The Week: Most Recent olympics

Russia's Olympic spend-a-thon: By the numbers

The Week — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:25:00 -0500

After Russia's disappointing performance at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, president Dmitry Medvedev ordered a government audit — which uncovered nearly $200 million in misspent funds. Now Sports, Tourism, and Youth Policy Minister Vitaly Mutko, who reportedly rejects the findings, has come under fire for wasting taxpayer's money, with some calling for his resignation. Here, a look at some of the controversial figures:

$186 million
Total amount Russia spent on the games

15
Number of medals won by Russian athletes in Vancouver (including three gold medals, five fewer than they collected...

Olympic winners and losers

The Week — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:29:00 -0600

Though the Vancouver Winter Olympics were plagued by skimpy snowfalls, unflattering media coverage, and a flame-resistant torch, the Games ended on a high note — not least for the USA, which broke its all-time medal record. (Watch a report about the luger who died at the Vancouver Olympics.) But you need to look beyond the medal count to identify the real winners and losers of these games:

THE WINNERS

1. Vancouver
Although hosting the Olympics cost the city roughly $6 billion, early signs indicate it may easily make that money back in tourist revenue. The visitor count went "far beyond" expectations...

Worst Olympics ever? 12 epic Vancouver blunders

The Week — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:53:00 -0600

Canada may have won its first home gold medal, but its Winter Games are in danger of garnering a far less prestigious distinction: the worst Olympics ever. From the controversial death of an athlete to endless organizational mishaps, the Games of XXI Winter Olympiad has begun to feel like a blooper reel. In the words of Deadspin's Dashiell Bennett: "This Olympics sucks." Here, a look at the dozen biggest mishaps in Vancouver:

The tragic death of an athlete...
The first week of the Games was overshadowed by Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili's death during a training run at the Whistler track....