At long last, the Vancouver Games are finally upon us -- eight years after the world ventured to Utah for one of the most successful Olympics in history.
How will they compare?
Most expect the host Canadians to put on a similarly spectacular show, and perhaps even make history on the fields of play. Meanwhile, the U.S. Olympic Team appears poised for another strong performance, though it seems unlikely to quite match its record medal haul at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.
Here's a look at which storylines figure to dominate, once the torch is lit:
1. Welcome to Vonncouver
Park City's Lindsey Vonn will be one of the biggest stories of the Olympics, either by living up to the soaring expectations, or not.
A double reigning world alpine ski champion who has dominated the speed events this season, Vonn will contest all five women's races -- and could win a medal in every one. But as she's quick to remind those who ask, skiing isn't swimming; dangerous conditions can change drastically in mere moments, meaning luck and timing can have a lot to do with success or failure.
Still, it's hard to imagine she'll come home empty-handed.
2. Owning the podium
The Canadians have spent millions on their athletes and programs, hoping to top the medal table for the first time.
That would be a remarkable accomplishment for a nation that did not win a single gold in either of the two previous Olympics it has hosted, though the ultra-competitive effort has struck some as "un-Canadian." Other athletes have complained they have been denied sufficient training time at the Olympic venues, and Team Canada has lost some of its medal hopes to injuries.
It's going to take a big push for the home team to come out on top.
3. Bobsled royalty
Bobsled pilots Steve Holcomb of Park City and Shauna Rohbock of Orem represent two of the best gold-medal hopes for the Americans.
Holcomb is the reigning world champion who aims to become the first American since 1948 to win the four-man gold, and Rohbock is the world silver medalist, hoping to finally break through to the top against two dominating German rivals.
What's more, the effort will take place on a blood-curdling course that ranks as the fastest in the world. "I feel like I just did the eight seconds roping a calf," Rohbock said. "Pfft-pfft-pfft ... done!"
4. The Flying Tomato
Snowboarding icon and defending gold medalist Shaun White has proved he's still at the top of his game, pioneering yet another seemingly impossible trick just in time for the Olympics.
But recent injuries will shine a spotlight on the safety of his high-flying sport, particularly now that the halfpipe has grown from 18 feet to 22 feet tall.
The pipe is sure to be an emotional place for the Americans, who are keeping injured colleagues Kevin Pearce and Danny Davis in their thoughts as they battle to maintain their dominance, having won 10 of the 18 medals in halfpipe history.
5. Ice queens
Women's figure skating is always one of the premier events at the Olympics, but the Americans have an unusual lack of star power this time around.
Michelle Kwan is retired and Sasha Cohen is out, having failed to make the team after falling at the national championships. That leaves little-known teens Rachel Flatt and Mirai Nagasu as the only Americans in the field; The New York Times said they face the lowest expectations in nearly 50 years.
Maybe it's just a chance for the American men to shine, for once. After all, Evan Lysacek is the reigning world champion, and Johnny Weir is a flamboyant fan favorite.
6. Making history
Short-track speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno began his illustrious career at the 2002 Salt Lake Games, and now needs just two more medals to reach seven for his career and become the most decorated U.S. winter Olympian in history.
But his fast-and-furious sport is one in which anything can happen; witness his sprawling crash in '02 that allowed Australian Stephen Bradbury to come from behind for improbable gold. What's more, Ohno is hardly unrivaled, with South Korea's Lee Ho-Suk the reigning world champion and teammate J.R. Celski expected to challenge him.
7. How's the weather?
They're called the Winter Olympics, but the weather in Vancouver might make them feel more like the other ones.
Unusually warm temperatures have the host city feeling like spring, and have threatened the quality of the competition at nearby Cypress Mountain, where snowboarding and freestyle skiing will be held. At least, a record amount of snow has fallen at Whistler for the skiing and sliding events, and officials have promised that contingency plans at Cypress will work just fine.
Nevertheless, you can expect a steady stream of weather reports -- which is normal, just usually for different reasons.
8. Go, Canada!
If there is one thing the host nation desperately wants to see out of its Olympics, it's Team Canada winning the men's hockey final.
"Anything less than that ... will be disappointing," said defenseman Chris Pronger.
It's not hard to imagine the whole country shutting down if the Canadians fail, judging by how much attention has been paid to the hopes of glory in the national sport. Tickets are almost impossible to find -- one online broker was selling them for nearly $3,000 each -- and interest is off the charts.
Yet Russia is the world's top-ranked team, and no team has won gold on home soil since Team USA's Miracle on Ice in 1980.
9. Measuring up
Comparisons to past Olympics are always inevitable, but the Vancouver Games will bear particular resemblance to the Salt Lake Games, especially because organizers used their forebear as a template for preparing their effort.
The Canadians are expected to deliver a similarly rousing reception, too, after the lackluster one at the 2006 Turin Games, even amid economic concerns and fears of a budget shortfall.
Transportation and organization are logistical details that will play a big role in determining the event's success, along with local enthusiasm. Get those things right, as Utahns know, and you can be left with some wondrous memories.
