Sega's Vancouver 2010 game makes tracks on Facebook

If you love the Olympics, but not enough to pay the exorbitant fees to watch them live in Vancouver, try getting a little closer to the action -- virtually -- with the Vancouver 2010 Official Minigame on Facebook.

This Olympic game is a stripped-down version of Sega's video game with the same name, allowing virtual athletes to play mini-games based on four popular events -- ski jumping, short track speed skating, snowboard cross and giant slalom. Just like the real-life Olympics, players are rewarded gold, silver or bronze medals depending on their performance.

The social aspects of Vancouver 2010 seem standard for a Facebook game -- invite friends to play (and build up your 'team score') and post high scores on your Facebook wall for bragging rights. There's also a series of leaderboards, so players can see how their skills stack up against others in your country and across the globe.