Winter Olympics
Next Wednesday, December 16th, the Olympic torch relay travels through the City as it makes its way west to Vancouver. Keep Olympic fever alive until the Games begin with a trip to your local library where you can pick up books in your favourite sport and learn more about the Olympic Winter Games.
“The Winter Olympics: An Insider's Guide to the Legends, Lore and Events of the Games, Vancouver Edition” devotes a chapter to each different competitive sport. It examines the sport’s history, key competitors in past Olympics, the newest contenders, and how it is played and judged. Author Ron Judd, an American newspaper columnist and self-professed Olympic junkie, also includes anecdotes, fun facts and a chapter on the Paralympic Winter Games. Each chapter includes several colour photographs.
“The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics” has been called the bible of the winter Olympics and a new and updated edition has been released just in time for this year’s event. Author David Wallechinsky, a renowned Olympic historian, has been a television and radio commentator for the Games since 1988. Now in its eighth edition, the book offers the history of each Olympic event, the results of the top eight finishers for every event since the Games began, and discontinued events as well.
Did you know that the first ice hockey club (the McGill University Hockey Club) was formed in 1880, the first league (in Kingston, Ontario) began play in 1885, and the first Stanley Cup was awarded in 1894?
From speed skating to snowboarding, bobsled to ice hockey, “The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics” provides a wealth of information about medals, tables, timings, distances, and scores. In addition to all of the statistics, the book includes fascinating tidbits and behind-the-scenes stories about the famous and notorious athletes that have created some of the most celebrated and unforgettable moments in Olympic history.
Winter sports enthusiasts, take note -- “The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics: The Vancouver Edition – Winter 2010” should appear at the top of your Christmas wish list.
Children up to age 13 will enjoy reading about individual Olympic winter sports in new series of children’s books known as the “Story of Canadians in Olympic Winter Games”. New titles in this series include curling, speed skating, ski jumping, snowboarding, ice hockey, figure skating, cross-country skiing, and paralympics.
The Library’s online catalogue is available on the internet at www.city.kawarthalakes.on.ca/library and allows you to place a hold on any item in the system.
Linda Kent is the Chief Librarian at the City of Kawartha Lakes Public Library
