Michael J. Baranowski
Dear editor:
Hats off to all the athletes who participated in the 2010 Olympic Winters Games in Vancouver and congratulations to those that won a medal.
Despite the distraction with regards to the weather conditions, the Vancouver Games were a complete success, with Canada dominating the gold medals (14), which was the most ever won by any country at the Winter Olympics.
There were 2,600 athletes competing, with 2,200 amateurs and 400 professionals (who made up the men’s hockey teams).
The women’s Olympic hockey teams were amateurs, so why can’t we have juniors competing in the Olympics instead of professionals? If you watched the recent world junior championship, you would have to agree it was a hockey fan’s approval of great hockey games.
With the professional hockey players, the junior men do not have a shot at competing in the Winter Olympics, which is unfair to say the least.
The best juniors throughout Canada would be more than capable of giving Olympic fans their money’s worth.
Every amateur has a dream of competing in the National Hockey League, so why not in the Olympics?
The Olympics should be for amateurs, not professionals.
(Signed),
Michael J. Baranowski
Nestor Falls, Ont.
