation.
Enough of the bad news, now the good.
Among the 1,470 athletes who make
up the various Olympic contingents will be
a separate team of nearly 800 men and wo
men whose iob it is to bring the Games to
the world through its words and pictures.
ABC will have a record television
viewing audience. This number has
increased because of Lake Placid small
capacity for handling spectators.
The village has one main street, with
one traffic light, and is remote from pop
ulation centers.
rAJ Olympic committee says. some
50,000 spectators will come to the Games
as day-trippers, arriving each morning and
departing each night. New York's Dept.
of Conservation has set a limit of 51,000
visitors each day.
t ?Clii H hn of Programming, most
of it in prime time, is unprecedented. ABC
has covered seven of the last nine Olympic
games, so you can no doubt, expect ex
cellent coverage.
