The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, February 12, 1980, Page page 14, Image 14
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.