From VANOC:

After weeks of deliberations at kitchen tables across Canada, Olympic enthusiasts submitted more than $345 million in requests for tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. As of this past Friday, November 7, the final day of the Request Period of Phase 1, an estimated 120 of 170 ticketed sessions were oversubscribed due to demand exceeding the available tickets. In terms of dollars, Canadians have already requested approximately four and a half times the value of tickets in Phase 1 for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games ($345 million over five weeks), compared to the first phase of ticketing ($75 million over nine weeks) for the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the most recent Olympic Games held in North America.

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From the U.S. Ski Team:

One World Cup into the season and it's fairly obvious that reigning Audi FIS World Cup giant slalom champion Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) has been a busy man. With some new additions to his arsenal of Shred fashions, tentative plans for a new hairdo and a new World Cup podium finish on his resume, it's a wonder he has time for much else - but he does. To find out what else Ligety has been up to, read on:

You really know how to start the World Cup season off, don't you?
It's sweet starting the year off on the podium. It's a big pressure reliever because you're never really sure how fast you're going until the first race. It gives you that little extra piece of confidence, which makes skiing easier to do.

We couldn't help but notice that, along with Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO), fashion plays a role in your race days. Each race, Lindsey will wear a new uniquely designed speed suit by Spyder. You don your Shred gear. Is fashion an important part of race day?
I wouldn't say it affects my race day, but I like to have fun with it. Part of Shred [Ligety's optic, clothing and soon-to-be helmet company] is the sense of humor behind it. It's something I have fun with. The difference with me and Lindsey is I'm trying to get everyone to wear the same thing as me.

And are people wearing the same things as you?
Slowly, I see more and more people wearing Shreds around and it's pretty cool. It's cool to see people wearing a product you've worked hard to cultivate and develop. I see people wearing it and enjoying it and knowing that you have ownership in it is a cool feeling.

So what's the deal with the Shred helmets?
We're developing helmets - they aren't on the market yet - and sunglasses will be on the market this year as well. We're slowly building up the line. It's not super easy being a small company, but it's fun learning the ins and outs of it.

Aside from being a skier and a business man, what else is new in your life?
When I was home I did the Audi Driving Experience with Marco [Sullivan] and Mac [Scott Macartney] driving the R8 around the track. It was definitely the highlight of the month so far. Otherwise, not a whole lot is going on other than Thanksgiving.

Which is scarier, the speed on the hill or on the track?
The two are different. I'm obviously really comfortable skiing fast, but driving fast and pushing my limits is a totally different thrill in itself.

What's going on for Thanksgiving?
We're normally in Colorado for that time and so I think we're going to get together, a bunch of us are going to cook turkey, and it will be the Ski Team family Thanksgiving dinner.

Last year after you won the World Cup GS globe, you shaved your hair into a celebratory mullet. Will there be a mullet return this year?
No, no mullet this year. We're trying to convince Josh Applegate [World Cup tech assistant coach] to do an old Will Smith flat top. He's growing out his hair for that, but for him to do it, Peter Korfiatis [World Cup tech assistant coach] and I have to get a perm at some point.

You're getting a perm?
Yes. (laughs) So I may at some point be rocking a perm, but that's only if Josh grows his hair long enough to do the flat top.

Will you rock the wet perm look, or will you fro it out?
I'll totally fro it out, but it's still in the early stages. This won't happen till early January if it does.