With the latest installment of the Olympic program set to begin in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010, here's a look at some key story lines to watch at the XXI Olympic Winter Games.

Winter sports machine: At the 2002 Salt Lake Games, the U.S. authored its most successful Winter Olympic performance ever: 34 medals, including 10 golds. Four years later, Torino became the most successful offshore Winter Games in American history, with 25 medals and nine golds. Now, the U.S. looks to continue its rise as a winter sports power at the next best thing to a home Olympics: Vancouver, site of the 2010 Games, is less than a three-hour drive from Seattle. With several stars from Torino back for another Olympic run - names such as snowboarder Shaun White, alpine skier Lindsey Vonn and short track speed skater Apolo Ohno - the U.S. team is poised to build on its recent winter success with another strong medal haul.

Canada's elusive gold: Canada has hosted the Olympics twice - the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal and the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary - and on both occasions, the Canadian team surprisingly failed to win a single gold. In 2010, at Canada's third home Olympics, that semi-dubious distinction has a strong chance to decisively change. Two potential candidates to usher in a long overdue celebration: speed skater Cindy Klassen (five Olympic medals, including one gold, in Torino) and 2006 Olympic moguls champion Jennifer Heil.