Vancouver 2010 Venues: Tonka trucks are rolling!

[mr.x]

The Tonka trucks are rolling!

I think most of you already know the info this article contains, but something that is new is that the first part of the Pacific Coliseum's $23 million renovation. It would be done by this winter's World Junior Hockey Championships. The bid committee previously proposed this renovation to be done in 2007/2008. This first face-lift includes new seats for the stadium.

The Pacific Coliseum, a 15,700 seat arena, will host figure skating and short track speed skating in 2010.


The trucks are rolling
2010: There's lots to do and not much time to do it, so VANOC's broken ground

Clare Ogilvie
The Province


Sunday, June 05, 2005

WHISTLER -- Whistler and Vancouver's dream of hosting an Olympic Games is becoming a reality.

In the past few weeks Tonka-yellow construction equipment, their yawning mouths stretched to capacity, have begun to pave the way for Whistler's most expensive venue, the $110-million Nordic Centre, in the Callaghan Valley.

Meanwhile, in Richmond an RV park is history and plans are under way to shut down River Road so the signature venue of the 2010 Games, the $155-million speed skating oval and community gathering area, can get under way. Construction is set to begin next spring with VANOC contributing $60 million to the project.

"It's a busy time, no doubt," says the Vancouver Organizing Committee's Steve Matheson, whose job it is to get the venues built on time and within the $510-million budget he's been given.

That's a daunting task made harder with escalating construction costs.

"We are expecting cost increases over the 2002 bids," said Matheson, who oversaw billions of dollars worth of development, including General Motors Place, before joining VANOC.

"It is inevitable because of the construction inflation that has happened."

VANOC is looking at strategies to cope with rising costs including partnering to build, as they did with the Richmond Skating Oval, and pursuing sponsorship deals with companies such as construction supply giant Rona.

"We can get basically anything you can find at a Rona store," says Matheson. "Certainly sponsorship support in value in kind is going to benefit the venues." The oval is slated to be done by April 2008.

"They are unbelievable buildings," says Matheson, admitting the oval has captured his heart. "They are so big and with it sitting on the river next to the airport it is going to be spectacular."

Whistler's $55-million Sliding Centre, which will host bobsleigh, luge and skeleton, is also in the initial phases of construction with site preparation set for summer.

Mountain bikers and others on Blackcomb Mountain will find the end of Rolo Coaster trail gone and frequent warning signs alerting mountain users that the area is now a construction zone.

The Sliding Centre will be completed in October 2007 so test events can happen before the Games. Indeed, VANOC aims to have all venues built by 2008 so athletes can practise on them.

VANOC is involved in the construction of seven new venue sites and eight sizable upgrades to existing facilities for the 2010 Games.

This year the Pacific Coliseum will get the first part of its facelift with new seating going in. It should be done for the World Junior Hockey Championship in December. All upgrades to the Coliseum should cost $23 million, with most work under way next year.

Plans to start on the new ice sheets at UBC's Thunderbird Winter Sport Complex are delayed until next year so local hockey leagues can find new locations to play, says Matheson. Total cost for that venue will be $40.8 million.

Two athletes villages must also be constructed, in Vancouver and in Whistler, which will host the Paralympics from March 12 to 21, 2010. VANOC will contribute $32.5 million to the Whistler village.

The plan is to have the $13-million Whistler Athletes Centre, part of Whistler's Olympic village, completed by the winter of 2008 so athletes can stay there for test events with the balance of the village finished in 2009. The Vancouver village is also set to be completed in 2009. VANOC will contribute

$30 million towards the construction of the Vancouver village.

Both will have a community-housing component as a legacy.

The other venues:

- BC Place Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies.

- GM Place. Olympic ice hockey. Upgrades set to cost $5 million.

- Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park. Construction to begin June 2007 on a curling venue built in conjunction with a City of Vancouver community development. VANOC to contribute $28 million.

- Cypress Mountain, for freestyle skiing and snowboarding. Work to start May 2006. Upgrades expected to cost $11 million.

- Whistler Mountain. Site of Olympic and Paralympic alpine skiing. Work to start this summer and expected to cost $23 million.

clareogilvie@telus.net

The new facilities and their construction schedules

VANCOUVER VENUES

Venue Sport New New

Construction Construction

Start date Finish Date

Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park Curling June 2007 December 2008

Richmond Curling Club Curling Curling Training N/A N/A

Hastings Park Pacific Coliseum Figure Skating June 2006 December 2008

Hastings Park Agrodome Figure Skating Training June 2007 December 2008

Hastings Park Temporary Facility Short Track Training August 2007 May 2009

Cypress Mountain Freestyle Skiing May 2006 November 2007

General Motors Place Ice Hockey No. 1 October 2007 August 2008

UBC Winter Sports Centre Ice Hockey No. 2 April 2006 April 2008

Vancouver Arena Ice Hockey Training December August 2008

2007

Richmond Oval Speed Skating June 2005 April 2008

WHISTLER VENUES

Whistler Creekside Alpine Skiing June 2005 November 2007

Speed Events

Alpine Skiing

Technical Events

Whistler Nordic Biathlon Cross Country July 2005 October 2007

Competition Venue Ski Jumping

Nordic Combined

Whistler Sliding Centre Bobsleigh Luge Skeleton June 2005 October 2007

Meadow Park Wheelchair Curling N/A N/A

Community Centre (Paralympic Games)

Whistler Entertainment Whistler New April 2007 July 2008

Centre Ice Sledge Hockey

(Paralympic Games)

Source: VANCOUVER ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

© The Vancouver Province 2005

Canada.com (http://www.canada.com/vancouver/features/Vancouver2010/story.html?id=2d088610-691b-4eac-b498-bfaa9d200cd7&page=2)

[Wonderwall]

Yes, finally. The world's most narcissistic city is inviting others to revel in its glory. I wonder if the province would be so willing to spend billions luring less popular brands to the city – Lockheed Martin, Union Carbide, etc. That money would be better spent holding another plebiscite – and possibly another – until the "Olympics©" go back to Zurich, or whatever city they were just in, wherever that is. Money well spent for them…whoever they were.

Could we build a pyramid with that money? How about a Colossus?

[Koz]

Do you suffer from ulcers, Wonderwall?

I suppose you think it's necessary for you to troll this forum. Although I do appreciate your insight on topics we discuss, bringing a comedian to a funeral isn't necessary, is it?

[touraccuracy]

^He certainly suffers from something....

World's most narcissistic city? Cool, we won another award!
:jk:

Do you not see the benefit from the Olympics? Oh wait, you don't understand investment.

[mr.x]

the provincial and federal governments are putting in $790 million into these Games. The feds are putting in $490 million into these games ($305M for venues, $185M for security) and the provincial government has the responsibility of filling the $305 million gap. The public is responsible for $790 million of the $2.09 billion cost to host these Games. VANOC, which is responsible for the Olympic Games budget, has a budget of $1.3 billion - which completely comes out of sponsorship, tv rights, merchandise, etc......none of that comes from taxpayers.

VANOC at such an early age is already running a major surplus, a conservative estimate of $250 million so far, caused by television rights that are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of millions higher than expected, and of course there's sponsorship which too is hundreds and hundreds of millions higher than expected. So far, only the 5 of the top 11 sponsor rights have been given out which has already given the organization a quarter billion dollar surplus. More sponsor rights portfolios will also be added, such as one for the automobile sector and one already has been added for clothing (HBC)......we will be seeing more than 11 top sponsors.

These games are seen as an investment as others here have said. The BC economy will get a huge jumpboost from these Games. Wonderwall has the same attitude as those who were against Expo '86........well, lets look at what Expo has done to the city and the province - it opened the city to the international stage, it gave the economy a huge jumpboost, and without Expo the city we know today would not exist.

[Wonderwall]

Investment, absolutely. The goal, though, should be good investment – you know, the kind where you end up with more than you started with. I support the NDP? News to me. Did you read that somewhere?

Olympic© games bring fistfuls of cash to a handful of businesses in certain areas – I.E. Intrawest – but leave the rest of the province paying for a collosal house party they aren't even invited to. Take Athens for example; numbers voodoo allows the games to claim that they made a profit, despite that National Debt to GDP has "ballooned" (implying they are clowns). It's like building a car factory for 1000 million, building 3 cars and selling them for 5k profit each, and saying, "Hey we made 15k in profit!"

Just because you like the infrastructure investments that have been shoveled on us doesn't mean you have to support the world's most widely condoned wank-fest. Olympics© is a brand just like any other. In fact, if you like the number 2010 you better get ready to start paying to use it.

P.S. -- My sincerest regrets for criticizing the world's greatest, and only perfect city. PAX VANCOUVER! I realize now that disagreeing with any decision made within the boundaries of the city of ivory gates makes me, by definition, incorrect.

[mr.x]

lol, i don't think u know what you're talking about.

[Wonderwall]

2010 Vancouver Olympic construction costs soaring
WebPosted Thu, 07 Jul 2005 15:08:51 EDT

Concerns are being raised about the costs of venues for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver because of rising labour rates and material prices.

Organizers say a B.C. building boom has forced those costs to skyrocket, but say they'll do whatever necessary to ensure the Games come in on budget.

The executive director of the Council of Construction Trades Associations believes it will be a challenge to meet that budget because of the province-wide building boom.

Richard Campbell says the cost of materials such as steel are rising quickly. He warns there could soon be a labour shortage that would drive the final price tag even higher.

"When it comes right down to the crunch, it's very possible that we're still going to have to import people at whatever price it will take, to bring them here to help us finish things off," Campbell said.

Organizers have budgeted $620 million for the Olympic venues, but now say construction costs could jump 25 to 40 per cent over the original projections.

Steve Matheson, the vice-president of venue development for the Vancouver Olympic Committee, says at this point he doesn't know what the bottom line will look like.

"It's going to be a challenge because we know that there's definitely been a fair bit of cost escalation since the 2002 bid, when our prices were established," Matheson said.

The provincial government is responsible for any cost overruns, but Matheson says organizers don't plan to go back to the government for more money. He said they'll do whatever it takes to come in on budget.
–––––––
On the menu for 2010: grilled Northwestern Crow.

[vitc]

Hey, Wonderwall! I bet you thought that Expo 86 was a waste of money LOL!

It is about world wide exposure that leads to future investments by people and companies. It is not rocket science you know :bash:

[mr.x]

I'm not that concerned about the rising costs as I'm sure VANOC will figure a way through their high sponsorships and tv rights. VANOC is generally quite conservative in its figures and in its spending.

I'm more concerned about security, it's ridiculous. $175 million and 12,000 security personnel? More realistic figures are $350-400 million and 30,000 security personnel. We don't want to embarass ourselves in front of the world if something happens.....Canada is one of the two nations in Bin Laden's list of 6 to terrorize that haven't been attacked yet and we're also in the G8. Don't forget that Canada is also hosting the 2010 G-8.....bombing Vancouver would be the perfect.

Furlong promises 2010 Games will be about sport, not security

Ian Bailey
The Province


Sunday, July 10, 2005

This week's terrorist bombings in London won't change unfolding security plans for the 2010 Winter Olympics in B.C., says the head of the Games' organizing committee.

John Furlong said organizers are planning to stick with their $175-million security budget, which is being shared by the federal government and province.

Security planning for 2010 is being co-ordinated by the RCMP.

"We have no reason to believe today, none, that the costs will go up as a result of anything that has happened in the last 24 hours," Furlong told reporters in a conference call from Singapore.

The CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games was in Asia attending a meeting of the International Olympic Committee where London was selected as host city for the 2012 Summer Games.

"We decided quite a long time ago that we did not want security to be the story of the 2010 Games. We want this to be about sport, about celebration, about culture and nation building," he said.

Furlong also said 2010 organizers have decided to look for ways to try and boost their projected revenue stream from $1.35 billion to $1.7 billion.

"We have no choice but to approach it this way because no one can predict what it will cost to do something five years from now," he said. ibailey@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2005


Canada.com (http://www.canada.com/vancouver/features/Vancouver2010/story.html?id=25a4ae75-830a-4d81-af74-aa6a0a6ab3eb)

[crazyjoeda]

You can have all the security you want it wont stop a terrorist that really wants to stage an attack. There are ways to get around everything.

[Plumber73]

^ I totally agree, but I think it's all about perception. If the amount of money spent on security is close to what other countries spend, then we'll take less heat if something does happen. It's a gamble either way.

[mr.x]

Security is never a 100% filter for terrorism but at least there's a filter....dogs can sniff out bombs and metal detectors can detect weapons.

[crazyjoeda]

Thats right and 175million sounds like the right amount. What would 300million get you, riot police with machine guns on every corner and skytrain/subway station. Thats a nice welcome to Vancouver, it will make tourists feel really safe thinking that a terror treat is so high we have to automatic weapons everywere.

[mr.x]

Thats right and 175million sounds like the right amount. What would 300million get you, riot police with machine guns on every corner and skytrain/subway station. Thats a nice welcome to Vancouver, it will make tourists feel really safe thinking that a terror treat is so high we have to automatic weapons everywere.

Sydney spent US$400 million for its Summer Games. SLC spent US$300 million, and Torino is spending the same amount. Vancouver is geographically larger and is much more populated and well known in the world than both SLC and Torino (btw, Vancouver is the largest Winter host city to date, population wise). We also are a major port city, the third largest city in one of the most powerful nations on Earth and we're on the terror list, AND we're part of the G8. We also have two host sites, Whistler and Vancouver, and they're farther apart than the host sites of SLC and Torino.

Vancouver clearly needs more security. SLC and Torino, as I say again, is spending $300 million. That's in American dollars. Our $175 million isn't even in American dollars, it's Canadian.

[DutchDude]

@mr. X: I think Torino is a larger city than Vancouver. Torino has about 900.000 inhabitants and Vancouver between 500.000 and 600.000. Also the Torino metro area is larger with 2.2 million against nearly 2 million for Vancouver. And I am not sure Vancouver is better known than Torino either, maybe in Canada, but in the wider world I would think Torino is better known.

[sukh]

^LOL! well i think your extremely wrong, i suggest you check the information again.

[DutchDude]

^I did and this is what the information says... What information do you have Sukh?

[mr.x]

@mr. X: I think Torino is a larger city than Vancouver. Torino has about 900.000 inhabitants and Vancouver between 500.000 and 600.000. Also the Torino metro area is larger with 2.2 million against nearly 2 million for Vancouver. And I am not sure Vancouver is better known than Torino either, maybe in Canada, but in the wider world I would think Torino is better known.

The city of Vancouver is much more dense than Torino, and the city of Vancouver geographically is much more smaller than that of the city of Torino. Vancouver metro also has a population of 2.2 million.

Vancouver is definetely well known, well known in particularly North America, Australia, and most of Eastern Asia.

[*Jarrod]

^LOL! well i think your extremely wrong, i suggest you check the information again.


yeah, i heard vancity is the largest city population wise to host the winter games...

[rt_0891]

And I am not sure Vancouver is better known than Torino either, maybe in Canada, but in the wider world I would think Torino is better known.

Probably in Europe, Torino's more well-known.. However in Asia, clearly more people know about Vancouver than Torino. Has to do with the fact that many Asians have settled in Vancouver.

[crazyjoeda]

Torino doent even have a millon people in its metro area, Vancouver will have close to 2.5 by 2010.

Back on security, the fact that Vancouver is by far the largest city to ever host the Winter Games is one reason why we arnt spending as much we have more infurstructure like E-Com and both RCMP and VPD which is event protection (like they have at the Celebration of Light) and is not funded by the Olympic commity.

[mr.x]

Back on security, the fact that Vancouver is by far the largest city to ever host the Winter Games is one reason why we arnt spending as much we have more infurstructure like E-Com and both RCMP and VPD which is event protection (like they have at the Celebration of Light) and is not funded by the Olympic commity.

That's actually a good point. More than half of what Atlanta, Athens, Sydney, and SLC spent on security was on capital costs: building security infrastructure. Athens spent US$400 million for a state-of-the-art security centre for the whole country, for the Games.

E-Comm was built for a cost of US$300 million, and it'll be getting technological upgrades before 2010. One thing I'd like to see more in the city is more cameras controlled by E-Comm. That building is like a fallout shelter, it can handle bomb explosions, power, sewer and water outages for months, and all of its glass is bullet proof. Quite some facility, and of course it has a helicopter pad.

Something interesting to note is that our Celebration of Light fireworks displays needs 150 police officers for each show. For a city like NYC (before 9/11), it took 1,200 officers for each fireworks show for the same crowd size.


You've got to admit though, 12,000 security personnel for 2010 is a bit thin and only 6,500 would be deployed each day. In reality, 2010 needs at least 25,000.

[Guerrero]

How many police does VPD have out for the fireworks each year. Are they really expecting crowds that big for the olympics every night? I just don't think that it is going to be necessary to have 25 000 security personnel for a Winter Games especially since the venues are so spread out. I think that VPD has already shown its tendency to overreact to certain situations the less security presence the better.

[mr.x]

How many police does VPD have out for the fireworks each year. Are they really expecting crowds that big for the olympics every night? I just don't think that it is going to be necessary to have 25 000 security personnel for a Winter Games especially since the venues are so spread out. I think that VPD has already shown its tendency to overreact to certain situations the less security presence the better.

SLC had 30,000 security personnel and Torino has planning to do the same. The VPD has 150 officers for the Celebration of Lights, as well as a police helicopter, and two dozen police boats. Every night at False Creek, there will be a fireworks display there. I would say that the crowds each night would be around 150,000 (what we had for the Canada Day fireworks)........but you can expect Celebration of Lights size crowds for the Closing Ceremony fireworks, I can bet anything that this could very well be the largest firework display in Canadian history with fireworks barges all over False Creek, English Bay, Coal Harbour/Canada Place, Lions Gate Bridge, Burrard Bridge, and the rest of Burrard Inlet.

Spreaded out venues aren't a good thing, it's a bad thing, and in Vancouver's case there are basically two main venue clusters: Vancouver and Whistler and there's a 100 km gap (or more) between them and the only way you can get to these two sites is by either the improved highway or by ferry. A lot of security will be needed at the highway, a lot of security will be needed in downtown and the Olympic Village, as well as the Whistler facilities and the Olympic Village.....same for the airport and Hastings Park and UBC.


I agree though, the VPD (and city hall) do overreact, particularly on past events like the Canada Day fireworks, PNE parade, Molson Indy, late bar openings, and especially the 2000 New Years celebrations at Science World. But this time around, this is something I really don't think they're reacting enough at.

[mr.x]

Please, please, please.....not another Ilanaaq quality art presentation and no 1980s lame styled dancing seen from the dancing at Imagine 2010..........


From the bid to the handover
VISUALS: The IOC was wowed by Vancouver's pitch. In Turin, therest of the world gets a look

Damian Inwood
The Province


July 10, 2005



http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vapr/20050710/21601-7830.jpg
CREDIT: Ric Ernst, The Province
VANOC's Marti Kulich (center) and Burke Taylor (right) work with Marty Taylor at the Sound Kitchen. Next winter, as the Turin Games end, the world will be watching for Vancouver.


http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vapr/20050710/21601-7831.jpg
CREDIT: Getty Images
As Salt Lake City wrapped up its Olympics in February 2002, young Ryne Sanborn had a major role in the closing ceremony, handing a girl from Turin his lantern and looking ahead to 2006.


http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vapr/20050710/21601-7832.jpg
CREDIT: Getty Images
Perhaps we too could get Scott Hamilton to close our Games . . .




Imagine presenting your work before an audience of three billion people.

That's the challenge facing two men at the heart of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic organizing committee, who'll have about 10 minutes to wow the world next February.

"There's no question about the nerves," says Burke Taylor, VANOC's vice-president of culture and ceremonies. "On the one hand, it's one of the most exciting challenges you're going to have and on the other hand, it's one of the most terrifying, because the stakes are extremely high. The expectations are enormous."

Taylor is talking about a segment of the closing ceremonies of next year's Winter Games in Turin, Italy, when Vancouver gets to strut its stuff.

It's that moment, just before the Olympic flame flickers out, when the Italian organizers pass the torch to Vancouver.

Taylor says the 2002 Salt Lake City closing ceremonies achieved a flawless handover to Turin.

"They had the little boy with the lantern, who was also part of the opening ceremonies," he says. "At the closing, a little girl from Torino skated on and he handed over that lantern and they skated off in different directions. It was a beautiful moment."

It's that kind of symbolic, yet simple gesture, that Vancouver will seek to achieve next February in a new, unique way.

"The general TV audience wants to be impressed, to be entertained, to be informed and they want it to be better than the last one," says Taylor, 56. "We want the 'wow' factor and we want the surprise, the transformation. We want the thing to have some drama and punch."

Taylor and Marti Kulich are the two-man team planning for the moment Vancouver officially steps into the spotlight next February.

Both men have extensive backgrounds in major events.

Taylor got his start while taking a poli-sci degree at the University of B.C.

"My first show, along with a couple of others, started 'David Y.H. Lui Presents' in 1969," he says, laughing. "We were a bunch of young Turks who were going to come downtown and take over the world."

Taylor's first show, by a troupe of Thai dancers, almost sold out the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

He went on to work at the Canada Pavilion at Expo 86 and organized performing arts at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.

Meanwhile, Kulich, with an honours degree in theatre at UBC, was on a parallel course, stage-managing the opening and closing ceremonies in Calgary.

Since then he's worked on 20 major games' ceremonies, including the Commonwealth Games in Victoria and the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg.

Kulich spearheaded the presentation that helped win the Olympics for Vancouver two years ago last week in Prague.

It helped Vancouver narrowly beat Pyeonchang, South Korea, when the International Olympic Committee voted on the host city for the 2010 Games.

Kulich is now program director for culture and ceremonies with 2010.

"Our job is to capture the heart and soul of a place and its people," he says, adding that preparing Olympic ceremonies is a lot like baking a cake.

"You look in the fridge and the cupboards to see what ingredients you have. You say, 'What do we have at our disposal, not just in Vancouver, but in B.C. and the rest of Canada, to make this great cake we're going to serve up to people at the opening and closing ceremonies?'"

After Turin, the two men will be working on the four-year "cultural Olympiad" which leads up to 2010.

They'll also plan the 2010 opening and closing ceremonies at B.C. Place and the Olympic torch relay.

The duo recently completed a five-minute video which was presented on Friday to the IOC in Singapore.

"At the end of the day, we have to entertain and thrill people," adds Kulich. "We have to give them something that moves them."

When it comes to Olympic ceremonies, Kulich says it's all about engaging people's emotions.

"You have 6,000 performers at an opening and, when they finish, you can see it in their eyes," he said. "They feel like they've touched the world. It's what keeps all of us going."

dinwood@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2005


Canada.com (http://www.canada.com/vancouver/features/Vancouver2010/story.html?id=9901cfba-a28c-4e92-bf18-315c25e98c7e)

[DutchDude]

@Crazyjoeda
You're comparing municipality sizes to metro sizes. The municipality of Vancouver has 545,671 inhabitants in 2001 (Canada census data) and municipality of Turin has 865,263 (2001 census data). It is hard to find accurate data on the size of metropolitan areas as the definition of this isn't the same around the world.

@RT 0891
I guess they'd have to do research to know which city is better known in the world. U seem very sure, do u have some data?

[sukh]

Its not even close man, turin is not even on the map on emporis, you have to click on it on the side links of cities in Italy. Go to China and ask where Turin is and they wont even know what your talking about. As for Turins size, punch it in google or yahoo, or Altavista, and they all pop up the same, it has less than a million people.

[DutchDude]

^you might want to do some real research and read the postings before you loudmouth your opinion. Of course I punched it in google, I did more than that, I looked up the official sencus data. As I said, Turin municipality has less than a million, but than again, Vancouver municiplaity has only just over half a million. So we agree.
I guess if you go to China and ask where Vancouver is you will get the same reaction...
(I don't think Emporis is a good reference though. I checked and found several mistakes on the site.)

I guess the main question is why do you feel you should react the way you do. I like to stick to the facts, but don't care if one is bigger or smaller than the other. So if it makes you feel better: Vancouver is the biggest city on earth. Its huge and all other cities pale in comparison.

Now lets hope they make the best olympic games in history.

[zonie]

I guess if you go to China and ask where Vancouver is you will get the same reaction... I would guess you're wrong. Vancouver is one city that gets quite a bit of publicity in China. From people I've personally talked to in China, a lot seem to be aware that, indeed, a city called Vancouver exists on the other side of the Pacific. Mainly the awareness seems to come from the "Goodbye Vancouver" Chinese TV series, which was somewhat popular, and also through a string of "Miss China International" or something winners being international students in Vancouver. I don't imagine the sizeable Chinese population in the city hurts either.

Thus, if you're trying to find which city is more globally known, Turin or Vancouver, my guess is China could be the deciding factor. I'm not trying to ego boost, I just think you're flat out wrong, with the exception of Europe in particular.

[mr.x]

Vancouver will be Canada's gateway to the Chinese economy.

[rt_0891]

@RT 0891
I guess they'd have to do research to know which city is better known in the world. U seem very sure, do u have some data?

I myself am from Asia (Hong Kong), and have relatives and close friends in California, Seattle, Hawaii, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Australia, the UK and New Zealand. A lot of Vancouverites also have similiar connections across the Pacific. Word-of-mouth alone gains Vancouver a lot of publicity.

Add the fact that Vancouver is Canada's top tourist destination for Asians (I'm sure Rome is more popular than Turin) and I'm pretty sure Vancouver's better known than Turin in South & East Asia.

Vancouver's UBC (along with UToronto, UWO) is Canada's most popular university for Chinese International Students.

My relative right now operates in a travel agency in Hong Kong, and they offer more tours with a stopover at Vancouver than Turin. Usually European tour brochures would mention Milano, Florence, Venice and Rome, rarely would they highlight Turin.

Also, Vancouver has a massive South Asian population in the suburbs of Surrey, and ergo, the city's quite popular in Sri Lanka and India.

As I mentioned before, I'm only talking about popularity of both cities in Asia, not the entire world.

It's an indisputable fact that Turin's better known in Europe, but beyond that, it can swing quite a lot both ways.

[mr.x]

^ Fact: 70% of Chinese tourists in Canada only travel to British Columbia, and I read an article awhile ago that the Chinese are more particularly interested with British Columbia (Vancouver) than any other city or region or place in Canada.

[rt_0891]

^you might want to do some real research and read the postings before you loudmouth your opinion. Of course I punched it in google, I did more than that, I looked up the official sencus data. As I said, Turin municipality has less than a million, but than again, Vancouver municiplaity has only just over half a million. So we agree.
I guess if you go to China and ask where Vancouver is you will get the same reaction...
(I don't think Emporis is a good reference though. I checked and found several mistakes on the site.).

Vancouver has been well-entrenched in Chinese society since the late-19th century, and SF & Vancouver are often referred to as "Gold Mountain"

The reason why so many Chinese are familiar with Vancouver is because many Chinese workers were sent to build the CPR. It's the first port they reached once they landed in Canada, and it's the first city in Canada where they established their roots. For the Chinese in previous generations (especially in South Coastal China), Vancouver is the first thing that comes in mind when they think about Canada, and though they've never seen it, they know it exists, because that's where their loved ones are.

For the workers of the CPR:

http://img313.imageshack.us/img313/975/2338529624aae2fc0fb5yv.jpg

[rt_0891]

FROM SSC thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=233899&page=2

Here is the total asian population (2001) for 6 largest Canadian cities mentioned above

Toronto - 1,226,430 - 26.4 % of total population
Montreal - 252,970 - 7.5 % of total population
Vancouver - 669,720 - 34.0 % of total population
Ottawa - 97,275 - 9.3 % of total population
Calgary - 136,770 - 14.5 % of total population
Edmonton - 109,730 - 11.8 % of total population

http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo53e.htm

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And the numbers keeping growing. Vancouver is the second largest recipient of Asian immigrants in Canada.

[sukh]

^you might want to do some real research and read the postings before you loudmouth your opinion. Of course I punched it in google, I did more than that, I looked up the official sencus data. As I said, Turin municipality has less than a million, but than again, Vancouver municiplaity has only just over half a million. So we agree.
I guess if you go to China and ask where Vancouver is you will get the same reaction...
(I don't think Emporis is a good reference though. I checked and found several mistakes on the site.)

I guess the main question is why do you feel you should react the way you do. I like to stick to the facts, but don't care if one is bigger or smaller than the other. So if it makes you feel better: Vancouver is the biggest city on earth. Its huge and all other cities pale in comparison.

Now lets hope they make the best olympic games in history.

Oh i forgot, theres really no boundary for metro population census :| you can say that about any city around the world, I could keep adding more numbers to Vancouvers metro area if i wanted too with the surrounding areas, and get a number that is close to 3 million, but thats not how it works, so your arguement there is weak. Dont try to blame us of a arguement you started, with your rediculous statements.

[DutchDude]

You're right Sukh, you can keep adding numbers. Although at some point it would start to be kind of ridiculous. The reason you can keep adding is that there is no international accepted definition of metropolitan area, as far as I know. For instance, I know of at least several countries that do not have this official definition. So municipalities are the base for comparison, because these are defined in all countries. If you want to compare on total metropolitan size you should agree on some kind of definition first. What definition do you propose?

@RT 0891
I agree, it can swing both ways. As I said in my posting, I am not sure Vancouver is better known. It might be, but I don't think there are numbers to substantiate the claim. We could do a poll online here, but I don't think it will be very representative of world opinion. What do you think?

[THE BUCKET]

We could do a poll online here, but I don't think it will be very representative of world opinion. What do you think?

I think that would depend on how close it is...if it's a total blowout, then I guess we'd know. Frankly, I don't think it would be very close at all.

[DutchDude]

@The Bucket
I don't think it would be very close either. Mostly because I think this site is skewed towards North America and the Anglophone regions.

[rt_0891]

@RT 0891
I agree, it can swing both ways. As I said in my posting, I am not sure Vancouver is better known. It might be, but I don't think there are numbers to substantiate the claim. We could do a poll online here, but I don't think it will be very representative of world opinion. What do you think?

In my wealth of experience in East Asia (as you have in Europe) & North America, I can safely say that Vancouver's better known than Turin in East and South Asia.

However, I agree with you that the same claim can't be made about the whole world in general. Both of us just don't know enough about Africans, South Americans and the Middle Easterners to make an accurate estimate.

[DrJoe]

Didnt read the thread dont know if anyone asked but are their any renderings for the venues yet???

[mr.x]

Didnt read the thread dont know if anyone asked but are their any renderings for the venues yet???

The Oval in Richmond:
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Interior_View_110382.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_River_View_210386.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_at_Night_110384.jpg


It's a $150 million project ($60 million provided by VANOC) and it will be by far the largest speed skating facility in the world.


Renderings for other facilities still haven't come out yet, still being designed.

[DrJoe]

Very nice very nice, cant wait to see the others. Honestly I know nothing about the bid or facilities that have to be built, etc. Where are the opening ceremonies going to be held, BC Place, new stadium, temporary stadium???

[Nanaimo Bars]

@mr. X: I think Torino is a larger city than Vancouver. Torino has about 900.000 inhabitants and Vancouver between 500.000 and 600.000. Also the Torino metro area is larger with 2.2 million against nearly 2 million for Vancouver. And I am not sure Vancouver is better known than Torino either, maybe in Canada, but in the wider world I would think Torino is better known.

I understand that populations is a very tricky subject! Although there is no precise measurement for all the world! I do respect this website! With regards to Agglomerations it is perhaps the most accurate!
http://www.citypopulation.de/World.html

If you read the info regarding the introduction you will understand the concept of what I am talking about!
There is also a e-mail address to this site for further info!
I do believe this to be the most accurate with regards to agglomerations or metro areas!
Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong! But the stats indicate that Torino is 1,500,000 while Vancouver is 2,200,000 with agglomerations!

[Nanaimo Bars]

I also believe Rome Milano and Naples have more of a impact on the world with regards to Italy as far as population and influnence with regards to international knowledge although I believe Torino to be a beautiful city I would place it in the category of another great winter Olympic city like Calgary!

[DutchDude]

I did see this site, and saw the presented sizes of agglomarations. However, it points to what I think is fundamental:

The figures of such a statistic are all of varying, and some of suspect accuracy. There are several reasons: the varying relevance and accuracy of sources, the poor comparability of definitions of agglomerations, errors in the projections and so on.

I like to compare cities I know to see how accurate the figures are . And what I see is that they are not always accurate for the very reason defined above, agglomarations are very difficult to define (Eg for Amsterdam and Rotterdam, where Rotterdam is clearly a larger agglomoration than Amsterdam, contrary to what the site says). In the US and Canada I suspect there is this definition. However, in Europe there isn't one. That is why I like to stick to clearer definitions. So is Torino agglomaration 1.5 million or 2.2 million? I don't know, it depends on how you set the boundaries. The only thing that is clear is that Torino and Vancouver agglomorations are of about the same size, with comparable amounts of inhabitants in the direct vicinity.

Rome and Milan are definately more important than Turin. And the importance of the city to Italy is comparable to lets say Calgary to Canada. In that sense you are definitely right. Population size doesn't always say that much. Btw Turin is very close to Milan, only 100km. So Milan is closer to Turin than Whistler is to Vancouver, I just realised that.

How many venues will there be in the city of Vancouver? I know the olympic village will be there, what else?

[crazyjoeda]

Very nice very nice, cant wait to see the others. Honestly I know nothing about the bid or facilities that have to be built, etc. Where are the opening ceremonies going to be held, BC Place, new stadium, temporary stadium???

The Opening ceremonies will be held in a renovated BC Place.
http://www.britishcolumbia.com/photogallery/4/458.0.2.jpg


Here are a few other venues.

New Ice Hockey Stadium at UBC
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/olympics/images/venues/UBC_Hockey200.jpg

New 6,000 Seat Curling Venue
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/olympics/images/venues/Hillcrest_Curling200.jpg

New IBC/Convention Centre (Under Constuction)
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/olympics/images/venues/conventioncentre200.jpg

New Athleates Village Development
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/olympics/images/venues/athletes_village200.jpg

GM Place, The Pacific Coliseum, BC Place and The PNE Forum will be renovated. (The renovations to the Coliseum has already begun)
http://photos2.flickr.com/1496642_84bd79ef7e.jpg
http://www.pne.ca/graphics/topbars/venue_rentals/coliseum2.jpg http://www.pne.ca/graphics/topbars/venue_rentals/agrodome.jpg

[DrJoe]

Is the roof staying on BC Place for the opening ceremonies??? Could be interesting with the roof on there, they could probably do some crazy light effects with that thing which would add an interesting dynamic. Has an indoor ceremonies ever been done before???

[Plumber73]

^Yes to the first question. And yes I'm sure there will be some crazy light effects. I think no is the answer for the last question.

[mr.x]

They have a $25 million budget for the opening and closing Olympic ceremonies under the roof of BC Place. They said it would be really innovative and would be a "winter wonderland." Indoor opening ceremonies will be a first for the Olympics, and Vancouver will by far have the world's largest cauldron, a "ring of fire":

http://www.ctv9.ca/news/stories/2003/07/images/BC-Place_000.jpg


Big plans for BC Place during 2010 games
Jul, 15 2005 - 10:00 AM


VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - Vancouver's Olympic organizing committee remains tight-lipped about plans for the opening and closing ceremonies at BC Place, but the head of the 2010 games promises the events will be nothing short of spectacular.

BC Place will be getting spruced up over the next few years, to - as Vanoc CEO John Furlong puts it- make it a stadium that looks like it should have an Olympic opening ceremony.

As for what they plan to do with the Olympic flame in the history-making indoor event, furlong says that has yet to be decided. But he vows it will be something never seen before. Furlong adds the so-called "ring of fire" around the stadium is still very much an option, for both Vanoc and the head of NBC sports television:

"He said you know, I've never seen a more powerful winter Olympic image. If you pull that off, and every night we open our television coverage in Vancouver with that image, it will send an incredibly powerful message about the beauty of Vancouver to the world."

Furlong says BC Place will be "celebration central" during the games.

[EdZed]

This is a little far off, but when do tickets start going on sale and are they going to use a lottery system?

[mr.x]

This is a little far off, but when do tickets start going on sale and are they going to use a lottery system?

Tickets are going on sale early 2009, and they won't be using the lottery system.