Vancouver Newsdesk -- Free the Cauldron; Nordic Skiers Suspended; Vancouver Walk Off

Free the Flame!

Spokeswoman Renee Smith-Valade says VANOC is considering ways to address complaints that the Olympic cauldron is behind a fence. She says VANOC is looking into replacing the chain link fence with something that maintains the security of the area but allows people to take more pleasing photographs.

"I was in Beijing and Torino and I remember people standing a considerable distance from the Olympic stadium to have their picture taken with the flame at both those venues," Smith-Valade said. "I think it's remarkable that people can get as close as they can to this legacy flame."

She said the location of the cauldron was chosen because it is in the plaza honoring late VANOC chairman Jack Poole and also contributes to the redevelopment of the waterfront. However, she said the cauldron must be kept secure.

Tribute to Georgian Luger

A condolence book at the Olympic Village was started for the family of fallen Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili.

Athletes can sign the book with their messages for his family.

In Whistler, where the sliding events are held, a makeshift memorial was started for spectators to express their sympathy.

Smith-Valade said plans were being made to find out how to legally expedite Kumaritashvili’s remains to Georgia for a funeral. She also said discussions were happening about possibly having a memorial planeside when his remains do depart.

France Wins Biathlon Gold

France added its second medal of the Games when Vincent Jay won gold medal in the men’s biathlon 10-kilometer sprint. It is the first Olympic medal for the 24-year old.

Norwegian Emil Hegle Svendsen took silver and Emil Hegle SvendsenCroation Jakov Fak took the bronze. The event took place at the biathlon stadium at the Whistler Olympic Park.

Nordic Skiers Suspended for High Hemoglobin Levels

A statement from the International Ski Federation (FIS) said Niyaz Nabeev, a Nordic combined skier from Russia and Kasper Kokk, a cross-country skier from Estonia were found with high hemoglobin levels from pre-Games drug tests.

The pair were given a “start prohibition” lasting from Feb. 12 – 16. FIS noted the suspension was not a sanction and is intended to protect the health of the athletes. no disciplinary measures will be taken against the athletes. Before they can compete, they must have another blood test.

Nabeev missed the normal hill ski jump of the Nordic combined event Sunday, and Kokk will miss the 15km event. Both are potentially eligible to compete in their next scheduled events.

A high hemoglobin level does not necessarily indicate an athlete has done anything wrong

Virgin Islands Loses Olympic Appeal

The Virgin Islands lost an appeal to add a skeleton slider in Vancouver.

The Virgin Islands NOC appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, claiming it should receive a slot in the womens’ skeleton program, as two of the men’s quota positions were unfilled.

CAS ruled that the International Bobsleigh and Toboggan Federation (FIBT) rules stipulate only the maximum number of competitors allowed, not the total number that should compete.

“The CAS Panel considered that the reallocation provisions of the FIBT Qualification System clearly differentiate between the Men’s and Women’s competitions; the wording used clearly indicates that there can be no transfer of an unallocated quota position from one event to another” CAS said in a statement.

FIS President: Delays Expected, Not Problematic

Weather forced organizers to move the men's alpine skiing downhill to Monday at 10:30 am and cancel the women's alpine skiing training session, scheduled for Sunday.

However, Gian Franco Kasper, president of FIS said he is not worried about the delays.

Kasper said in an email: "From an organizational perspective the first days of Vancouver 2010 have been as expected. Overall everything seems to be under control even if some problems are still being ironed out in areas such as transport.”

"What we do not have under control is the weather. But it too has been as expected. The good thing is that the weather forecasts here in Whistler and Cypress are extremely precise. They are just not saying what we want to hear."

The move of the men's downhill means that no alpine skiing competition will take place on the first weekend of the Games.

Whistler is coping with relatively warm temperatures, rain, snow and fog. While there is plenty of snow at Whistler Blackcomb, workers at Cypress Mountain are manufacturing snow around the clock.

The Great Vancouver Walk-Off (She's Winning)

There’s one event that lasts the entire 17 day stretch of the Olympics: the Great Vancouver Walk-Off.

A new competition, the event pits Around the Rings Editor Ed Hula against Publisher Sheila Hula in a heated contest for pedestrian superiority.

How far they will walk until the end of closing ceremony, Feb. 28, is the result that will make one of them a winner.

Both are wearing VANOC-branded pedometers contained in the kits for accredited press. The units were zeroed and strapped on at opening ceremony Feb. 12.

As of Feb. 14, Sheila leads, 10.9 km since the flame was lit. Ed is lagging at 4.4 km.

Results updated throughout via www.aroundtherings.com and Twitter.

Vancouver by the Numbers

2 Athletes suspended for high hemoglobin levels.58 Urine drug tests collected during competition. 12 Blood tests collected.0 Positive drug tests.100 Busses added to improve transportation during the Olympics400 The percentage increase of Chinese viewers of the 2010 opening ceremony from the 2002 ceremony.

Written by Ed Hula III.