The 2010 Winter Olympics are fast approaching and the city of Vancouver is readying itself for the big, two-week event.

The Olympics will take place from February 12 to 28, with the paralympics running from March 12 to 21.

The torch relay, which is a tradition dating back many, many years, will begin on October 30. The torch will be taken from Athens across the ocean to Canada, where it will wind its way through the country before ending at its final destination in Vancouver.

The 106-day journey will cover more than 45,000 kilometers, and 90 percent of the country will be within a one-hour drive of the torch relay, giving many natives the chance to share in the special event.

Despite the struggles of the economy around the globe, the Olympics are always a time when the world comes together as one and the focus is on the amazing athletes that will compete against each other.

In a world where fans sometimes become frustrated over greedy, obnoxious and unsportsmanlike professional athletes, the amateurs competing for glory and love of the sport are a reminder of what is good and right about competition.

For those of us in the United States, these Olympics will be great because they are so close by. It's easy to take a flight to Vancouver and be able to see all that the Winter Games has to offer.

With less than a year to go until the games, there has been a lot of operational testing taking place at different Olympic venues to make sure that everything will go smoothly when the big moment arrives.

Ice hockey, ice skating and skiing are likely to be the most popular sports at the 2010 winter games. The hockey will be most exciting given that so many teams are sending NHL players and the host country will be among the favorites to win the gold medal. Don't forget about curling, either, which has become one of the most popular sports in recent years.

It certainly promises to be an outstanding Olympics, and with the Winter Games so close to the United States for the last time for many years, don't miss out on the opportunity to see sports and the world at their best.