[nova9]

Plus, my personal experience with VANOC as a volunteer has been nothing but good. I am more inclined to believe that if they're treating us volunteers this well, they must be treating other people involved even better.

Are you sure? Aren't you just a paid mouthpiece for VANOC? They obviously don't give a poop about citizens so how could you claim to be a happy volunteer? Cornholio was in a meeting. He knows ALLLLL.

[crazyjoeda]

-

[whatnext]

Yes she said that they are not selling the games to Vancouverites nor are local businesses or people their concern, their only concern is visitors, media and VIP's. You can believe me or not, I work in the shipping industry and I have no reason to lie. In the end you will find all this stuff out anyways. I dont want to be involved in this anyways, im just saying how it is.

Now im done with this topic, it can be nothing but trouble for me.

edit: no i cant show any evidence, this was strictly a business/union meeting regarding what will be happening during the olympics.

I'm surprised, you're surprised.

The IOC and hence their lackeys at VANOC are essentially accountable to nobody. Their "let them eat cake" attitude towards local business has been evident since their first jack-booted attempts to bust longstanding local businesses for logo infringement. Coupled with their arrogant "just tell people not to come downtown to work" nonsense reveals how out of touch the Olympic "movement" is with reality.

The whole sorry show will provide little long term benefit for BC. The speakers brought in to try and say otherwise are generally of two camps: Olympic groupies who follow the games around the way whores used to follow armies; or the people responsible for foisting the games off on other unsuspecting jurisdictions.

Toronto does't know how lucky they were to have lost the 2008 Summer Games to Beijing.

[Yume-sama]

It looks like things will be alright. Lets hope for cooler weather and a big dump of snow in the 19 days.

Hmm. I would think maybe they should have waited longer before pushing some snow down.

IToronto does't know how lucky they were to have lost the 2008 Summer Games to Beijing.

And yet they keep trying. Recently awarded the Pan-Am games which will cost them over $1.4 billion (low, probably), and give them all of the necessary infrastructure and new buildings for another Olympic bid in 2020 or 2024.

Unsurprisingly, the East has their crazies, too. Who now have 6 years to try and be as useless and unsuccessful as 2010 protesters have been.

http://www.dominionpaper.ca/files/dominion-img/Security.Pan%20Am.preview.jpg

[jlousa]

I personally know that Vanoc has been consulting with local business and doing the best to help them out and avoid any ill effects. I work in a building just outside the red zone. Vanoc has bent over backwards to help us manage, sure there will be some disruptions but they are pretty minimal. They've met with us close to a dozen times over the last year. They have arranged a alternate loading zone for 90% of our daily deliveries, they have provided us access to their security network to register the 10% of our deliveries that require to drive thru the security zone. They have provided us parking permits for all our monthly parkers, the daily/hourly parkers that we will lose due to the games have been made up with Vanoc buying up those spaces for their own use. As one of the buildings most affected by the games I have nothing but positives to say about Vanoc. They have been completely accessible at every step. If you've had problems it's probably been issues with the management side of your building. My wife's work is in another redzone area and again they've had no issues except with a few contractors that are refusing to deliver to them, this isn't Vanoc's problem but the companys decision. I know her company is dropping Staples due to there refusal to deliver even though other office supply companys are willing and able to.

If you are in charge of managing your building then pm me and I can provide you contacts at Vanoc to help you our. Otherwise the complaints should fall on your management team.

[NetMapel]

And yet they keep trying. Recently awarded the Pan-Am games which will cost them over $1.4 billion (low, probably), and give them all of the necessary infrastructure and new buildings for another Olympic bid in 2020 or 2024.

Unsurprisingly, the East has their crazies, too. Who now have 6 years to try and be as useless and unsuccessful as 2010 protesters have been.

http://www.dominionpaper.ca/files/dominion-img/Security.Pan%20Am.preview.jpg

Toronto had no chance of winning in 2008 anyways. It was a landslide win by Beijing. I know some Torontonians who blame Vancouver for killing their chance of an immediate re-bid though :haha:

[Yume-sama]

I didn't even mention that, guess who, is spearheading the anti-Pan Am games movement? The one, the only, professional d-bag and protester... CHRISTOPHER SHAW.

This is not good news to everyone. “You can expect to see more homelessness; you can expect to see people displaced,” says Christopher Shaw

“They’re going to start ramping up their security apparatus.”

The current budget for the Pan Am Games calls for $1.4 billion, plus an additional billion to pay for the Athletes’ Village. “For sure the number is vastly higher; they just don't want to tell people that,” says Shaw.

“They are hallucinating; they are lying to you through their teeth,” said Shaw upon hearing the number of officers to be deployed. He compares these figures to the 15,000 police officers, military and private security being deployed to the Vancouver Olympics, questioning why a similar event would require much less security.

The guy is a joke, who obviously does not really believe half of the stuff he says.

http://d.yimg.com/ca.yimg.com/p/100110/capress/i12631524601086862533.jpg?x=300&y=292&sig=mW9mITVzUNMxr.n5zibYXw--

But I guess he needs another cause to extort now that 2010 is here, and will soon be over.

[Stingray2004]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4298881915_6e180a2ddc.jpg

Thanks! It looks like they are going for broke since they are utilizing heavy duty Volvo construction dump trucks instead of your run-of-the-mill dump truck.

[flight_from_kamakura]

noticing this reminded me that i really ought to get out to the ubes. i haven't been out there forever.

http://www.joconl.com/article/id37235

Some University of British Columbia fields are being transformed into a staging area for the 2010 Olympic Games.

The Lord, Buck, Spencer and Osborne athletic fields, located south and west of the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre (also known as the UBC Thunderbird Arena), are being transformed into a staging and service area for staff, media, construction and operational vehicles during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which are taking place February-March 2010.

[Denscity]

The Olympic torch came through here in Castlegar today!!

[giallo]

I didn't even mention that, guess who, is spearheading the anti-Pan Am games movement? The one, the only, professional d-bag and protester... CHRISTOPHER SHAW.



The guy is a joke, who obviously does not really believe half of the stuff he says.

http://d.yimg.com/ca.yimg.com/p/100110/capress/i12631524601086862533.jpg?x=300&y=292&sig=mW9mITVzUNMxr.n5zibYXw--

But I guess he needs another cause to extort now that 2010 is here, and will soon be over.


I appreciate that there are people looking out for the little man and all, but Chris Shaw is really annoying. He seems like the guy that would tattle to the teacher if you and your friends were having a cigarette just slightly on school property. Or he'd call the police on a house party because he wasn't invited.

Between City Hall and these guys, Vancouver is really going to have to work hard to shed its 'No Fun' image.

[Yume-sama]

Chris Shaw is not looking out for the little man, though. He travels around Canada (hell, North America, as he was part of the anti-Chicago 2016 movement) from big event to big event, trying to get in the papers and sell his book by being against everything, with nonsensical rants about the evils of the Olympics, Pan-Am games, etc. Even though both the Pan-Am and Olympics will be responsible for major social housing projects, he continues to rail how they will displace people (which is just silly in both cities) and will increase homelessness. Chris Shaw is out for himself, which is why he has now leeched on to Canada's next big event in Toronto, as the opportunity to extort 2010 is coming to an end, and he can't just slip away in to obscurity.

[dreambrother808]

Olympic groupies who follow the games around the way whores used to follow armies

:haha:

Wow..

[mr.x]

Chris Shaw is not looking out for the little man, though. He travels around Canada (hell, North America, as he was part of the anti-Chicago 2016 movement) from big event to big event, trying to get in the papers and sell his book by being against everything, with nonsensical rants about the evils of the Olympics, Pan-Am games, etc. Even though both the Pan-Am and Olympics will be responsible for major social housing projects, he continues to rail how they will displace people (which is just silly in both cities) and will increase homelessness. Chris Shaw is out for himself, which is why he has now leeched on to Canada's next big event in Toronto, as the opportunity to extort 2010 is coming to an end, and he can't just slip away in to obscurity.

If only he could stay in his UBC laboratory...

[crazyjoeda]

I find the whole anti-olympic nonsense to be quite sad. There are so many serious problems in this country and the world that people should but don't protest against; to see people waste there time and energy on something so frivolous is depressing. Even if you are blind to the benefit of the games and think they are a waste of money canceling them now would only cost more money.

For the most part the people causing trouble and being disruptive are doing so because they want to and are simply using the Olympics as an excuse, but I do respect the people who peacefully protest. People have the right to their opinion.

[sacrifice333]

those cypress pics are awesome! There may not be a lot of snow off piste, but there's more than enough where they need it... thanks in large part to their contingency plans. The grand stands look really cool!

people are never going to want to have the olympics in a winter climate again! ;)

[canucks23]

^ Yay! thanks for the optimism :tup:

[WaxItYourself]

I find the whole anti-olympic nonsense to be quite sad. There are so many serious problems in this country and the world that people should but don't protest against; to see people waste there time and energy on something so frivolous is depressing. Even if you are blind to the benefit of the games and think they are a waste of money canceling them now would only cost more money.

For the most part the people causing trouble and being disruptive are doing so because they want to and are simply using the Olympics as an excuse, but I do respect the people who peacefully protest. People have the right to their opinion.
yes they do have a right to their opinion however instead of protesting something that is going to occur anyways I would suggest they try and make this Olympics the best. The way to help out the economy, which they seem so mindful with, is to allow the province and the people out on the best Olympics in history. In order to bring people back you have to make their stay enjoyable and memorable. Having protestors at every turn ridiculing you because they don't like the Olympics or putting up banners and holding rallies where the fans and observers meet is shameful and I'm sure that will happen a few times during the games.

[mooks28]

As we get closer to the games, the anti-games people seem to have just lost it.

People are having fun? Oh no!

[WarrenC12]

It's pretty laughable to suggest VANOC will be giving people the cold shoulder. Consider that the world's media will be descending on the city, looking for other side stories to cover other than the events themselves. Clearly VANOC's PR department needs to work in over-drive the whole time.

Secondly on the weather, I think it will be fine. It seems like we always get a "false spring" here in Vancouver, and in fact it normally happens in early Feb, then we get "2 more months of winter" which is typically rain in town and snow in the mountains. It will be great. I'm getting more excited every day. :notacrook:

[mr.x]

It's finally snowing at Cypress. They expect 10-20 cms today, but it will likely turn into rain or wet snow at midnight...they don't expect it to stick. Temperatures will hover at 3 degrees C and more rain is in the forecast.

[GeeCee]

Traveling on the SkyTrain for my volunteer shifts while wearing my bright aqua blue uniform, me and one other person at my venue have had people approach us and tell us that they don't like the Olympics on two separate occasions. Kind of funny..

[vitc]

Don't know if this has been ask/answered before but does cypress not have snowmaking machines like whistler?

[mr.x]

Don't know if this has been ask/answered before but does cypress not have snowmaking machines like whistler?

Yes, dozens and dozens...they were installed for the Olympics, and they were going full blast in November/December even when it was snowing heavily. VANOC had always been preparing for the worst case scenario.

[sacrifice333]

^they do indeed. Only difference is that at WB they can use this additive in their snow machines that keeps it frozen even above zero. Since Cypress is in a provincial park they can't use any additives. IIRC.

[nova9]

Music video for Sarah McLachlan's song "One Dream" - obvious Olympic ad but I can't tell for who, probably NBC:

xJMaDxjjc6s

[wrenegade]

Cypress does look better than I thought. But still not great. I'm going to be praying for snow and cold temps everyday until the Olympics. Snow is one thing, good consistency snow is another. Racing (or halfpipe) + mushy snow = terrible.

[mooks28]

Traveling on the SkyTrain for my volunteer shifts while wearing my bright aqua blue uniform, me and one other person at my venue have had people approach us and tell us that they don't like the Olympics on two separate occasions. Kind of funny..

Oh god. You're just volunteers. What do these people expect you to do?

Also noticed some girl scream "F*ck 2010!" and try to push over one of the lunarfest displays next to Sears. The security guard took her picture as he rushed over. Needless to say, she ran away. I wonder if the photos go on some website for all to see?

[nobase2010]

9JAqz-Kn2KE&feature

[mr.x]

^ ...makes me sad that we have so many negative, cynical lefty loons here.

[officedweller]

The Yaletown "raindrop" lights have been installed on lampposts on Pacific Boulevard next to the Roundhouse Community Centre. Haven't seen them lit though.
They look like a definite "add-on" (a bit flimsy looking).

[NetMapel]

Traveling on the SkyTrain for my volunteer shifts while wearing my bright aqua blue uniform, me and one other person at my venue have had people approach us and tell us that they don't like the Olympics on two separate occasions. Kind of funny..

I get that some people don't like the Olympics and that's fine. However, what's the point of complaining to us volunteers ? :haha: We are not in charge of the whole event and can't really do anything about it. This makes me think these people are just complaining for the sake of complaining :rolleyes:

[WarrenC12]

Oh god. You're just volunteers. What do these people expect you to do?

Also noticed some girl scream "F*ck 2010!" and try to push over one of the lunarfest displays next to Sears. The security guard took her picture as he rushed over. Needless to say, she ran away. I wonder if the photos go on some website for all to see?

Interesting... Don't forget all of the video cameras in operation. I'm a little worried I might punch one of these idiots when I'm down there, thus landing myself in a world of legal trouble. :rolleyes:

[officedweller]

The 701 West Georgia reno will not be done in time.

City scrambles to meet deadline
Construction crews, trucks rush to finish

By Ian Austin, The Province
January 25, 2010

Are we ready?

The Province took a daylong trek through downtown Vancouver and found frenetic activity at virtually every turn as construction crews raced to meet the fast-approaching Feb. 12 Olympic deadline.

GRANVILLE STREET

The changeover from Canada Line construction zone to Olympic pedestrian mall is still not complete.

Today, it resembles a heavy-equipment parking lot with hordes of workers installing lights, chairs and bike racks, and pressure-washing sidewalks.

One of the walkway's signature icons promises to be impressive once crews install the missing feature -- vertical light tubes.

Vancouver's epicentre, Granville and Georgia, is far from ready. White shrink-wrap and orange-and-blue tarps besmirch the street-level worksite at 701 W. Georgia, with a construction own the worksite -- we have to. We've got two weeks, then we'll shut down and put up white plywood with stickers on it."

Public art is popping up on the mall to greet the tourists, but there's no sign yet of the security cameras.

Robson Square

Scaffolding is everywhere as the B.C. Pavilion takes shape around the new enlarged skating rROBSON SQUAREitors cling timidly to the boards.

A blue-and-yellow pavilion roof is under construction, turning the steps into a natural amphitheatre for performances. Sound stages, towers and banners are being put up. A giant video screen at Robson and Howe features short films in the CUE Artists' Videos series.

Art Gallery

The Olympic Countdown Clock has company now, with a giant log cabin under construction and new ART GALLERY

e gallery's north steps.

A look skyward reveals skyscrapers draped with giant billboards -- four-storey athletes at The Bay, a 10-storey Canadian flag at Georgia and Howe, 14-storey Olympic mascots on the TD building. But the gold medal goes to the 30-storey skier at Royal Centre.

LiveCity Downtown

The parking lot at Georgia and Beatty is behind security screens, but colossal tents withLIVE CITY DOWNTOWNre taking shape at a site that will include the $9-million Canada Pavilion and promises to be one of the most popular Olympic venues.

False Creek East

A walk across the Georgia Viaduct -- where workers are installing Olympic banners -- revealsFALSE CREEK EAST

ly transformed.

Looking south, the name "tent city" seems appropriate: No fewer than 32 shiny white Olympic tents cloak the site to the edge of False Creek.

The blue Q of the Maison du Quebec dominates the skyline, while a gold-and-green wheatfield logo trumpets the Saskatchewan Pavilion.

A "Russia Meets Canada" sign at Science World greets truckloads of supplies coming through the doorway for the Russia House pavilion.

The closed-to-the-public Olympic Village on False Creek's south shore has workers installing four-storey Olympic banners. A walk farther west leads to tent villages at the Plaza of Nations and adjacent to the Olympic venues at GM Place and B.C. Place.

LiveCity Yaletown

The rush to get it all done seems more frantic at David Lam Park, where multiple building programs have the look of down-to-the-wire.

An entire house is being built at the corner of Pacific and Homer, and paving crews are taking advantage of good weather to lay asphalt on Beach Crescent.

Westin Bayshore

The Vancouver home of the Olympic family looks more like a fortress, as concrete barriers and three-metre-high chainlink fences ring the venue where the who's who of the Olympic movement will be coming to stay.

Coal Harbour

Eastward along the seawall is the new $800-million Convention Centre. But visitors who want a closer look are out of luck -- only rights-holders such as CTV and NBC, who have paid millions up front, are allowed in.

iaustin@theprovince.com

© Copyright (c) The Province

[Waders]

According to Burnabynow http://www2.canada.com/burnabynow/news/story.html?id=013b7d88-ee62-4131-b630-d089f45b37df, torch relay will pass through Burnaby Metropolis on Feb. 11. :banana:
Does anyone have information on the torch relay route in Vancouver area?


Stops in Burnaby on Feb. 11 - the last day of the run before the torch is brought into B.C. Place in Vancouver - will include an official visit at Burnaby Village Museum earlier in the day and a community celebration at Metropolis starting at 2:30 p.m., with formal events starting at 3:30 p.m.
...
Though details aren't finalized, organizers are in need of 3,000 cupcakes and a slab cake with a Canadian flag on it for the community celebration

I think Metropolis will be jam-packed!

[jlousa]

DVBIA has put out a map and list of free events during the games, don't beleive it lists them all, and obviously the ones they list only include the core but it's still worth a look.

http://downtownvancouver.net/files/OlympicMapBlack.pdf

[GeeCee]

On the 11th, the torch starts for the day at either 5-6AM in Belcarra/Anmore up near Buntzen Lake. I'm in Anmore.. so early. :yuck:

[whatnext]

I find the whole anti-olympic nonsense to be quite sad. There are so many serious problems in this country and the world that people should but don't protest against; to see people waste there time and energy on something so frivolous is depressing. (bold mine)

LOL...the irony.
But seriously, ice dancing isn't frivolous. No, really it isn't... I'm not kidding...

[touraccuracy]

^by the same logic, why have any art, music, sports, games, film, or anything other than food and shelter. some things make life possible, some things make life worth living.

[Yume-sama]

^by the same logic, why have any art, music, sports, games, film, or anything other than food and shelter. some things make life possible, some things make life worth living.

Well, maybe YOU can't live without food, but that's just typical from you Gordo following sheeple. Just think about how many people have been displaced due to farming. Homelessness abound!

RIOT FOOD!

Don't even get me started about how many people have gone homeless to build shelter.

:jester:

[nova9]

Canada's flagbearer to be announced on Friday!

From TSN: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=27988.html?cid=rsstsn

[Yume-sama]

Hmmm. A popular pick seems to be Clara Hughes. I wouldn't pick any of the Mens hockey players, and I don't really know anyone else! :D

It will be interesting to see who it is. Though, I'm more interested in the final torchbearer :P

[mr.x]

(bold mine)

LOL...the irony.
But seriously, ice dancing isn't frivolous. No, really it isn't... I'm not kidding...

wow...could you be anymore depressing and deranged? Reading your posts = pulling scrotum over head.

[WarrenC12]

Is there a list of torchbearers anywhere? I mean obviously the last one is a big deal, but what about the last 5 or so?

[nova9]

Check out this cheeky video from NBC: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=87b84711-1542-4ac1-83c6-89b20e8e83b9.html#o+canada+u+s+athletes+talk+about

Please, no American-bashing, I'm sure it was meant to be this way.

[whatnext]

wow...could you be anymore depressing and deranged? Reading your posts = pulling scrotum over head.

Really? I was feeling the same way about your unquestioning fanboy posts.

Bread and circuses. As Barnum said, there's one born every minute. Maybe if you had a meeting with the young woman who's had her breast reconstruction surgery delayed due to this circus, you'd develop some perspective.

[GeeCee]

Here's some perspective:

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9275/whatnext.png (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/profile.php?do=addlist&userlist=ignore&u=40650)

I've had quite enough of your foolishness. That is an optional elective cosmetic surgery which should take a lower precedence over some kind of sports injury which may impede a person's mobility. Let's say that some ski jumper breaks their leg in several places during the Games, but they can't get surgery here in the needed timeframe to avoid further serious injury because of someone's breast reconstruction which can take place at any time. Does that seem fair to you?

[LotusLand]

Tell me these shirts aren't funny, the model they got ain't bad either http://vancitybuzz.blogspot.com/2010/01/nobody-cares-2010.html

How long before VANCOC comes a knocking?

[touraccuracy]

Has anybody seen this interactive map of Olympic venues?

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=118117958028219192217.000477fa3ed078df285f5&ll=49.63562,-122.958984&spn=1.846372,4.938354&z=8

this is worth keeping up here on the most recent page because i started making my own (http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100064678819708297488.00047d7d87abde57425cf&z=9) before finding this one :(

[Prometheus]

Check out this very flattering video of Vancouver from NBC: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=fd622f5a-f261-41f9-879d-0f7cc66daa43.html?chrcontext=destinationvancouver#speed+skaters+admire+neighbor+north

There are lots of very flattering, high-quality videos about Vancouver, Whistler, and British Columbia on the NBC Winter Olympics site.

[whatnext]

Here's some perspective:

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9275/whatnext.png (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/profile.php?do=addlist&userlist=ignore&u=40650)

I've had quite enough of your foolishness. That is an optional elective cosmetic surgery which should take a lower precedence over some kind of sports injury which may impede a person's mobility. Let's say that some ski jumper breaks their leg in several places during the Games, but they can't get surgery here in the needed timeframe to avoid further serious injury because of someone's breast reconstruction which can take place at any time. Does that seem fair to you?

You're painting breast reconsturction surgery after cancer treatment as an "elective cosmetic surgery"?! Lets hope it doesn't happen to your mother/wife/sister/daughter.

[Yume-sama]

Check out this very flattering video of Vancouver from NBC: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=fd622f5a-f261-41f9-879d-0f7cc66daa43.html?chrcontext=destinationvancouver#speed+skaters+admire+neighbor+north

There is lots of very slick, flattering, high-quality videos about Vancouver, Whistler, and British Columbia on the NBC Winter Olympics site.

:banana: That is a good video. It's a good perspective of how outsiders see the city. And all of our huge skyscrapers! :cool:

[GeeCee]

You're painting breast reconsturction surgery after cancer treatment as an "elective cosmetic surgery"?! Lets hope it doesn't happen to your mother/wife/sister/daughter.

Yup, it is, and it can certainly stand a two week delay. It's obviously an important surgery that should be performed, but in the grand scheme of things it's not going to cause someone the same kind of harm than an untreated fracture or sprain will. Injuries can, do, and will happen at these types of large sporting events, so these delays would have happened anyways, just one at a time.

[Yume-sama]

I would hope they would take the athletes to a private clinic, anyways :P Who would want to wait 14 hours. Their Countries can afford it ;)

Vancouver has some very good private hospitals / clinics.

[ckkelley]

Really? I was feeling the same way about your unquestioning fanboy posts.

Bread and circuses. As Barnum said, there's one born every minute. Maybe if you had a meeting with the young woman who's had her breast reconstruction surgery delayed due to this circus, you'd develop some perspective.

Dude, how's your life?

[officedweller]

There's a big tent on the parking lot next to The Penthouse (Seymour & Nelson) behind the Comfort Inn.

The Gallery Cafe (at the VAG) has a big arc'd canopy over its terrace.

I can see the zip-line cable in place.

All tarps have been removed fom Robson Square complex.

[Yume-sama]

Seymour & Nelson is apparently USA House. Seems like a fitting location, between a stripclub parking lot and a cheap motel... :haha: VC Buzz has a list of houses, now, too.
http://vancitybuzz.blogspot.com/2010/01/vancouver-2010-olympics-international.html#more

Also, Sochi2014 has more info on Russia House :D
http://sochi2014.com/sch_russianhouse

[officedweller]

Seymour & Nelson is apparently USA House.

That's in the commercial space of the new building across the street called "Level" (1022 Living) - unless they also have an "outdoor" party space across the street, too.

[Yume-sama]

Well, let's hope so. Cuz that would ruin the funny image in my head. :(

[raggedy13]

Great NBC video finds, nova9 and Prometheus. Thanks.

[raggedy13]

Let's try to keep this thread a little more on-topic and civilized (less surgery talk and name calling please!). I respect the opinions of those opposed to the Olympic Games but this is not the thread to start up a debate on that particular topic. If you feel so inclined, feel free to start up a new thread specific to that issue. I don't see such a thread working out too well but if discussion can remain civil it will stay open. Thank you all. :)

[Delirium]

here's a look at testing of the new lighting (show) at Canada place. from Susan Gittins on flickr
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4307017890_8d9d23981f_b.jpg
photo by Susan Gittens on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangittins/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4306253637_e7a88f6cd2_b.jpg
photo by Susan Gittens on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangittins/

zip line testing today. note the temporary roof on the VAG
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4307860666_3742f1249e_b.jpg
photo by Susan Gittens on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangittins/

[mr.x]

^ the platform atop VAG is a broadcast platform for the unaccredited broadcasters at UBC Robson Square 2010 Media Centre.

[touraccuracy]

What does one have to do to get up there then? Couldn't anyone be considered unacredited media? If I start a blog can I go up there?

[mr.x]

What does one have to do to get up there then? Couldn't anyone be considered unacredited media? If I start a blog can I go up there?

http://www.bcmediacentre.ca/

BCMC Accreditation Policy:

The British Columbia International Media Centre (BCMC) at Robson Square Plaza in Vancouver will be open February 1, 2010 to February 28, 2010 to all journalists representing news organizations covering the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The Centre will provide working space for media who do not have an Olympic accreditation card from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) - referred to as unaccredited media.

Unaccredited journalists include media professionals with journalistic status, including radio, television, print and online reporters, photographers and videographers wishing to cover events in Vancouver, Whistler, and British Columbia during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Obtaining an accreditation card to the BCMC will allow media to cover all events at the Robson Square Plaza, including press briefings, and will provide access to work spaces and the many services provided at the Centre. Accreditation will not allow media access to events at any official Olympic venue.

BCMC Application Procedure:

BCMC staff, or designated service suppliers, will assess accreditation applications for media wishing to gain access to the BCMC based on the criteria listed below. Media will not be permitted on-site without prior notice and acceptance by BCMC staff. To obtain credentials, media must prove employment and assignment by a recognized media outlet based on:

* A byline, in print or online, from a recognized media source (recognition will be authorized by the BCMC)
* Letter from assignment editor of a recognized media source (recognition will be authorized by the BCMC)
* Photo identification proving employment with a recognized media source (recognition will be authorized by the BCMC)
* Proof of employment (screen capture with byline) from a website in existence and defined as “covering related news” (recognition will be authorized by the BCMC)

Due to limited capacity, the BCMC will offer no more than 30 accreditation cards for online media. Online journalists wishing to obtain accreditation for the BCMC must submit detailed information about the website they provide content for, including, but not limited to, number of unique visitors and recent major events covered by the website. Applications for accreditation will be assessed by the BCMC on their individual merits.

Journalists meeting the required conditions will receive an electronic confirmation letter which must be presented to BCMC accreditation staff to obtain photo identification credentials. Accredited media will be able to claim their credentials beginning on January 25, 2010 at the Centre’s Robson Square location.

The B.C. International Media Centre will be a prime gateway for timely information and services, including transportation, technical assistance, Internet, and some catering and entertainment. We are unable to offer any expense assistance for visiting media.

Media not able to obtain accreditation at the BCMC will still have the opportunity to access a range of services provided at Games time. If media wish to cover Games-related activities remotely, they can do so by accessing the BCMC website, where up-to-the-minute information will be available around the clock in the form of live and archived news conferences, high-resolution photos, and news releases.

[mrjauk]

i hear people saying that we only have a couple of weeks for the snow to get here, but could they not just push the Cypress events to the back end of the period, providing more time for the snow to arrive?

[WaxItYourself]

i hear people saying that we only have a couple of weeks for the snow to get here, but could they not just push the Cypress events to the back end of the period, providing more time for the snow to arrive?

Cypress events are already planned and laid out. There is going to be an event or a couple events almost every day during the Olympics. Both snowboarding and freestyle skiing are going to be held on the mountain.

[Yume-sama]

Everything will be alright. They've been planning for worst case scenario forever, and it actually looks like they know what they're doing.

[mr.x]

Cypress events are already planned and laid out. There is going to be an event or a couple events almost every day during the Olympics. Both snowboarding and freestyle skiing are going to be held on the mountain.

If I remember correctly, events at the freestyle venue and snowboard venue alternate between days....possibly to allow time for maintenance and perhaps also because the road up Cypress can't handle two events going at once.

[WaxItYourself]

If I remember correctly, events at the freestyle venue and snowboard venue alternate between days....possibly to allow time for maintenance and perhaps also because the road up Cypress can't handle two events going at once.
I do know they alternate between days, yes. Wasn't sure of the reason though but I suspected it was something like that.

[Waders]

Check out this very flattering video of Vancouver from NBC: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=fd622f5a-f261-41f9-879d-0f7cc66daa43.html?chrcontext=destinationvancouver#speed+skaters+admire+neighbor+north

There are lots of very flattering, high-quality videos about Vancouver, Whistler, and British Columbia on the NBC Winter Olympics site.

Thanks for the link. Quite a few good short videos about BC and Vancouver.
I especially like this one(ignore the beginning advestisement) http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=032e1608-99ce-4b2f-ad82-c86f7f70c2e6.html#the+beauty+vancouver

[Waders]

i hear people saying that we only have a couple of weeks for the snow to get here, but could they not just push the Cypress events to the back end of the period, providing more time for the snow to arrive?

I doubt Vanoucer will get a lot if any snow in February. On TV, the camera was zooming in the cherry blossom flower! So this year is quite mild compared to last year.
I am worried that the snow was pushed down the hill too soon and it may got washed away by rain. Vanoc should consider covering the slope with plastic sheet.

[Waders]

Apparently Vancouver's cab drivers are not quite ready for the Olympic games as some had difficulties knowing where the Olympic venues are. Source:http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100126/bc_olympics_taxi_folo_100126/20100126?hub=BritishColumbia.

It wouldn't give Vancouver a good image if a cab driver takes someone to the wrong venue, causing the people to miss a game.

[Prometheus]

Cypress received 25 centimetres (about a foot) of snow last night. That's good. Keep your fingers crossed for more.

[Yume-sama]

Cypress received 25 centimetres (about a foot) of snow last night. That's good. Keep your fingers crossed for more.

:P Global Calgary just had a story about how the lack of snow for the Olympics will spell DISASTER!!!

Not once in any of their reporting did they actually mention Whistler, and the snow conditions there.

The International media is picking up on this, now, too, and they don't mention Whistler, either. Which is kind of important since it's kind of the other host city.

Ohh but they love a good story. :yuck:

[mr.x]

:P Global Calgary just had a story about how the lack of snow for the Olympics will spell DISASTER!!!

Not once in any of their reporting did they actually mention Whistler, and the snow conditions there.

The International media is picking up on this, now, too, and they don't mention Whistler, either. Which is kind of important since it's kind of the other host city.

Ohh but they love a good story. :yuck:

To the Calgarians, I'd love to yell out..."CHINOOK WINDS AT CALGARY 1988!"

[Fairbanks]

I have now heard 3 songs that claim to be the official theme of the 2010 winter games; "I believe" by Suzie "Nobody" McNeil?....SUCKS; "One Dream" by Sarah McGlaughlin...Not Bad...has potential to rock out in a gospel fashion; and the latest which I hope and pray is a hoax...Winter Games by some dude we have never heard of and inspired apparently by David Foster's "Winter Games" from 1988 Calgary. Please please please ...after all this work and money invested don't embarrass us all with this lame F*%&$^& tune with tacky F&$#*%&# lyrics.

I am a musician and I composed a song for the games but I did not submit it because Sarah's tune had been selected. OMFG...why didn't I do something.

IF this song "WINTER GAMES"...(check it out on youtube) is chosen I will be personally embarrassed and so should we all.

6 Billion dollars and we cant afford real talent? I would have been happier if David Foster had written yet another tired tune perhaps with Bocelli.

[touraccuracy]

quoting myself from the canada section's thread, sears is cleaning off their building!


http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs173.snc3/20071_275651327740_517132740_3855117_1544917_n.jpg
looks like i got there a few minutes after you!

went downtown tonight for the first time in months... snapped a couple shots from my phone + a few drinks = blurry, sorry!

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs193.snc3/20071_275652282740_517132740_3855119_4704781_n.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs173.snc3/20071_275653447740_517132740_3855120_1290805_n.jpg

[isaidso]

Cypress received 25 centimetres (about a foot) of snow last night. That's good. Keep your fingers crossed for more.

That's a relief! :)

[Delirium]

this article made me laugh! i was wondering when the media was going to pick up on this...

This bud's for you ...
High times predicted in Vancouver for Games
By STEPHANIE LEVITZ, THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER -- That sweet scent in the air during next month's Olympic Games might be the smell of success. Then again, it could just be the weed.

It will be far from business as usual for much of Vancouver during the Olympics, but marijuana advocates and police say the city's laissez faire attitude toward the infamous B.C. bud won't change.

"Our officers show an exceptional amount of discretion with respect to people smoking marijuana and that will continue," said Const. Lindsey Houghton, a spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department. :haha:

That's not to say police will completely turn a blind eye.

"There are people who are coming to visit that live in countries where it may certainly not be against the law so I don't expect people will come here seeking to openly contravene our drug laws," Houghton said. "But you know, I'm sure there will be people who do it and I'm sure our officers will do their best to remind them that that's against the law."

While marijuana remains illegal in Canada, with the exception of those with special permits to smoke medical marijuana, Vancouverites are known for their relaxed attitude toward the herb.

It's almost more common to catch a whiff of weed on the streets of this West Coast city than it is to smell the smoke of an actual cigarette.

"Even though the Games are drawing the people here, people aren't going to be at the event 24 hours a day so I think they're going to be looking for stuff to do in their spare time as well," said Salvador Daswani, co-owner of Vansterdam clothing.

"Definitely our marijuana culture could be a huge part of that."

His shop sells a "Vansterdam 2010" T-shirt featuring a man running with a lit marijuana cigarette, blowing smoke in the shape of five rings.

So far, about 70 shirts have been sold online and at Cannabis Culture, a shop in downtown Vancouver at the heart of the city's "pot block," a strip of stores that includes a cafe where people can bring their own marijuana for personal consumption.

Vancouver is well-known in Canada for its permissive approach to drug use, including the country's only supervised injection site for intravenous drug users.

And it's purported that B.C. bud -- the high-potency marijuana grown in the province -- is British Columbia's most profitable export crop.

Every year, activists gather at a massive pro-marijuana rally at the Vancouver art gallery in April, and a cloud of smoke goes up in honour of abolishing the prohibition of pot.

This year, activist Neil Magnuson is planning to host the "Cannalympics" at the art gallery during the Games.

"If it works out, and there's a few hundred people to a few thousand people on a daily basis, then I'm sure we'll have all sorts of fun stuff going on," he said.

In addition to singing the anthem O'Cannabis, and the "high-jumping" and smoke-ring blowing competitions, organizers would like to have their own torch relay -- a nod to jokes that the official 2010 Olympic torch resembles a giant joint.

"It's flattery in both ways," said long-time cannabis advocate Marc Emery.

"The torch is really elegant and it does look like a rolled joint, especially when it's lit."

While there's an official T-shirt, there actually doesn't appear to be an official 2010 brand of B.C. bud being sold for the Games.

There have been Olympic-themed strains sold before, including one called Nagano Gold, named in honour of snowboarder Ross Rebagliati, who briefly had his medal stripped after testing positive for marijuana after his win at the 1998 Nagano Games.

It was later reinstated after officials realized that marijuana wasn't on the banned substances list during competition.

It has since been added.

--------

wasn't sure where to post this but here's some pics of the newly renovated (and branded) MOA (museum of anthropology)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2705/4303705099_31da41bdbf.jpg
photo by scout magazine on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/31296974@N04/tags/moa/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2710/4304548998_c41a8bc2e6.jpg
photo by scout magazine on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/31296974@N04/tags/moa/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4303681037_bc27a2e22c.jpg
photo by scout magazine on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/31296974@N04/tags/moa/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4303614231_2feef0c3b2.jpg
photo by scout magazine on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/31296974@N04/tags/moa/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4304394006_a284739d9f.jpg
photo by scout magazine on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/31296974@N04/tags/moa/

there are many more here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31296974@N04/tags/moa/

[Stingray2004]

Vancouver Expected To Post Best Economic Growth Of Any Canadian City In 2010

By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - The Olympic effect will give Vancouver's economy enough of a boost to make it the top economic performer among Canadian cities this year, according to a report Wednesday by the Conference Board of Canada.

The Conference Board forecast that Canada's third-largest city will see economic growth leap by 4.5 per cent this year, after shrinking 1.8 per cent in 2009.

In addition to the boost provided by the Olympic Winter Games, housing construction and consumer spending are forecast to rebound strongly in Vancouver, the think-tank said.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/headline_news/article.jsp?content=b272382321

[Stingray2004]

Hmmmm... Whistler/Blackcomb looks like it will continue to have a bright future (not that it won't) if Vail Resorts steps up to the plate:

VAIL, Colorado — With Intrawest Holdings set for auction in February, some ski industry analysts see reasons to suspect that Vail Resorts might have interest in the sale.
.....
Vail Resorts' spokeswoman Kelly Ladyga said the company has no comment on the subject of February's Intrawest auction.
....
Scott Bunce, chief executive officer of Epicenterspark Hospitality, a hotel and condo management company, pays attention to the lodging side of things within the ski industry. He suspects Vail Resorts' interest in Whistler Blackcomb is there — it would be a good investment, he said.
....
Whistler is Vail's largest competitor, he said. If Vail Resorts controlled both resorts, it could manage the marketing messages of the two and use one to promote the other, Bunce said.

There's also opportunity for cross-marketing, meaning Vail Resorts could market to its current real estate owners to convince them to buy in the Whistler market as well.
....
Jones said Intrawest's hotel component, similar to Vail Resorts' RockResorts hotel brand, fits very much into Vail Resorts' business model — just one more reason Jones could envision a Vail Resorts interest in the February auction.

“There's also the issue of money — (does Vail Resorts) have the money to go after Whistler and Blackcomb? — I suspect that they do,” Jones said.

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100126/NEWS/100129666/1078&ParentProfile=1062

[flight_from_kamakura]

great news, though vancouver actually the 8th largest city in canada.

more on venue prep today on the reuters wire:

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Vancouver showcased its nearly completed Winter Olympic venues on Tuesday as officials turned their attention to the thorny issue of how to maintain competition ice in this perennially wet and humid city.

With the start of the Games less than a month away, Olympic ice makers are just starting the painstaking process of creating ice surfaces of the required texture and thickness at the city's Olympic speed skating and curling rinks.

Through past experience, Olympic "ice meisters" have a better handle on how to deal with problems like heat from television lights.

But the Pacific Coast city's traditionally soggy climate presents new hurdles, said Neil Houston, ice maker at the Vancouver Olympic Center, the venue for the curling tournaments.

The rink is the biggest Olympic curling venue yet, with seating for some 5,600 people -- a possible threat to the perfect competition ice as the throngs of bodies warm up the building

If it's raining, the water brought in on peoples' clothes will evaporate inside the building, possibly causing the ice to frost over if the rink's surface gets damp.

"The major challenge is that we haven't had 6,000 people and pouring rain," Houston told more than 100 foreign and local reporters on a tour of the curling venue, set in a leafy Vancouver suburb.

Frost on the ice could slow down speed skaters, said Mark Messer, ice maker at the Richmond Olympic Oval, which will host all the speed skating events.

"It may affect the (skaters') times," said Messer, who was involved in ice making at three previous Winter Olympics.

Vancouver's competition venues will officially open on February 4 for athletes to begin training on them, while the Olympic events begin on Feb 12.

Vancouver and surrounding suburbs are home to the venues for skating, hockey, curling, freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

All venues are on schedule, with most in the final lap of being fitted out with items like extra bleachers and lighting, said Jan Damnavits, Vancouver venue director.

The mountain resort community of Whistler, about 125 km (78 miles) north of Vancouver, will hosts Alpine and Nordic skiing events, plus bobsleigh and luge. Organizers plan to give reporters a look at those venues on Wednesday.

[Yume-sama]

Record Snow at Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler Blackcomb is celebrating a record 9.9 metres (32.5 feet) of snowfall to date this season. The award-winning resort, located two hours north of Vancouver, is Games-ready and set to welcome the world!
http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com

But, I bet the media won't stop obsessing about how Downtown Vancouver has flowers.

[Lover Fighter]

great news, though vancouver actually the 8th largest city in canada.

oh no you didn't! :runaway:

[mr.x]

Record Snow at Whistler Blackcomb


http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com

But, I bet the media won't stop obsessing about how Downtown Vancouver has flowers.

Too bad we won't hear much of that in the media.



I was by UBC Thunderbird Winter Sports Stadium today (site of the secondary ice hockey facility) and they're installing the VANOC look wraps around the rim of the roof.

[Yume-sama]

Has VANOC taken over GM Place yet? Do you suppose they'll be taking the "GM Place" logo off the building :P?

[GeeCee]

The Canucks last home game is tonight. Not sure when the handover is, but I'm sure it'll happen by the end of the week, after which the GM Place logos will be covered up.

[mr.x]

This is the Cypress half-pipe on January 22 o_O
http://business.transworld.net/files/2010/01/picture-316.png

http://business.transworld.net/files/2010/01/picture-413.png

http://business.transworld.net/30852/features/the-games-must-go-on/

[sacrifice333]

The Canucks last home game is tonight. Not sure when the handover is, but I'm sure it'll happen by the end of the week, after which the GM Place logos will be covered up.

The handover technically happened around the end of 2009 IIRC.

Probably waited on the logo front until Canucks complete their last home game... which is tonight.

[GeeCee]

I might be confusing handover with lockdown. The latter definitely has not occurred yet..

[mr.x]

Vancouver City Hall
http://2010vanfan.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/024-ice-light.jpg

http://2010vanfan.ca/page/2/

[SpongeG]

the viaducts hit lockdown on the 29th - this friday i think

the zip line is up it runs across the whole thing anyway

the info signs are popping up all over downtown

they have removed the picture wrap from the info booth that sits outside the VAG and made it into wood with a wood hitching post thing

[GeeCee]

Saw one of those info signs just outside Canada Place.. no info in it though, just advertising.

[SpongeG]

the one next top the VAG has a map and advertising on the one side

the map shows off all the olympic related venues and things to check out

very simple to read and nicely done

[SpongeG]

Science World is now SOCHI 2014 World - its been covered in Sochi 2014 banners and posters etc - looks okay

and Bridges has been taken over by the Swiss - lots of mountain gotas and climbers decorated on it now - pics to come...

[Yume-sama]

Smile, but not TOO much you freak!

Vancouver Olympics protocol guide gives workers advice on smiling and other tricky tasks

Vancouver is reminding 600 employees to put their best foot forward during the Olympics — and that includes matching socks.

A 100-page protocol guide leaked to the blog citycaucus.com gives staff direction on everything from wearing socks long enough to cover their legs when sitting, to using the “protocol smile”:

“A smile denotes warmth, openness and friendliness. Smile ‘gently’ and with sincerity. Be careful not to overdo it. False smiles can look artificial, and never-ending smiles may invite suspicion. A frown or a furrowed brow suggests anger or worry, even if your words are positive.”

And let’s not forget the can-do attitude that Vancouver expects to become synonymous with life on the West Coast:

"You never say, 'That's not my job.' There is nothing too demeaning, too demanding, or just plain beneath you. … If you are not comfortable opening car doors, holding umbrellas or pitching baggage, then you need to find another job."

Socks should match pants. Hair should be “tidy yet stylish.” Suit creases should be razor-sharp. Also important is never questioning the instructions of your “commander”:

“Protocol is whatever your boss says it is. To do your job, you must win and keep the complete confidence of [your colleagues]. You owe the commander absolute loyalty.”

As for shaking hands — extend right hand, knuckle facing up, hand straight and fingers slightly relaxed. No limp wrists or paltry finger touches — full hand only. And never, ever double-clasp.

Let’s not forget the importance of hand signals. The guide also features pictorial instructions on how to properly point (open hand, not one finger), indicate a stop (open hand again, in front of you this time), and a thumbs-up (rather self-explanatory, no?).

Vancouver made the whole guide public yesterday. Even if you’re not headed to the Olympics, it’s worth a read. You never know who you will offend if you offer a business card with your left hand. And heaven forbid your thumbs-up be misinterpreted.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2010/01/27/vancouver-olympics-protocol-guide-gives-workers-advice-on-smiling-and-other-tricky-tasks.aspx

The full 141 page guide:
http://vancouver.ca/mediaroom/pdf/CoVProtocalManual.pdf

:D You gotta find all this pre-Olympic stuff kind of funny.

[mr.x]

^ lolll...here come the leftist/anti-poverty activists and hippies with their "stick it to the man"/anti-fascism comments.

What you bolded is basic business behaviour.

[Yume-sama]

Yes, although, I am surprised they managed to fill 141 pages.

[GeeCee]

Funny how city hall keeps churning out this basic behavior kind of stuff lately..