I can scarcely believe it but I'm going away to the Winter Olympics on Thursday! Woo hoo! I've got tickets to see some ice hockey and we hope to catch our defending champion curling team as well. Bring it on.

First up is Canada vs Germany on Thursday evening. I can't quite get my head around seeing all my favourite players in one go but it's going to happen. Joe Sakic, Jarome Iginla, Rob Blake and more all on one team :) Even more mind bending is the thought that I will be in the same building, AT THE SAME TIME, as Wayne Gretzky the offical all-time-number-one-best-ever-player-to-lace-up-skates. Jeepers.

I've noticed that CBC.ca have followed the pioneering work of the Guardian and found a innovative way of keeping office-bound Canadians away from work (whilst AT work) and up with the hockey. They are offering hockey blogs reminiscent of the fabulous over-by-over commentary that reached it's peak this summer with the Ashes. The concept is the same but worryingly focused on the actual game in hand rather than musings on the OC or ways of getting a date with that girl from accounts that readers email in. Admittedly test cricket does lend itself to those kind of musings more than ice hockey. But it's clear that the commentator's instincts are in the right place:

Second intermission
As Canada leads 6-2 after two periods, some lingering question about Muzzatti: first, what exactly is on his goalie mask? It looks like he has the Virgin Mary on one side and the Pope on the other. Is that John Paul II or the new guy? And how about Muzzatti's pads? He's wearing an ugly brown pair that looks to have been bought at Jim Craig's garage sale.

and

Third period | 16:53
As Canada continues to lead 7-2, CBC cameras show us an interesting addition that Torino Games organizers have made to hockey: cheerleaders in the stands. It seems like a good idea, but the girls look a bit awkward standing in the aisles doing cheers. Also, it appears they're not supporting a particular team but rather trying to bring a sort of general cheeriness to the event. That can't be easy. I, for one, salute their vigour.

And sir - I salute yours.

The other game is on Saturday, Finland vs Czech Republic. That should be a cracking match and Finland are my second favourite team so I'm hoping they win big (ideally on the back of a Saku Koivu hat-trick!)

On Friday we are hoping to catch the British [or Scottish if they loose :)] curling team in action. Try and catch it on TV because I'll be the guy in the crowd with the Belle and Sebastian Industrial Map of Scotland tea towel. If that doesn't get Hazel Irvine going, what will?

Shamefully this will be my first ever trip to Italy. So in the spirit of the 18th century Grand Tour I will be taking with me one Dr Alice Ferrebe, Lecturer in English at Liverpool John Moores University. Alice will be advising me on topics such as the portrayal of masculinity in contemporary ice hockey, the psycho-sexual implications of the broom in women's curling and which is best: chocolate or coffee ice cream. It's gonna be great!