Canada-U.S. With tensions erupting from sport to geopolitics, Team Canada's opening press conference at the Milano Cortina Olympics was held on Thursday.

The message of the Canadian Olympic Committee was?clear. The rivalry on the field is still real, and the stakes have definitely increased.

David Shoemaker, COC's Chief Executive Officer, said that Canadian athletes were focused on doing their best to compete at the Games.

"Their rivalry is with the United States has been a sport for decades, but I think that there is a bit more at stake."

Donald Trump's comments about Canada being the "51st State" has helped to fuel the defiant rallying call north of the border, "elbows-up" - a hockey term that is now shorthand for Canadians who are pushing back.

The political climate in Italy has given the North American sporting match a distinct edge.

Shoemaker stated that "our women's hockey players, for instance, already know what's at stake in their competition against the U.S. "That is the best rivalry for women's hockey, and we are looking forward to it," Shoemaker said.

The U.S. has claimed the two other Olympic titles. Since women's hockey was introduced at the Nagano Games in 1998, Canada is the defending champ and they have won five Olympic titles.

In Milan, the rivals will face off in the preliminary round of the tournament on Tuesday.

Canadian men won nine gold medals at the Olympics in ice-hockey, while Americans won only two. The 2022 Olympics saw both countries unable to reach the podium. Finland, the Russian Olympic Committee, and Slovakia won gold.

Shoemaker stated, "What is great about sports is that people will compete with a vengeance, and then shake hands, no matter what the result, after they are done."

Fans Urged to Channel Passion Positively

Shoemaker urged Canadians to use their passion to help others. This was the message he gave to Canadians who felt tempted to boo during the American anthem, as happened at a New York Islanders NHL game in Montreal recently and an NBA match between the Orlando Magic & Memphis Grizzlies game in London.

He said, "My message to Canadians is to sing 'O Canada" as loudly and as proudly as possible." "Eversince I was a child, I have wanted Team Canada beat the U.S. at everything we did. I still want that to happen.

I believe we should focus our energy on supporting Canada rather than the opposite.

Tricia Smith, COC president and Olympic rowing silver medalist, has stressed that sport is still a way to transcend politics.

"We often talk about the power of sport. She said, "In today's fractured society, it is more important than ever to bring people together through sport."

Sport provides opportunities for real people-to-people interactions. Sport can help build a stronger person, country, and world. Or, at the very least, it can bring joy and unity to Canadians as a whole and our nation.

Canada's Olympic team is made up of 206 athletes, including 107 men and 99 women, as well as 47 Olympic medalists.

COC has not announced a medal goal, but Shoemaker stated that?achieving a personal best is the goal of every Olympics.

The 29 medals they won in Pyeongchang in 2018 was their highest total, and placed them third behind Norway (39) and Germany (31). The U.S. ranked fourth with 23.

Canada won 14 gold medals at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, followed by Germany (10) and the U.S. (9). However, the Americans outshone Canada with their 37 total medals. Germany came in second with 30, four more than Canada, who finished third.

The familiar rivalry between Canada and the U.S. is set to return to the forefront as Canada and the U.S. meet at multiple major events, including men's and woman's hockey.

The emotional stakes were never higher. No one expected elbows to literally be thrown outside of the ice-hockey arena. (Reporting and editing by Ken Ferris; reporting by Lori Ewing)

(source: Reuters)