[SpongeG]

if so was there a lot of opposition to it from people in the city?

were people against it?

Vancouver is hosting the 2010 winter olympics and this week some protesters stole the flag and plan to protest at some ceremony next week, as well they protested at the unveiling of the olympic clock a couple weeks back, and they plan to protest during the games themselves

is this a normal thing?

Vancouver Olympic flag stolen

Vandals have stolen the huge Olympic flag that has been flying at Vancouver City Hall the past year.

Police say someone broke the lock on the flag pole early Tuesday, cut the rope, brought the flag down to the ground and then ripped it off the cable.

Just a small strip of cloth, about 10 centimetres by a metre, was left behind.

Const. Tim Fanning said investigators have no suspects, but they believe there is more than one person involved because of the flag's size and weight.

"The flag, as I understand it, can be very heavy when it's wet and will take several people to be able to manage it."

The missing flag measures 4.87 metres (16 feet) by 7.62 metres (25 feet).

Police expect private security is needed at the flag site now, much like the measures that secure the Olympic clock at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

"Security measures will be changed and adjusted in light of the fact that this flag was stolen," Fanning said.

The Paralympic flag that flies nearby was not damaged.

Fanning said the pole, which cost $6,000, was damaged, and the hand-sewn flag will have to be replaced at a cost of $1,600.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/amateur/story/2007/03/06/bc-flag.html


Anti-Poverty Committee applauds theft of Olympic flag

Tuesday, March 06 - 02:43:20 PM Reshmi Nair

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Olympic flag has been stolen from Vancouver City Hall and the usual suspects are applauding the culprits.

Anti-Poverty Committee activists took part in an Olympic attack a few weeks ago, but while David Cunningham says they're not involved in this, he supports who ever is. "That's not to say that we don't support nearly any action against the Olympics. Given the amount of money that's spent around this flag and the symbolism, it's quite significant that somebody took this flag down."

Constable Tim Fanning says it must have taken more than one person to steal the flag early this morning since it's 16 by 25 feet. "Once they got the flad down, they ripped it, rather than unclipping it, so the flag is now ruined even if we recover the flag"

Police say there's about $10,000 worth of damage, but Fanning says the 'crime of anger' isn't going to stop any plans. "A flag lighting ceremony that's going to be taking place on March 12th at City Hall, that will be going ahead as scheduled.

The APC is promising to be there and to do whatever it takes to disrupt the ceremony.

[vid]

I think the anti-Poverty coalition is going too far in supporting sabotage of the games. It reflects poorly on them and on the residents of the GVRD they represent.

[Steely Dan]

^ yeah, these kind of jack-ass stunts remind me of the eco-thugs of the E.L.F. who do FAR more to harm the credility of the environmental movement than they help it. people need to know when to choose their battles, obviously these retards haven't learned that lesson yet.

[atlantaguy]

No, it's not normal. It smacks of Pacific Northwest nimbyism to me - and please don't flame me, I happen to very much love the region.

I can only speak of Atlanta's experience with the Olympics. Virtually everything about and related to the Games were totally embraced and celebrated here. Just being a volunteer was considered to be a badge of honor, and you still see license plates, etc. around town ten years later.

[nomarandlee]

Thats funny this comes up.

a protester with a bullhorn accused Mayor Daley and the Olympics of racism, claimed the Olympics would displace homeless and said that the games should not come to the city.
The man, who identified himself as J.R. Fleming of the Coalition to Protect Public Housing, was accompanied by a videographer and another protester


This was from last weeks USOC prospective Olympic tour repoted in the local paper..

a protester with a bullhorn accused Mayor Daley and the Olympics of racism, claimed the Olympics would displace homeless and said that the games should not come to the city.
The man, who identified himself as J.R. Fleming of the Coalition to Protect Public Housing, was accompanied by a videographer and another protester. .

I wonder if these groups have some of the same connections and have chosen to target the Oympics as best oppurtunity to be a thorn in the side of municpalities. Definatly seems to be a trend going on...

[MolsonExport]

There is always some group yelling "bread, not circuses" under these circumstances.

[Attrill]

It's just people who are more concerned with chasing cameras than getting anything done on the issues they supposedly care about.

[Alta California]

My city has hosted the Olympics twice (take that Paris!). Not alive for the first one, in another country for the second. The last one of course propelled the Olympics into the corporation that it is now, but for L.A., it was a mixed-bag. Riots and stunted public transportation projects kinda took the sheen away from the supposed social benefits of the Games. It had all the feeling of being one of those missed opportunity for the city. Very few of the infrastructure remain and enduring legacies are hard to find in the city (except for the faded murals). It was the 1932 Olympics that left an enduring legacy for L.A., the 1984 one benefited the IOC more than the city.

[DJM19]

I think durring the 84 olympics, the city was very proud, Later on, it left really no impact, but during it, it was good

[Minato Ku]

My city has hosted the Olympics twice (take that Paris!). .
Paris has also hosted the Olympics twice. :yes:
In 1900 and in 1924.

[SpongeG]

oh more anti-olympicness...

Olympic countdown clock vandalized
Monday, March 12 - 03:28:57 PM

John Ackermann
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Olympic Countdown Clock, outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, has been vandalized. The stone and wood clock monument has been spray-painted several times with the words "Free Betty".

That apparently refers to recently sentenced protestor Betty Krawczyk, who went to jail over her objection to road construction at Eagleridge Bluffs in West Vancouver. Vancouver Police at the scene say witnesses saw a man spray-painting the clock, before taking off south on Howe Street.

Police have recovered the spray paint can, and they'll be reviewing security video-tapes. The incident comes despite the promise of 24 hour security after the unveiling of the clock was marred by a violent protest.

http://www.news1130.com/news/topstory/article.jsp?content=20070312_182857_5292

[Symi81]

Of course there are people in Vancouver who are unhappy. How much money is are Vancouver and BC spending to host? I dont have a figure, but I'm sure its a pretty penny. How much are taxpayers contributing to Olympic related improvemetns? Will these improvements be beneficial to people who already live in Vancouver, or do they cator to newcovers, tourists and other rich folk?

Down the road in Seattle, there was some talk about going for an Olympic bid during the 1990's but it was decided to be too costly and would be a giant pain in the butt. The noterity, excitement, and tourist spending that come with the Olympics are great, but there is a huge cost.

Quality of life is an issue Cascadians take very seriously.

[sabino86]

No, it's not normal. It smacks of Pacific Northwest nimbyism to me - and please don't flame me, I happen to very much love the region.

I can only speak of Atlanta's experience with the Olympics. Virtually everything about and related to the Games were totally embraced and celebrated here. Just being a volunteer was considered to be a badge of honor, and you still see license plates, etc. around town ten years later.

That was a great time. Enjoyed going to the track and field events at Olympic Stadium (now Turner Field) and basketball at the Georgia Dome. Also the first time I rode MARTA (as an impressionable 10 year old) and it was PACKED!!! :cheers:

[atlantaguy]

Yeah, the trains were moving over a million people on some days (normal ridership is around 260,000 a day).

It was a wonderful time mostly, and we now have Centennial Olympic Park and Turner Field as two of the nicest lagacies. Oh, and they are totally paid for - no Montreal style "Big Owe" here!

[Doug]

Calgary had almost no local opposition to the Olympics.

[pricemazda]

Paris has also hosted the Olympics twice. :yes:
In 1900 and in 1924.

Beat you we will have it 3 times!!!!!!

[The Chemist]

Calgary had almost no local opposition to the Olympics.

And why would we? It was an absolute godsend to the city that was trying to overcome the crash brought on by the NEP and the global collapse of oil prices in the mid 80s.

The morons in Vancouver are really making it hard for anyone to support their cause(s), regardless of how good their cause(s) may be.

[Policy Wonk]

Calgary had almost no local opposition to the Olympics.

The only opposition I recall at the time was some Native objections to an exhibit at the Glenbow Museum. They were however significantly more articulate and effective than the "lets smash shit" crowd in Vancouver.

[Nutterbug]

Of course there are people in Vancouver who are unhappy. How much money is are Vancouver and BC spending to host?

How much of it do you figure these activists pay?

I surmise they take more than they give.

[MolsonExport]

After Montreal's unhappy circumstances, I am constantly amazed by the number of people who float trial balloons about bringing back the games to Montreal. Practice makes perfect? Montreal did such an awesome job with Expo-67, but the Olympics were categorically a financial disaster for the city.

[JivecitySTL]

St. Louis held the first Olympics on U.S. soil in 1904. I don't think there was any resistence since the World's Fair was taking place less than a mile away at the same time.

[wong21fr]

if so was there a lot of opposition to it from people in the city?

were people against it?

Vancouver is hosting the 2010 winter olympics and this week some protesters stole the flag and plan to protest at some ceremony next week, as well they protested at the unveiling of the olympic clock a couple weeks back, and they plan to protest during the games themselves

is this a normal thing?

Denver is the only city that has told the IOC to shove it, and take the Olympics elsewhere.

It took some a lot of balls to do that and maybe in another 20 years or so we can get one again. I think a fifty year penance would be enough.

[Minato Ku]

Beat you we will have it 3 times!!!!!!

We all know :hell: (Jalous).

[srperrycgy]

The Montreal Olympic Debt was paid off last year:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2006/12/19/qc-olympicstadium.html?ref=rss

[Swede]

Beat you we will have it 3 times!!!!!!
Stockholm is still the only city to host more than once, but less than twice. :banana:

The Stockholm games were a huge success with great weather the whole time and was (iirc) very popular with the people of the City. The arena built for the games is still in use too - not bad for one built in 1912! :D

[sprtsluvr8]

The Atlanta Games were totally embraced and celebrated by the people...but there was that nasty little bombing incident at Centennial Olympic Park. I would think the majority of citizens anywhere would accept and be supportive of the Olympics, but there are always a few unstables trying to make naitonal news...