Re:The front page of the Star, Aug. 17
When I awoke on Sunday morning, I eagerly anticipated reading the Sunday Star, fully expecting the front page focus to be on the wonderful, young Canadian athletes who finally earned Canada's first Olympic medals in Beijing. After all, for the past week, the media have been fretfully wondering when and even if Canada would finally break through.
We were reminded time and time again that Canada was the only G8 nation not to be included on the medal board. Or that we were tied with several tiny, underdeveloped countries who also had no medals. What was wrong with our athletes?
Apparently nothing. On Saturday, our determined, talented athletes came through for us, winning gold, silver and bronze medals. Oh, yes, you did have minuscule photos on the bottom eighth of the front page, underneath the much larger lead headline, "In Search of the Unstealable Bicycle" and below "Golden Boy." Although I, too, am much in awe of U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, my national pride had vainly hoped to see the front page dedicated to our winning athletes.
The media expect a lot from our athletes. Too bad these same athletes have to compete with petty crime and another nation's athlete to earn themselves press space.
K.D. Thom, Toronto
What a disappointment that on the day after Canada has its best showing at the Olympics, the Star demonstrates so little national pride in not including these positive stories on their front page. The dominant Olympics mention on your front page is a cynical story about Michael Phelps' endorsement opportunities. Are Canada's first gold, silver and bronze medals so insignificant that small thumbnail photos at the bottom of the page pointing to another section is sufficient?
And when you get to the Olympics section, the above-the-fold story again focuses on the American athlete. The day before, your top front-page story was about how poorly Canadian athletes have done in the medal standings. It would seem appropriate that equal mention of our success would have been in order.
Joseph Facca, Woodbridge
How disappointing to open the Star and see our medal wins relegated to a small line on the front page. A story about a U.S. athlete comes before Canadian athletes. How sad.
Vicki Marentette, Barrie
Are medals worth the cost? Aug. 16
Absolutely not, the cost of going for medals is not worth the price. The Olympic Games are an expensive entertainment extravaganza that no country can afford in a world that still has massive poverty and is slowly dying due to environmental degradation. The money would be much better spent on pressing human needs. The Olympics are a classic case of socializing risks and privatizing profits and for most of society there are very few benefits.
Andrew van Velzen, Toronto
I was very dismayed to hear that 68 per cent of Canadians found the performance of our athletes unacceptable. Our athletes are representing our country to the best of their abilities, and they're doing a magnificent job. They are swimming faster, throwing farther and paddling better than any Canadian has before, and are doing it with honour and sportsmanship. Given the lack of resources at their disposal, and the media's complete indifference to amateur sport for all but two weeks every four years – heaven forbid we miss out on a second of the "will-Mats-retire-saga" – these athletes are doing a remarkable job and we should be proud.
Bradley Coates, Mount Forest, Ont.
Every two years, during either the Winter or Summer Olympic games, I am horribly embarrassed by Canadians. Not our Olympic athletes but the Canadian public and media, who act as if Olympics medals are the be-all and end-all of the Olympic experience. I am no less proud of our Olympians for qualifying and competing at the highest level and cannot help but cringe when someone expresses their disappointment at our lack of medals.
This sends a terrible message to young Canadians who aspire to compete on the world stage. It tells them that it's not enough to qualify and set personal records, but that winning is everything. As a long- time football coach, yes, winning is good, but it's not going to change the world, or this country, and neither are Olympic medals.
Sure, Olympic medals are expensive, but so are health care, education and social programs, none of which I would want to see Canada go without. We can live without Olympic medals and still be proud of our athletes no matter where they finish. Congratulations to the U.S. and China for their success, but Canada is a far better place to live than either one of them.
Mark Chambers, Toronto
This survey is missing one very important detail: How many of these complainers actually donated anything to the Olympic fund to help finance these Canadian champions? To me, our athletes are champions who have worked so hard, for so many years, to compete for Canada. If you haven't "paid the piper" you don't get to call the tune.
Mark Scanlon, Brighton, Ont.
It is sad to note that such a large percentage of Canadians feel that the performance of Canadian athletes at the Olympics prior to Aug. 16 is unacceptable. Have they been imbued with the Mike Harris/Stephen Harper neo-conservative philosophy? I hope the remainder of Canadians are proud of our Olympic athleles, whether they win a medal or not. I know I am.
Brad Singh, Toronto
I would argue that professional athletes do far more to inspire young Canadians to be fit and do activities that are more readily available and less expensive in their communities than sports like rowing or synchronized diving. I would prefer to see funding of sports programs and facilities that all Canadians can participate in. Canada's national sport is hockey, yet hockey has become too costly for Canadian families.
Andy Kula, Richmond Hill
If you truly value medals above all else, then put your money where your mouth is and start funding our athletes accordingly. In the spirit of the Olympics, I am thrilled to cheer on all of our Canadian athletes and am proud of the way they represent our country. Carol Huynh's gold medal performance – as well as the other athletes who are now racking up the bling – leave little room for disappointment. Go, Canada!
Jennifer Lemon, Angus, Ont.
Phelps plunges into $50 million endorsement pool, Aug. 17
I am totally shocked that the Sunday Star would feel the need to comment on the "ubiquitous protruding ears" of any person. The comment has no relevance to the Olympic performance of Michael Phelps or to U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Shame on your reporter and on the editor who allowed this to slip by!
Gwen Johnston, Peterborough
Michael Phelps breaks Mark Spitz's record. Amazing. And a new Fastest Man on the Planet. Yet neither of their photos were on the front of the Star. A newfound unstealable bike was more important?!
You truly missed the boat.
Joyce Lehman, Mississauga
Shame on you for your Aug. 16 editorial cartoon showing an Olympic athlete with numerous gold medals next to two Canadian athletes with the caption: "I guess their pharmacists are better than ours." To insinuate that doping had a role in Michael Phelps' victories despite a mandatory drug test after each race is disgusting. It is demeaning to Canadian athletes who have shown no sour grapes and applaud the outstanding accomplishment with the rest of the world. Next time you don't have anything "funny" for the cartoon, leave it blank.
Carl Miller, Toronto
I feel that your cartoon depicting the two dejected Canadian athletes was in poor taste. I refuse to believe that our athletes would be jealous of their competitor's success. Your cartoonist should apologize to our Canadian Olympic team members.
Andy Kemp, Toronto
Does anyone else feel like they were invited over for dinner by some Chinese friends only to have them gobble up most of the meal right in front of you? Is this any way to treat your guests? How about leaving some of the medals for your friends in Canada.
Ken Beckim, Oshawa
