Inspired by Everett landing the 2008 Skate America competition this morning, I relaxed this evening by watching a mediocre figure skating movie: "The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold."

I'm a sucker for sports movies, even if that "sport" is figure skating. But I couldn't believe what this low-budget 2006 sequel to the much better 1992 "The Cutting Edge" tried to pull off.

I pulled this shot from the scene showing the Chicago skyline.

Look familiar?

If you lived in the Northwest before March 26, 2000, you recognize it.

Apparently the movie makers thought you wouldn't remember the Kingdome or wouldn't notice the Space Needle or the Columbia Tower.

Hey, since when was Chicago in the Northeast?

Chicago is a candidate for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Just in from the U.S. Ski Team:

Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT), who ended a two-decade World Cup podium drought for U.S. skiers in 2006, showed Sunday he was ready for the upcoming World Cup season by dominating the final loop to capture Mora's annual Oktobersprint despite sluggish, slow snow conditions.

Teammate Torin Koos (Leavenworth, WA) led the quarterfinal and semifinal heats of the classic technique race, but Newell took charge on the final uphill and breezed to victory over the last few hundred meters; Koos finished fourth. It was a 1,200-meter course over snow which had been stockpiled last winter and then covered with wood chips to preserve it through the summer.

Vanoc has already raised 88 percent of its $760 million sponsorship revenue and is ahead of schedule on venue construction according to the annual report it released this morning.

From the report:
The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) today released its annual report and announced that it will exceed its 2007 sponsorship target of $65 million by at least $15.0 million. The report also highlighted a well-advanced venue construction program that will achieve an Olympic first. VANOC's annual report includes management discussion and analysis, and audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2007. It also includes a look ahead to initiatives planned for 2008.

=> Read more!

Check out this story from Christopher Donville of Bloomber News:

Ski jumps, ice rinks and other venues for Vancouver’s 2010 Olympics will be completed before the opening of the Beijing games in August, said John Furlong, chief executive officer of Vancouver’s organizing committee.

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The U.S. disabled ski team announced its 2007-08 roster about two minutes ago.

Check out the roster below. (No Washington athletes made the team.)

=> Read more!

Snohomish County is looking for ways to capitalize on the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
SnoGold 2010 is designed to help the county benefit.

Here's there mission statement:

SnoGold will be the “go to” source for Snohomish County business and communities, providing the tools and resources these individuals and groups need to benefit from, and support, the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. SnoGold will work with area businesses, organizations, tribes and agencies to ensure that visitors who come to Snohomish County remember their experience and return, whether to visit or do business.

SnoGold will have a meeting Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Weyerhaeuser Room at the Everett Station, 3201 Smith Avenue, Everett. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

Visit snogold.com for more info.

Tickets for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C., will go on sale Oct. 11, 2008.
The Vancouver Organizing Committee announced the date this morning.
Approximately 1.6 million tickets will be available with 100,000 priced as low as $25. Half of the tickets are $100 or less. Opening and closing ceremonies tickets range from $175 to $1,100.
“The 2010 Winter Games area a global event and demand for tickets will be strong across Canada and around the world,” said Dave Cobb, VANOC executive vice president.
The ticket buying process will be staged in phases and may include lotteries.
Event officials recommend signing up at Vancouver2010.com to be notified by e-mail of ticket program updates.
About 30 percent of Olympic tickets will be held for sponsors, athletes’ families and working media.
The 2010 Winter Games will be staged Feb. 12-28, 2010. The Paralympic Winter Games are March 12-21, 2010.

VANOC announced one minute ago that tickets for the 2010 Olympics will go on sale starting one year from today

Check back in a few minutes for more details.

Lindsey Kildow married former U.S. Ski Team member Thomas Vonn on Sept. 29 at Deer Valley Resort.

It must be true love because Kildow is dropping her killer last name to take Vonn's.

Click below to read the U.S. Ski Team announcement about the wedding.

=> Read more!