First Gold Goes to Swiss Ski Jumper

Simon Ammann, a Swiss ski jumper, has won the first gold medal of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. This is the third Olympic title for Ammann, who won the normal hill event. Adam Malysz of Poland took silver, and Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria took bronze. Ammann won both jumps, earning a large lead with his 105-meter effort, followed by a massive 108-meter second jump, for a total of 276.5 points. The men’s downhill skiers had to delay their golden moment, however, because days of rain and warm temperatures have turned the slope to slush. The women’s super combined was also postponed, meaning the opening weekend of the Games will be without its major competitions. Meanwhile, there has been some grumbling of the International Olympic Committee’s choice of the warmest city ever to host the winter games. Perhaps worsening the problem, the host city put some events on Cypress Mountain, which is just 30 miles from the mild clime of city. But this winter has been unexpectedly warm and dry.