BUT SERIOUSLY: Vancouver Games slogan: added pressure on its own

It's just a thought, but next time Canada hosts the Winter Olympics, it might not be such a bad idea for the powers that be to let the athletes come up with the Games slogan. Looking at the faces of far too many of the homegrown competitors, pre- and post-event, it seems apparent this Own The Podium bravado has been a rather large albatross around their necks.

There's an expression in the Olympics the athletes live by, but the Canadian Olympic Association suits apparently were unaware of: Don't count your medals before they hatch. Sadly, it's too late in the game to craft a new one, nor will we be able to derail the many slogan clones already firmly in place for the days and weeks ahead. Among them:

Own The Imodium: That'll be the war cry for Canadian taxpayers who are sure to be sick to their stomachs when they find out how much extra it is going to cost them to cover the inevitable funding shortfall.

Own The Odium: Not exactly a catch phrase to be proud of and the COA has to answer for this one. These were the first Games in which casual fans became aware of a despicable, seemingly long-standing right of the host nation to limit practice runs in many events for its competitors. Shame on Canada for allowing the status quo to continue. We squandered a platform to once and for all put an end to an unsportsmanlike tradition that runs counter to the very foundation of the so-called Olympic spirit.

Own The Parochialism: The motto of exuberant, flag-waving local announcers gushing over a silver medal by a Canadian, while embarrassingly glossing over the performance from the gold medalist in the same race.

Own The Ad Nauseam: Further to the above. Another mantra of announcers waxing philosophical about the number of Top 10 Canadian finishes in an event, while not given the Top 3 their proper due.

Own The Implodium: You think it's tough here? You ought to read what they're saying in Austria about their once-dominating alpine ski team.

Own The Baloneyum: A much-used line every four years. This is the International Skating Union's shibboleth thanks to the de rigueur controversy with the judging after every Olympic figure skating and ice dancing event.

Own Up To The Per Diem: No doubt the loyal opposition will be keeping a close eye on MPs who attended the Games during prorogue claiming to be there on official business - unless they were there, too, of course.

Own The Colloquialism: The watchword of the legions of unoriginal bloggers and tweeters covering the Games.

Own The Linoleum: That sure didn't look like snow on Whistler Creekside ultra slick, downhill ski course.

Own The Ammonium: I don't have gag for that one. It just sounded funny.

Own The Stadium: A given when Canada's athletes make their grand finale entrance for the closing ceremonies.

Own The Pandemonium: That'll come into play if Canada wins the gold in men's hockey. For Canadians there is no more important victory imaginable.

...And if the unthinkable should happen, Own The Pseudonym: That'll be the maxim for the players on the men's hockey team if they don't skate away with the top bauble.