The Winter Olympic Virus, Day -1

• If you want an idea of how bad I think these Games are going to go for USA athletes, just watch the last three ends of the just-completed USA 11-6 loss to Norway to go to 1-2 in the Mixed Doubles Curling.
• The USA was up 6-3 through five ends, with all the points on the hammer (the last throw).  Then the wheels came off, as Norway drew the match at the 6th end on their hammer, knowing that they would get the hammer in the final end or the USA would have to try something cute.
• They did the latter, and lost horribly, making mistake after mistake after mistake.  Three-point break of serve in the seventh, two-point break of serve in the last.  11-6 final.
• American athletes do not do as well as expected in Asian Olympic Games, summer or winter.  It's one of the reasons it took quite a long part of the Tokyo Games to finally best China.
• As is usual for Olympic Games, the last day or so before the Games is the IOC Session meetings.  Inside the Games is reporting from Beijing.
• Skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing will be part of the Los Angeles programme, approved today.
• Thomas Bach believes the unifying spirit of the Games will see the movement through both COVID and the boycott calls.
• 55 COVID cases in the Olympic sphere yesterday.
• Brianna Decker was injured in the USA women's hockey opener this morning and is out for the remainder of the Beijing tournament.
• And if early indications are correct, Canada is favored to steamroll everybody, including the USA.  In stark contrast to a Canadian 12-1 rout of Switzerland, Finland at least gave the USA some battle, USA winning 5-2.