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Give the Winter Games a chance
In the same way that every four years we all become experts on archery, fencing and judo, we are about to embark on a round of curling, speedskating and luge.
It does not seem to matter what the sport, if it is in the Olympic Games, it is worth watching.
And given the recent weather we have been experiencing we ought to do quite well in the Vancouver Games.
The ice hockey is always worth watching, especially now that all the major teams are littered with players from the NHL.
But you mustn't forget the youngsters with their pants round their knees doing somersaults on bits of wood and women throwing themselves down tubes on trays.
And television technology means that you won't have to miss a thing with multiple screens providing wall to wall coverage.
British chances of success are as good as they have ever been and they may even match a best-ever haul of four medals - set in the 1924 Games-
We have the reigning world champions in men's curling and women's bobsleigh, Skeleton racer Shelley Rudman was second in the World Cup and our short-track speed skaters bagged two silvers and a bronze at the European Championships.
Of course it has not all been plain sailing for our athletes and last week the British Ski and Snowsport Federation went bust.
The British Olympic Association stepped in to ensure our competitors were able to take part in the Games.
But stories of world class skiers having to pay for their own lift passes on training days would be comical if they were not true.
The Winter Games will not knock the Premier League race or the England football captaincy off the back pages.
But I would urge anyone interested in sport to give them a go - you might just enjoy the experience.
The draw for the Euro 2012 qualifiers, held in Warsaw at the weekend, were as low key as you could possibly imagine.
But they threw up the intriguing prospect of a couple of competitive England-Wales confrontations.
Fabio Capello's side should have little trouble overcoming their neighbours - or Montenegro, Bulgaria and Switzerland for that matter.
For the Welsh it will be a financial bonus which will be more than welcome.
But the problem the draw had is that it took place before the finals of the World Cup which remain uppermost on most fans' minds.
Then again, it shows the relentlessness of football that even before one major competition is finished we know the opposition for the next.
Arsene Wenger has not ruled out Arsenal making a challenge for the Premier League title.
He must be the only one who hasn't after their performances against Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Gunners are the third best team in the top flight and will finish accordingly.
Chelsea and Manchester United will continue their two-horse race for the remainder of the campaign with few fans of other clubs taking much of an interest.
Now we all know what it is like to be football fans in Scotland.
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
