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It is easy to find fault with the modern Olympics: too big, too corrupt, its amateur ideals blurred long ago in a vortex of TV deals, marketing and professionalism. Thankfully it also remains possible, as millions will discover once again over the next 16 days, to see flashes of unabashed beauty, grace, power and hard-won glory. It is a flawed event in the real world, but in the realm of televised entertainment, in Canada especially, it is as good as it gets.

The CBC, in partnership with TSN, will broadcast 375 hours of the 19th Winter Olympics from Salt Lake City, Utah, a great number of those hours filled with live events in prime time (a welcome change from recent Games held far away in time zones that made tape-delay - or sleep deprivation - a necessity). TSN is concentrating on curling, with a few other disciplines thrown in for variety. CBC, having rounded up its usual suspects of hosts and commentators, has also recruited sister channel Newsworld to provide regular updates and coverage of breaking stories.

Potential medalists are sprinkled throughout the 155-member Canadian team, and Canada could place among the top three nations after the golds, silvers and bronzes have been tallied. The Canadian record for total medals at a Winter Games - 15, six of them gold, set in 1998 - is definitely in jeopardy. The Canadian men's hockey team is a favourite in a tournament featuring some of the best players and teams the game has ever seen, a high point for the sport before it falls into the dark days of labour strife.

There will be, in short, plenty of things to watch, so many that the following daily guide will likely take up a permanent place on your coffee table, at least for the next two weeks. NBC's coverage is best left alone, unless you have a real love of tragedy-filled features and special reports on the contributions of the Mormon community to life in America: Only CBC and TSN have been included here. The CBC's coverage isn't perfect - prime-time host Brian Williams is likely to continue saying, "We'll get to [insert event you've been waiting four years to watch here]in just a second," before launching into something completely different for the next hour - but on the whole Canadian viewers have the best seat in the house for what remains one of the best shows on Earth.

Day 1

February 9

CBC Daytime: (Host: Ron MacLean)

10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Freestyle Skiing: Women's moguls, qualifying round and final;

Cross-Country Skiing: Women's 15k;

Nordic Combined: K90 ski jumping.

TSN: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Cross-Country Skiing: Men's 30k.

CBC Prime Time: (Host: Brian Williams)

6 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Men's Hockey: Highlights of Slovakia v. Germany, and Austria v. Latvia;

Figure Skating: Pairs short program.

CBC Late Night: (Host: Terry Leibel)

Midnight - 2 a.m.

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

Figure skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier enter the pairs competition as gold-medal favourites, though they will have to rebound from a mistake-filled performance at the Canadian championships last month. Sale fell after a triple toe loop, turned a double Axel into a single and then doubled a throw triple Salchow. (For people new to figure skating, those are all bad things, things you can't do if you want to win this event at the Olympics.)

Day 2

February 10

TSN: 10:30 a.m. - Noon

Nordic Combined: Individual 15k.

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Alpine Skiing: Men's downhill;

Snowboarding: Women's halfpipe, qualifying and final;

Ski Jumping: Men's 90m;

Speed Skating, Long Track: Women's 3000m.

CBC Prime Time: 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Luge: Men's singles, Runs 1 and 2;

Highlights of the day's events.

TSN: 8:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Men's Hockey: Latvia v. Slovakia.

CBC Late Night: 11:30 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

Most sports experts agree that Canada's elevated medal hopes rest most heavily upon the speed-skating team, especially the long-track specialists. Cindy Klassen could start things off on the right skate with a medal in the 3000-metres. The former top-level hockey player has been on the podium already this year, having earned a bronze medal at a World Cup race four weeks ago. Natasza Zurek, a snowboarding halfpiper, won last year's elite event in Park City, Utah, the site of the Olympic competition.

Day 3

February 11

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Alpine Skiing: Women's downhill;

Snowboarding: Men's halfpipe, qualifying and final;

Biathlon: Women's 15k and men's 20k;

Luge: Men's singles, final;

Women's Hockey: Canada v. Kazakhstan (1 p.m.);

Speed Skating, Long Track: Men's 500m.

TSN: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Men's Curling: Canada v. England.

TSN: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Women's Curling: Canada v. Sweden.

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Figure Skating: Pairs free program;

Highlights of the day's events.

TSN: 8:30 p.m. - Midnight

Men's Curling: Canada v. U.S.A.

CBC Late Night: Midnight - 3 a.m.

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

Sale and Pelletier look to be elegant and technically clean in the pairs free skate while downhill skier Melanie Turgeon, plagued this season by back pain, hopes to redeem herself. Teammate Allison Forsyth may be right beside her, give or take a fraction of a second.

Day 4

February 12

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Freestyle Skiing: Men's moguls;

Cross-Country Skiing: Women's 10k and men's 15k;

Women's Hockey: U.S.A. v. Germany;

Speed Skating, Long Track: Men's 500m.

TSN: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Cross-Country Skiing: Women's 10k classical;

Freestyle Skiing: Men's moguls;

Women's Hockey: U.S. v. Germany

(1 p.m.);

Men's Curling: Canada v. Finland (4 p.m.)

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Luge: Women's singles, Runs 1 and 2;

Figure Skating: Men's short program;

Highlights of the day's events.

TSN: 9 p.m. - Midnight

Women's Curling: Canada v. Russia.

CBC Late Night: Midnight - 3 a.m.

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

A podium finish is on the line for Jeremy Wotherspoon, the sprint skater who captured the world championship title in late January. Wotherspoon is a powerhouse and all eyes will be upon him. A strong performance by him in the 500-metres could set the tone for the whole Canadian team. Freestyler Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau, at one time a major medal contender in the moguls event, was injured last month in one of the final warm-up races and will not compete. Four-time Olympian and one-time gold-medal winner Jean-Luc Brassard looks to take up the torch in the event.

Day 5

February 13

CBC Daytime: 11 A.M. - 5:30 p.m.

Alpine Skiing: Men's combined downhill;

Women's Hockey: Russia v. Canada

(1 p.m.);

Biathlon: Men's 10k sprint and women's 7.5k sprint;

Ski Jumping: Men's K120 final.

TSN: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Men's Curling: England v. Norway.

TSN: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Women's Curling: Canada v. U.S.

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Luge: Women's singles, final;

Speed Skating, Short Track: Women's 1500m, men's 1000m preliminary and men's 5000m relay preliminary;

Speed Skating, Long Track: Women's 500m;

Highlights of the day's events.

TSN: 9 p.m. - Midnight

Men's Curling: Canada v. France.

CBC Late Night: 11:30 p.m. - 3 a.m.

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

The short-track speed skaters have plans to join their long-track cousins in the headlines. The Canadian team is led by Marc Gagnon and Marie-Eve Drolet, both of whom will be in action today. The coach of the national team, Guy Thibault, has proclaimed this to be the deepest squad in Canadian Olympic history, but short track is known for its upsets: falls and collisions are commonplace, especially near the front of the pack.

Day 6

February 14

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Alpine Skiing: Women's combined downhill;

Snowboarding: Men's and women's parallel giant slalom qualifying;

Cross-Country Skiing: Men's 10k classical and pursuit.

TSN: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Women's Curling: Opening rounds.

TSN: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Men's Curling: Canada v. Sweden.

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - Midnight

Figure Skating: Men's free program;

Speed Skating, Long Track: Women's 500m; Highlights of the day's events.

TSN: 9 p.m. - Midnight

Women's Curling: Canada v. England.

CBC Late Night: 11:30 p.m. - 3 a.m.

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

Canada's golden woman, flagbearer Catriona Le May Doan, has proven to be unbeatable over the 500-metre distance on the speed skating long track. She owns the world record heading into the competition at Salt Lake City. An Olympic veteran on a different kind of ice surface, figure skater Elvis Stojko, is looking to leave the building with one final burst of glory in the men's free skate.

Day 7

February 15

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Snowboarding: Men's and women's parallel giant slalom;

Cross-Country Skiing: Women's 5k classical and pursuit;

Luge: Doubles, Runs 1 and 2;

Men's Hockey: Russia v. qualifier.

TSN: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Men's Curling: Canada v. Germany.

TSN: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Women's Curling: Canada v. Germany.

CBC Prime Time: 5:30 p.m. - Midnight

Men's Hockey: Canada v. Sweden

(6 p.m.), Czech Republic v. qualifier, and Finland v. U.S.;

Figure Skating: Dance, compulsory;

Highlights of the day's events.

TSN: 9 p.m. - Midnight

Men's Curling: Canada v. Switzerland.

CBC Late Night: Midnight - 3 a.m.

Men's Hockey: Finland v. U.S. (cont'd);

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

Cross-country skier Beckie Scott is the best bet to win Canada's first-ever medal in the sport (which seems long overdue for a country of ice and snow). She takes part in today's 5-kilometre pursuit. The men's hockey team begins with a formidable opponent: Mats Sundin and the rest of the Swedish squad will go up against the Canadian team, who will most probably have Curtis Joseph situated between the pipes. Even though Sundin and Joseph are NHL teammates, that rarely counts for much at the Olympic level. As well, the Canadian team is being helmed by Toronto coach Pat Quinn. Viewers can expect an intriguing matchup.

Day 8

February 16

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Alpine Skiing: Men's super-G;

Freestyle Skiing: Aerials, men's and women's qualifying;

Women's Hockey: U.S. v. Finland;

Biathlon: Men's 12.5k and women's 10k;

Speed Skating, Long Track: Men's 1000m.

TSN: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Women's Curling: Canada v. Japan.

TSN: 4:30 p.m. - Midnight

Men's Hockey: game to be determined;

Women's Curling: Canada v. Denmark;

Bobsleigh: Two-man, Runs 1 and 2.

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - Midnight

Bobsleigh: Two-man, Runs 1 and 2;

Men's Hockey: Finland v. qualifier, and U.S. v. Russia;

Women's Hockey: Canada v. Sweden (9 p.m.);

Speed Skating, Short Track: Men's 1000m, women's 500m and 3000m preliminary;

Highlights of the day's events.

CBC Late Night: Midnight - 3 a.m.

Men's Hockey: U.S. v. Russia (cont'd);

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

Wotherspoon in the 1000-metres, and two-man bobsledders Giulio Zardo and Pierre Lueders, the latter defending the gold medal he shared with an Italian duo following a dead-heat finish at Nagano in 1998.

Day 9

February 17

CBC Morning: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Review of some of Day 8's events.

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Cross-Country Skiing: Men's 4x10k relay;

Men's Curling: Canada v. Norway (11 a.m.);

Alpine Skiing: Women's super-G.

TSN: 4 p.m. - Midnight

Women's Curling: Preliminaries;

Bobsleigh: Two-man final;

Figure Skating: Dance, original.

Men's Curling: Preliminaries.

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - Midnight

Bobsleigh: Two-man final;

Men's Hockey: Sweden v. Czech Republic; Canada v. qualifier (9 p.m.);

Figure Skating: Dance, original;

Speed Skating, Long Track: Women's 1000m.

CBC Late Night: Midnight - 3 a.m.

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

Downhill racer Emily Brydon was probably very happy to see the end of 2001: She suffered two serious knee injuries in the space of 10 months. Her struggles to recover in time for Salt Lake City could be rewarded with a strong super-G result today. Also, Zardo and Lueders in the final of the two-man bobsleigh, and Le May Doan in the 1000-metres.

Day 10

February 18

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Women's Curling: Switzerland v. Canada (11 a.m.);

Freestyle Skiing: Women's aerials;

Ski Jumping: Men's K120 team;

Biathlon: Women's 4x7.5k relay;

Men's Hockey: Qualifier v. U.S., and Russia v. Finland;

Men's Curling: Denmark v. Canada

(4 p.m.).

TSN: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Ski Jumping: Men's K120 team (11 a.m.);

Men's Hockey: Early rounds (1 p.m.);

Men's Curling: Denmark v. Canada

(4 p.m.)

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Men's Hockey: Czech Republic v. Canada (6 p.m.), and qualifier v. Sweden;

Figure Skating: Dance, free program.

TSN: 9 p.m. - Midnight

Men's Hockey: Early rounds.

CBC Late Night: Midnight - 3 a.m.

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

Ice dance team Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz are figure skaters who have been done in by the numbers (as in unfair judge's scores) time and time again in past events. The much-discussed corruption and collusion in ice dancing was supposed to have been fixed by now, but the Canadians, even if their main competition fails to show up, will still probably place third.

Day 11

February 19

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Curling: Tiebreakers, if necessary;

Cross-Country Skiing: Men's and women's 1.5k sprint;

Freestyle Skiing: Men's aerials final;

Women's Hockey: Semifinal game (1 p.m.);

Speed Skating, Long Track: Men's 1500m.

TSN: Noon - Midnight

Live programming; events to be determined.

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Bobsleigh: Two-woman final;

Women's Hockey: Semifinal game

(6 p.m.);

Figure Skating: Women's short program;

Curling: Tiebreakers, if necessary.

CBC Late Night: Midnight - 3 a.m.

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

The one to watch: Nicolas Fontaine is a freestyle aerial skier who flips and spins and then lands with a crunch, hopefully upright, hopefully in one piece. Either way, he's the top contender on an excellent and experienced Canadian contingent that always seems to soar in the bigger competitions.

Day 12

February 20

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Women's Curling: Semifinal (11 a.m.);

Alpine Skiing: Women's slalom final;

Skeleton: Men's and women's singles finals;

Men's Hockey: Quarterfinals (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.)

Speed Skating, Long Track: Women's 1500m final;

Men's Curling: Semifinal (4 p.m.)

TSN: 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Live programming; events to be determined.

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Men's Hockey: Quarterfinals (5:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.);

Speed Skating, Short Track: Men's 1500m final, women's 3000m relay and 1000m preliminary.

CBC Late Night: Midnight - 3 a.m.

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

No guarantees, but if all goes according to plan the men's hockey team will play in the late quarterfinal (10:15 p.m.). One sport making a return to the Games after a lengthy layoff is skeleton, a head-first luge event that promises to be thrilling, especially if an aptly-named Canadian, Jeff Pain, can pull off an upset. If nothing else, it would make for a great headline: Pain Wins Skeleton.

Day 13

February 21

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Women's Curling: Bronze medal game (11 a.m.);

Alpine Skiing: Men's giant slalom final;

Cross-Country Skiing: Women's 4x5k relay final;

Women's Hockey: Bronze medal game (2 p.m.);

Women's Curling: Final (4 p.m.).

TSN: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Live programming; events to be determined; Women's curling gold medal game (taped, 7 p.m.).

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - Midnight

Women's Hockey: Final (7 p.m.);

Figure Skating: Women's free program.

CBC Late Night: 12:30 a.m. - 3 a.m.

Review of the day's events

Canadians to Watch:

Finally, it's possible to mention women's hockey. The Canadians and Americans are so strong that a berth in today's final, barring an unlikely Finnish upset, is practically a given. The U.S. defeated Canada easily in a series of exhibitions leading up to the Olympics, but don't be surprised if Hayley Wickenheiser and a revenge-minded Canadian team make it a game. Skip Kelley Law and her band of rock throwers also hope to be involved on Day 13 as the women's curling competition winds up, and Beckie Scott anchors a cross-country relay team that could sneak in for a bronze.

Day 14

February 22

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Curling: Men's bronze medal game

(11 a.m.);

Alpine Skiing: Women's giant

slalom final;

Men's Hockey: Semifinal game (2 p.m.)

Men's Curling: Final (4 p.m.).

TSN: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Live programming; events to be determined.

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Men's Hockey: Semifinal game

(6:15 p.m.);

Figure Skating: Exhibition

Bobsleigh: Four-man, Runs 1 and 2.

CBC Late Night: 11:30 p.m. - 3 a.m.

Review of the day's events.

Canadians to Watch:

Kevin Martin's Alberta rink came within one shot of advancing to the 1998 Games in Nagano, only to fall inches short. The Canadian curlers will be looking to dispel those memories with a strong showing in Day 14's medal matches.

Day 15

February 23

CBC Daytime: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Alpine Skiing: Men's slalom final;

Cross-Country Skiing: Men's 50k final;

Men's Hockey: Bronze medal game (2:15 p.m.);

Speed Skating, Long Track: Women's 5000m final.

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Bobsleigh: Four-man, Runs 3 and 4;

Speed Skating, Short Track: Men's 500m final and 5000m relay final, women's 1000m final.

CBC Late Night: 11:30 p.m. - 3 a.m.

Review of the day's events

Canadians to Watch:

Canada will have to mine the short track for medals as the Games wind down. Gagnon in the 500-metres will challenge, as will the women's 5000-metre relay team.

Day 16

February 24

CBC Daytime: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Men's Hockey: Final.

CBC Prime Time: 6 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Cross-Country Skiing: Women's

30k final;

Closing Ceremony (9 p.m.).

CBC Late Night: 11:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.

Repeat of Closing Ceremony.

Canadians to Watch:

The men's hockey team in the gold-medal game, if they make it that far, but also the flagbearer at the closing ceremonies. The honour goes to the athlete judged by his or her peers to be the most deserving after 16 days of competition. Canadian fans will be hoping there is a long list of successful Olympians to choose from.

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