Word: jacksons
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What's gotten into Canada? For starters, check out Own the Podium's slogan: "Look out, we're going to 'OWN' you." It's a line better fit for some guy from New Jersey, not Newfoundland. "I mean, you know we didn't say on the podium," says Jackson, an avuncular guy who is clearly enjoying this famously low-key nation's take-no-prisoners approach. "We said own the podium. We're getting a little cocky here." (See pictures of Olympic athletes' tattoos...
...response, Canada shrugs. "It's a zero story," Jackson says. "The reality is that foreigners have used the facilities way beyond what was available in Salt Lake City [in 2002]. We have worked with every international federation, they have outlined all the expectations for access, they have all been met and exceeded." Wait a minute, did he just call the Americans "foreigners"? Very neighborly. But Jackson has a message for those scorned Olympians who want to stuff a maple leaf in Canada's face. "Relax," he says. "Just come and enjoy the Games...
...count jumped from 13 in Nagano, Japan, in 1998 to 34 in Salt Lake City four years later, Canada realized it could also capitalize on its status as host. In Turin, Italy, four years ago, Canada finished with 24 medals (one behind the U.S. and five behind leader Germany); Jackson figures around 30 medals should give Canada the top spot in 2010. (See TIME's video series about how Olympic athletes train...
Plus, officials insist that the nonchalance of the past was almost ridiculous. "We joke about it," Jackson says. "There's this wonderful old cartoon of a Canadian athlete with an international president who was handing out medals. It was sort of this Tiny Tim thing. 'Please sir, may we have a medal? Oh no? Well then, thank you for your kind consideration.' That was the Canadian motto. It was hilarious because it was mostly true. We just said, Look, this is nonsense. Let's have some fun with this; let's try to improve...
...Canadian goal is to win the most medals. You know, own that podium. And after the organization has spent $62 million in government funds to fine-tune the Canadian Olympic machine, Jackson's jocks had better deliver. What will happen if they don't fulfill his gold guarantee? "I'm going to try to find the quietest little island," says Jackson, "so that no one can find me." Surely, Canada would want to take out its pent-up aggression...