Countdown to the Games [Archive]

zonie

April 5th, 2006, 02:24 AM

Tiny chance the oval might return to SFU!

Mayor refrains from rubbing it in (http://burnabynow.com/issues06/041106/news/041106nn1.html)

Alfie Lau, staff reporter

Mayor Derek Corrigan is more than just an interested observer when it comes to the Olympic speed-skating oval.

After the Vancouver Province reported Thursday that the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee had negotiated a sweetheart deal with the City of Richmond that sees VANOC paying no rent or property taxes at any time, the city receiving no sponsorship rights and the city being solely responsible for a long list of contingencies, Burnaby's mayor weighed in with his thoughts.

"I take no pleasure in seeing taxpayers' money spent to cover cost overruns," Corrigan said. "I feel sorry for the citizens of Richmond and I take no joy in seeing another municipality get into financial (difficulties)."

The Richmond project has now ballooned to a cost of $178 million, which includes other facilities at the River Road site. In comparison, Simon Fraser University's bid in 2004 was $78.6 million for the speed-skating oval alone.

SFU, which was originally slated to get the speed-skating venue, lost out to Richmond in August 2004, after Richmond guaranteed to cover all the cost overruns on its project, something SFU could not guarantee. But Corrigan hasn't forgotten that, in his mind, SFU had the oval stolen from it.

"No, I'm not happy that SFU lost it. SFU had a very good plan in place, SFU had the right location, SFU had the right soil conditions and, yes, it still sticks in my craw."

Corrigan was alluding to Richmond's problems with its sandy soil providing an adequate foundation for the concrete oval and with engineers estimating that the oval would need substantial upgrade work within 10 years.

"I was talking to (New Westminster) Mayor Wayne Wright, who looked at bidding for the oval in Queensborough," Corrigan said. "And New Westminster made the decision that the soil conditions weren't right." He added that SFU offered the best location seismically and with the best view of the Lower Mainland as an added bonus.

Corrigan said the legacy that an SFU speed-skating oval would have left for the Lower Mainland would have been incomparable, and the fact the provincial government has earmarked $20 million for a fieldhouse at SFU tells him the oval would have been a perfect fit there.

"It's ironic to me that the oval was taken away from SFU and now a part of the legacy (plan) is coming back."

Corrigan opened the door just a sliver to have the oval moved back to SFU should Richmond find it financially unfeasible, but he reiterated that the City of Burnaby would not be putting forth any money to fund the project.

"Certainly, I think if Richmond finds it too difficult and decides there is a time to cut back, that there's still time for SFU to step in, but that's a very difficult time frame," Corrigan said.

"The numbers scare me in relation to the speed-skating oval and with all the Olympic venues. _ I think Richmond has made such a huge commitment financially that there may not be a way for them to pull out now."

rt_0891

April 21st, 2006, 09:37 AM

Olympic show-closer missed the mark, says expert
Last updated Apr 20 2006 12:58 PM PDT
CBC News

The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee's presentation at the closing ceremonies at the Torino Winter Games didn't do Canada justice, says a top federal tourism official.

That display has been criticized for focusing on old clichés about Canada, including images of igloos and ice fishing.

* LINK: Closing ceremony blog External site

The Canadian Tourism Commission's vice-president of marketing said the Vancouver organizers had a good idea, but didn't make it work.

"I think what the Torino [presentation] was trying to show was that we've evolved as a nation … that we've moved into a much more urban environment," Greg Klassen said.

"I don't think it came across as well as they'd hoped it would."

* PHOTO GALLERY: Torino closing ceremonies

Klassen said the 2010 Olympics will focus the world's attention on Canada. He said it's time to get beyond the cold, clean, and safe image this country has promoted for the past 50 years.

"We've got some vibrant cities, we've got some amazing cultural experiences that you can have in Canada, that go well beyond the sort of moose, mountains, and Mounties idea," he said.

He said some visitors are attracted by pictures of lone climbers on vast mountainscapes, but noted that few visitors actually come for that kind of high adventure.

"We show them pictures of mountains, vast mountains with nobody on them, or one person on them, and they just felt inadequate, because they're saying, 'Well, there's no way I could scale that mountain.'"

Klassen said wide-open spaces aren't a good selling point in the U.S. market, which represents about 70 per cent of the foreign visitors to Canada.

The tourism commission is trying to attract those visitors with culture, focusing on good food and wine instead of snow and ice.

The CTC moved to Vancouver from Ottawa just last December.

CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites. External links will open in a new window.

duff+eglin

April 21st, 2006, 08:01 PM

We had relatives over from England and all I could do was hang my head in shame. Who the heck did they consult?

flatlander

April 21st, 2006, 09:13 PM

c'mon takeoff eh get some more back bacon off the coleman and pop another beer eh.

take off your touque and stay a while you hoser.

coolookacoocoocoocoocoo!

mr.x

August 17th, 2006, 05:54 AM

More 2010 Olympic budget woes
Price tag for sledge hockey arena may be just too high for Whistler
Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, August 14, 2006

The price tag for Whistler to build a bells-and-whistles 2,750-seat arena in the village for Paralympic sledge hockey may force the resort municipality to abandon the project.

It could also result in much of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games being moved to Vancouver.

Nearly four weeks after telling a council meeting that the cost, now believed to be in the $45-million to $50-million range and the long-term operating costs, were "more than we can comfortably afford," Mayor Ken Melamed says it may be too late to salvage the project.

"There comes a point in time when we can't physically build it in time," Melamed said. "Frankly, we may have crossed it."

Other options have been looked at, including a more bare-bones arena on the last undeveloped parcel of land in the village, or a twinning of the ice sheet at the Meadow Park Arena outside the village, with perhaps just temporary seating. Or the project could be cancelled altogether.

The arena project has been a source of consternation in Whistler for nearly two years.

The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee committed $20 million to construction of an arena, with Whistler expected to pick up the rest.

Last summer, the municipality quietly approached Squamish to see if it would be interested in building the arena after staff concluded it would be too expensive to build in the village. Then in October, after Squamish had eagerly put together a public/private partnership, Whistler council decided to go ahead after public meetings that showed residents wanted the arena.

"There's no question there's a desire to have the sledge hockey arena built here," Melamed said. "That being said, we also have a commitment to respect our budget and not expose the community to long-term financial risk."

Melamed said that because of the sensitive nature of discussions with the municipality's funding partners -- Vanoc and the provincial and federal governments -- he could not comment fully. But he did insist Whistler has not asked Vanoc for more money and that a business plan endorsed by Vanoc that involves "alternatives in the way money is dispersed" currently sits with Victoria.

"We're really sitting on the edge of our chair," said Melamed. "It's four weeks since we gave them our preferred option. We can only afford to wait so long. It's fair to say the longer we're kept in suspense, it may change our choice of option irrespective of [what the province decides.]"

The decision will have implications beyond just where sledge hockey is played.

Vanoc, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee had trumpeted the 2010 Games as the first "compact" Winter Paralympics with the athletes' village and the venues for sledge hockey, wheelchair curling, cross-country skiing, biathlon and alpine skiing all within 20 minutes of each other.

To that end, the IPC had compromised on its requirement for a 5,000-seat arena for sledge hockey. And the CPC had argued against Hockey Canada pressure to move the entertaining and crowd-pleasing sport, in which Canada will be the defending gold medallists in 2010, to a larger venue in Vancouver.

"In past Paralympics, half the sports were in mountains two and a half hours away," said Brian McPherson, the CPC's chief operating officer. "It breaks up the environment and the atmosphere. On an individual sport basis, there's a lot of merit for sledge hockey to be in a bigger venue . . . but the experience of all the athletes being together seems to trump that."

"We're really hoping this whole thing stays in Whistler."

But what if sledge hockey is moved to Vancouver, most likely to the 6,000-seat arena now under construction at the University of B.C.? McPherson wouldn't comment, but the CPC would almost certainly push Vanoc to move as much as possible of the Paralympics -- wheelchair curling, the athletes' village, medal ceremonies and the cultural activities -- to Vancouver. Cathy Priestner Allinger, Vanoc's executive vice-president of sport, said Friday that until Whistler makes a final decision on an arena, "it would be inappropriate to engage in further public discussions or to speculate on the alternatives under consideration."

If Whistler decides not to build the arena, there is one other option that could keep the entire Games in the Sea to Sky Corridor. Squamish Mayor Ian Sutherland said that if Whistler pulls out, he will be in Vanoc boss John Furlong's office the next day to revive his town's proposal.

"We still have a private partner that would help build it for a reasonable amount of money. One of the things that concerns me is that the longer this delays, it puts any arena in the corridor in peril."

gkingston@png.canwest.com

This editorial can be heard online after 10:30 a.m. today at www.vancouversun.com/readaloud.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006

this is unacceptable. the arena needs to stay in Whistler......the province needs to step in.

mr.x

August 17th, 2006, 08:58 PM

Labour peace for run-up to 2010 Games

News Services
Published: Thursday, August 17, 2006

B.C.'s construction sector will have labour peace until after the 2010 Winter Olympics as construction companies and their unions ratified contracts this week that will last until April 2010.

The agreements cover more than 35,000 trades workers represented by 14 unions. The contracts provide increased wages and benefits, plus changes in holidays, hours of work, pensions and safety provisions.

Bob Morrison, president of the Construction Labour Relations Association, said the contracts recognize the industry has come out of a slump of more than a decade in which wages remained stagnant.
© The Vancouver Province 2006

spongeg

August 20th, 2006, 10:30 PM

part of an article from the saturday sun about rising costs changed venues problems etc.

---------------

- A new $60-million speed-skating oval promised for Simon Fraser University has been moved to Richmond and will now cost $178 million (with Richmond picking up most of the remaining $115.3 million).

- The new $55-million bobsled and luge track at Whistler is now billed out at $99.9 million.

- The proposed $102-million Nordic centre in Callaghan Valley will cost $115.7 million, even after it was substantially scaled down, with ski jumps scrapped or made temporary and plans for many trails abandoned, to the detriment of future sport development.

- A new $36-million international-size hockey rink at the University of B.C. will now cost $48-million and has been whittled down to NHL-sized ice.

- That $28-million curling rink promised for a vacant lot in Vancouver will now cost $37.1 million and has been moved to a heritage ball park, which will be destroyed in the process.

- The $35.5-million athletes' village at the start of the Callaghan Valley was moved closer to Whistler, and will cost closer to $45 million, as part of a $150 million new community subdivision.

- A $15-million international broadcast centre on the former coast guard lands in Richmond was scrapped in favour of moving all the media to the expanded Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.

- A new $20-million arena for Paralympic sledge hockey in Whistler is now estimated at $45 million to $50 million and may well be scrapped, forcing Vanoc to move the event to Vancouver.

And none of that includes other costs B.C. taxpayers didn't know they would bear when the bid was concocted.

full 5 page article: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=324b3ff9-70d4-4bab-99d0-af8fc6424288

Rhino

August 21st, 2006, 04:11 AM

We , on a world stage allmost all ways do the same crap.
ICE ,SNOW , BEER , HOCKEY , PLAD JACKETS , MUD BOOTS , TIM HORTONS, and ESKIMO's
Why haven't people who are in charge of advertising gotten on to something new yet ?
Who will be the 2010 ambassador for Canada ? Megan Follows or this old broad?
http://www.island-flower.com/avonlealasthurrah.jpg

mr.x

August 21st, 2006, 08:19 AM

- A $15-million international broadcast centre on the former coast guard lands in Richmond was scrapped in favour of moving all the media to the expanded Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.

They make it sound like it's a bad thing when we're saving money. The IOC's Host City Selection Commission did comment that instead of having two separate media centres, we should have one central centre. There are two media centres in the Olympics: the International Broadcast Centre and the Main Press Centre.

Don't forget that the $15 million that would've been spent on a Richmond Main Press Centre would've basically been a temporary trailer park.

- That $28-million curling rink promised for a vacant lot in Vancouver will now cost $37.1 million and has been moved to a heritage ball park, which will be destroyed in the process.

They've got their facts wrong. Nat Bailey isn't going anywhere; the new curling arena will be built immediately adjacent to the Bailey and not only that but it'll be receiving a major renovation by the Canadians and by the park board. The Canadians will be contributing $10 million to renovations and the park board will be in the excess of that.

mr.x

August 31st, 2006, 12:04 AM

Vancouver Olympics gets cash infusion
Last Updated Wed, 30 Aug 2006 13:25:40 EDT
CBC Sports

Organizers of the Vancouver Winter Olympics will receive an additional $110 million from the Canadian and B.C. governments to cover escalating costs of building venues for the 2010 Games.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell announced the long-awaited cash infusion during a Wednesday news conference in Vancouver.

Each level of government will contribute $55 million, bringing taxpayers' expenditure on venue construction to $580 million.

Vancouver Olympic organizers originally pegged the cost of building venues at $470 million.

John Furlong, the chief executive officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC), blamed the rising price of materials and a shortage of skilled labour for the skyrocketing costs.

Furlong also said the initial estimate was prepared, according to International Olympic Committee requirements, in 2002 dollars and didn't factor inflation.

To deal with the soaring costs, Olympic organizers offloaded some projects onto municipalities and scrapped other venues altogether.

Earlier this month, Whistler city council voted to kill plans for a Paralympic sledge hockey arena because the building costs jumped from $20 million to $60 million.

The B.C. government had pledged to pony up more cash to VANOC nearly a year ago, but that money was contingent on the federal government matching the offer.

VANOC took its request to a then-Liberal minority government in October 2005, but it was delayed when the Conservatives took power.

Meantime, Olympic organizers were forced to borrow money to fund their summer construction program.

this won't be the last request.

Canadian Chocho

September 6th, 2006, 04:49 AM

Hey, maybe they could install special lights to light up the stadium like they did at Alianz during the World Cup!

mr.x

September 6th, 2006, 05:18 AM

Hey, maybe they could install special lights to light up the stadium like they did at Alianz during the World Cup!

That would be cool!
http://www.sport-finden.de/bilder/allianzarena_bf.jpg

DrT

September 6th, 2006, 05:52 AM

mr.x

September 6th, 2006, 05:58 AM

Still, Vanoc is putting on these games for about half of what the Italians spent in Torino, and a very small fraction of what the Greeks spent in Athens for the summer games, and IMO, with very little corruption. So don't worry, be happy! I believe the overall impact will be positive. And yes, construction costs could not have been predicted to rise so rapidly by anyone. Ask any developer caught with their pants down. That is a world phenomenom. Can't blame the Vanoc team. I am glad they modified the plans to reduce cost, and didn't try to go damn the torpedoes route and really go way beyond budget. I think they are striking a pretty good balance between cost and embarrasing Canadians before the world with third rate facilities.

I agree....though I have to say that if no major improvements and renovations are made to BC Place Stadium, it will be a huge embarassment. Currently, renovations are not planned. Salt Lake City and Torino spent $50 million and $80 million renovating their stadiums, both of which were old of age like BC Place and both also smaller than BC Place.

Torino had to build a lot more facilities than Vancouver, and so did the Greeks especially since they had to rush into building their facilities. Construction of Athens 2004 venues started in 2002 only, so they had to hire more workers and construction had to go on for 24/7....which is why the venues were abnormally high.

TEBC

September 8th, 2006, 06:54 AM

will be the best game ever

mr.x

September 9th, 2006, 03:36 AM

According to today's Province, costs for Canadian border guards, military, coast guard and Vancouver airport security are not part of the $175-million security budget for the 2010 Olympics; security will indefinetely exceed $175 million.

More info later.

mr.x

September 27th, 2006, 01:58 AM

Park board votes to cover Olympics overrun
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 | 2:15 PM PT
CBC News

The Vancouver Park Board voted unanimously Monday night to help cover a large portion of a $26-million increase in construction costs for three 2010 Olympic Games venues.

The board will put up just under $19 million after the city was left scrambling for additional funds to cover ballooning construction costs.

The money will be used for the construction of the Hillcrest curling rink near Nat Bailey Stadium and two practice ice rinks at Killarney and Trout Lake community centres.

Commissioner Spencer Herbert said the park board had few options.

"Even if we didn't like what we had, it's too late in the game to be backing out and saying 'actually, no, we're not going to do this,' " he said.

Herbert added that the decision had to be made now to ensure the facilities will be ready by 2010.

MLA Harry Bains, the NDP's Olympic critic, said he's disappointed with the board's decision.

"I was hoping that the commissioner would stand up to [the Vancouver Organizing Committee] and stand on behalf of the taxpayers much more strongly than they did today and hold VANOC to account."

Bains says VANOC should be responsible for cost overruns not taxpayers.

The three venues were originally estimated to cost about $80 million, but the booming housing market has pushed up construction costs across the Lower Mainland. The new price tag is estimated at $106 million.

The plan must be approved by Vancouver city council, which is expected to debate the proposal Tuesday night.

mr.x

September 28th, 2006, 03:21 AM

IOC sinks plan to house about 1,600 journalists on a luxury cruise ship at Squamish during Gamesp

Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, September 27, 2006

The International Olympic Committee handed Vanoc another organizational headache Tuesday when it rejected a proposal from local organizers of the 2010 Olympic Games to use a luxury cruise ship to house 1,600 journalists expected to cover events at Whistler.

Vanoc wanted to moor the ship at Squamish and bus members of the media to the mountain sites each day.

"Let's say the idea was firmly and politely rejected," IOC press commission chairman Kevan Gosper said from Beijing Tuesday.

"We were simply presented with one option, and whilst a cruise ship may be suitable for tourists and corporates, we don't think it was an appropriate option for as important a working group as the press," Gosper said in a telephone interview.

The decision by the IOC advisory group is another blow to plans for the 2010 Olympics, and creates another set of headaches for the Vancouver Organizing Committee, which is facing lack of affordable accommodation at the mountain venues.

Nejat Sarp, Vanoc's vice-president of accommodation and villages, said he is waiting for Vanoc officials who were at the press commission meeting to return with a full report before deciding what to do.

"Once they get back we're going to sit down and look at what their [IOC's] concerns are," Sarp said. "We will be looking at further options and will have further dialogue to try and address their concerns."

But he said a cruise ship may still be used at Squamish for other groups that need accommodation.

Vanoc first proposed the idea of a cruise ship village to the IOC this summer after it became clear it is having trouble finding enough rooms in Whistler. Sarp said Vanoc needs about 3,000 rooms for judges, media, officials and IOC staff and members, and the cruise ship would be of the luxury variety that plies the Alaska and Caribbean tourist routes.

Overall, Vanoc is expecting between 7,000 and 10,000 media and broadcasters -- by far the largest group attending the Olympics -- to require accommodation. Vancouver's hotel stock is adequate for the city-based media, but the real crunch is in the Whistler area.

Originally Vanoc planned to build an athletes' village near the Nordic venues in the Callaghan Valley, and a temporary media village at Whistler's new Cheakamus subdivision. But finances and logistical issues forced Vanoc to move the athletes' village to Cheakamus. It decided to put the idea of a media cruise ship hotel to the IOC.

"Where we really have a tight fit is in Whistler, versus Vancouver. Whistler is going to be an ongoing challenge, not because of the media but because of all user groups requesting additional accommodation," Sarp said.

He said the cruise ship had merit because it would give Squamish some economic benefit.

But Gosper made it clear the IOC press commission didn't think much of the idea.

"The real issue is we were presented with one option, and it is not an option that was acceptable," Gosper said. "Cruise ships aren't normally the vehicle for the sort of hours and nature of work that the press is involved in. They are one of the hardest-working and important groups of the Games."

Sarp said Vanoc is now hoping Whistler will temporarily relax a bylaw that protects its residential zone from short-term rentals. The bylaw currently prohibits housing from being rented for less than 30-day periods, as a way of providing stable housing for the local work force.

"We are having a dialogue with the municipality about that, and they have been very cooperative. If we go down that road we could find ourselves with a fairly large increase in accommodations," Sarp said.

But he said Vanoc may have to assign rooms on a priority basis.

"I think what we have to do is look at each user groups' requirements, and if push comes to shove, look at who would have the first priority of having access to the accommodation," he said.

jefflee@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2006

mr.x

November 3rd, 2006, 03:15 AM

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/7075/1yd7.png
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/6811/2kd6.png
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8876/3af1.png
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7651/4ad9.png
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3248/5wj3.png
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/8785/6dm5.png
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/9162/7mt9.png
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/8422/8wo1.png
http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/8499/9ps6.png
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3473/10yd9.png
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/8783/11rg3.png
http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/8712/12vh8.png
http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/1618/13gs3.png
http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/3203/14zd3.png

Wonderwall

November 3rd, 2006, 06:10 AM

Damn; the last time I used the word "executive" I thought it had a meaning. Turns out I was wrong…

The lobby looks interesting.

mr.x

November 13th, 2006, 03:21 AM

HILLCREST/NAT BAILEY STADIUM PARK
- Distance from Vancouver Olympic Village: 4 km
- Venue Capacity: 6,000
- Elevation: 74 m

http://members.shaw.ca/dgallery.upload/upload/olympics/hillcrest/01.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/dgallery.upload/upload/olympics/hillcrest/02.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/dgallery.upload/upload/olympics/hillcrest/03.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/dgallery.upload/upload/olympics/hillcrest/04.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/dgallery.upload/upload/olympics/hillcrest/05.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/dgallery.upload/upload/olympics/hillcrest/06.JPG
http://members.shaw.ca/dgallery.upload/upload/olympics/hillcrest/07.JPG

After the 2010 Games, the curling venue will become a multi-purpose community recreation centre that will include an ice hockey rink, gymnasium, library and six to eight sheets of curling ice. Attached to and being constructed with the new curling venue/community centre is a new aquatic centre with a 50-metre pool and leisure pool to be managed by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation

EastVanMark

November 13th, 2006, 06:45 AM

Looks sharp. I like how the facility is intergrated with Nat Bailey stadium to create a great athletic megaplex. Now all they need to do is build it already

mr.x

November 21st, 2006, 03:00 AM

Monday, November 20, 2006

Vancouver 2010 Games Could Curtail Canada’s Afghan Mission
Posted 4:37 pm ET (GamesBids.com)

Reuters reports a document released Monday shows that Canada might be unable to extend it’s 2,500-strong mission to Afghanistan beyond February 2009 because many troops will be needed to ensure security for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

The document says, “planning and mounting the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games security operation is a high priority activity that will represent a major commitment for the Canadian forces and will have a significant impact on domestic operations in 2009 and 2010. Security commitment for the Games could also affect the Canadian forces’ ability to deploy a large number of forces overseas”.

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Games are being held February 12 to 28, 2010.

mr.x

November 21st, 2006, 03:01 AM

B.C. has big plans for Olympic pavilion despite China's denial of prime location
Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, November 20, 2006

BEIJING -- There won't be a Canadian log cabin going up in Tiananmen Square, sitting under the stern gaze of Chairman Mao's giant portrait, to promote Vancouver's 2010 Olympics.

Unlike the Italian government, which let such a structure be erected in Turin's Piazzale Valdo Fusi during Italy's winter Olympics, Tiananmen is sacred political ground. It's some of China's most carefully guarded and sought-after real estate, so foreigners rarely get a piece of it.

Instead Premier Gordon Campbell will settle for some temporary space inside an existing building, on a street behind the famous square, to set up what is being called British Columbia-Canada House.

The site will showcase Vancouver's 2010 Olympic Games during Beijing's 2008 summer Olympics and encourage deeper business connections between Canada and B.C.

What B.C.-Canada House will actually look like inside is being as carefully guarded on the premier's trade mission to China as a Politburo secret. What is clear is that the Chinese have agreed to rent out space in an existing, somewhat prosaic exhibition centre, a building that has little in its architecture to suggest anything Canadian.

But the government did announce today that the building entrance will feature 13 curves made of wood, designed by Vancouver architect Bing Thom. Under them will sit a silicone-based skating rink that will allow passersby to see figure skating in the middle of Beijing's scorching summer.

Each oval will be decorated to represent one of Canada's 10 provinces and three territories and "perforated zinc and aluminum between the arcs will shine at night, representing the vastness of Canada stretching from coast to coast."

The pavilion's entrance will offer a glimpse of the massive tomb of Mao Zedong, which is in Tiananmen Square. That prompted one reporter to ask Campbell if he worried about any association the location might have to the 1989 massacre of

pro-democracy students by the regime.

Campbell dodged the question saying, the only think important in real estate was "location, location, location." He added that the location of the pavilion was perfect because "this is the heart of China."

The Chinese agreed to rent out space in a somewhat prosaic exhibition hall, a building that could fit inside any industrial park and has little in its architecture to suggest anything Canadian.

But, with its retrofit expected to cost about $6 million, the B.C. and Canadian governments hope the skating rink and wooden rings will be a magnet for passersby.

When it opens from May 1 to Sept, 30, 2008, B.C.-Canada House will occupy two floors of Beijing's Planning Exhibition Hall, which now holds scale models of the Beijing Games venues. It will be 20,000 square feet in size, more than three times the size of the log home in Turin, and half that space will be used for public display.

Premier Campbell says he hopes to repeat the success of Turin's two-story log-house style conference centre, made by Sitka Homes, the 100 Mile House company that built the 6,000-square -foot structure that generated international media coverage.

"That was an enormous success for us and we're hoping to do something similar in Beijing," he said earlier. "Thousands of people came through every day, people loved it."

But China is different from Italy.

For one thing, the summer games will be a sprawling affair, held in a much larger city. That may make it harder for people to simply stumble on B.C.-Canada House as many did in Italy, where it stood out thanks to what turned out to be an intriguing juxtaposition of a rustic log structure set against centuries-old stone buildings of Turin.

As well, China's capital is going to be an orgy of Olympic-related events, with China's state planners pulling out all the stops to highlight themselves, not visitors. The regime's planners will have light shows and nightly events that will probably be the biggest in Olympic history, dwarfing attempts by other countries to drum up publicity.

Still, even some proximity to Tiananmen may be enough.

The square is going to host a massive party every night of the Games. Crowds will certainly be in the hundreds of thousands, perhaps even a million or more, and there may be enough spillage from that to generate visitors to nearby B.C.-Canada House.

Those who do find it will see promotions for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, as well as rub elbows with Canadians eager to do business with China long after 2008. The B.C. government will be promoting many of the same things it touted in Turin: B.C. wood products, wines, seafood products and tourist destinations.

But one of the biggest pushes certainly will be on sustainable energy technologies, such as fuel cells. The smog engulfing Beijing burns the eyes and gives the city a yellow pallor -- reminding the B.C. mission that this may be one of the biggest emerging markets for such technology to turn the skies back from yellow to blue.

mcernetig@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
For those who don't know about BC-Canada Place in Torino: visit bccanadaplace.gov.bc.ca (http://www.bccanadaplace.gov.bc.ca)
http://www.bccanadaplace.gov.bc.ca/PhotoGallery/BC%20Canada%20Place%20in%20Torino/houseview.jpg
http://www.bccanadaplace.gov.bc.ca/PhotoGallery/BC%20Canada%20Place%20in%20Torino/View.from.media.centre.24.jpg
http://www.bccanadaplace.gov.bc.ca/PhotoGallery/BC%20Canada%20Place%20in%20Torino/a006.jpg
http://www.bccanadaplace.gov.bc.ca/PhotoGallery/BC%20Canada%20Place%20in%20Torino/a009.jpg
http://www.bccanadaplace.gov.bc.ca/PhotoGallery/BC%20Canada%20Place%20in%20Torino/a035.jpg
http://www.bccanadaplace.gov.bc.ca/PhotoGallery/BC%20Canada%20Place%20in%20Torino/low01.jpg
http://www.bccanadaplace.gov.bc.ca/PhotoGallery/BC%20Canada%20Place%20in%20Torino/a037.jpg
From the beginning of the Torino Olympics to the end of the 2006 Paralympics, over 100,000 people visited the $6 million pavillon in Torino. It was a huge success.

mr.x

December 3rd, 2006, 02:17 AM

B.C.-Canada House at Beijing 2008:
http://www.ecdev.gov.bc.ca/2010secretariat/Embedded%20Files/BeijingFinal.jpg
Designed by Bing Thom, a $6-million renovation project on an existing building right next to Tienanmen Square.

mr.x

December 16th, 2006, 01:11 AM

Friday, December 15, 2006

Vancouver 2010 Bonanza In Sponsorships
Posted 9:07 am ET (GamesBids.com)

Pique News Magazine reports that with three years to go before the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games organizers have already raised $565 million in sponsorships.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee raised $120 million this year, and counting sponsors’ commitments to ancillary programs the total rises to at least $667.5 million, the most money raised in domestic sponsorship by an organizing committee this far out from the Games reports Pique.

Dave Cobb, Vancouver 2010 executive vice president of revenue marketing and communications said, “we continue to be very pleased with the reaction of the corporate community right across the country to the Games. I don’t think there is any question that other organizing committees and the (International Olympic Committee) are looking at the way the companies are getting involved here”.

VANOC is now projecting more than $700 million in sponsorships, up from the $450 million originally estimated in the Vancouver 2010 bid book. The money should pay for about half of the estimated $1.8 billion operating budget of the Games, reports Pique.

Cobb credits part of VANOC’s success to the way it is challenging companies to think outside the box when considering a sponsorship. “These companies are led by very smart people and they are seeing opportunities to advance their objectives. It is not charity. They are looking at what their big challenges are generally and saying ‘maybe…getting involved with the Games can help us’”.

He added, when you see some of the companies Vancouver 2010 is signing, “they are companies that are not just looking at it to sell product, they are looking at it for a whole bunch of different ways that an association with the Olympic Games and Olympic athletes can be used to meet a variety of objectives that they have, not just selling product”.

Cobb said it’s very attractive for some industries to align themselves with VANOC’s sustainability goals while for others it’s about legacies, brand association, and being Canadian.

spongeg

December 18th, 2006, 01:16 AM

its getting closer

still don't see much progress on the athletes village

Plumber73

December 18th, 2006, 04:38 AM

They're probably just moving earth around, doing ground work. Stuff you don't really see. Or maybe they're sitting there with their thumbs up their arses.

Vancouverite

December 18th, 2006, 05:24 AM

Despite the fast-track nature of Southeast False Creek, the normal civic development permit process is still being followed. So far one SEFC parcel has been put before the Urban Design Panel. On January 9th the panel will see SEFC 2A Parcel 3: 1600 Columbia Street; SEFC 2A Parcel 6: 108 Athletes Way; SEFC 2A Parcel 9: 1685 Ontario; SEFC 2A Parcel 10: 1631 Ontario, 2714 Prince Edward Street; 1205 Howe Street. Once the Urban Design Panel has weighed in the Development Permit Board votes on the development application and then City Council will vote. I know it seems like the progress is slow but remember that SEFC's road layouts, utility network, and neighbourhood power grid have all been planned and are being built wholly separate from the buildings.

spongeg

December 19th, 2006, 01:36 AM

well they better get a move on

i sense disaster for these olympics anyway

Plumber73

December 19th, 2006, 01:56 AM

They still have plenty of time for the village. They're not building The Great Pyramid or anything like that.

mr.x

December 24th, 2006, 12:45 AM

Richmond offices to house Olympic security

Derrick Penner and Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, December 22, 2006

Security forces for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics have found a home in Richmond, a massive vacant office complex the RCMP has leased for them at a cost of $1.4 million a year.

The building will be used as the operations base for the security unit known as the Vancouver Integrated Security Unit (VISU), which is made up of the RCMP, Vancouver and West Vancouver Police, Department of National Defence and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

The unit controls everything from overall security planning for the Olympics to accreditation checks to monitoring potential threats.

RCMP Staff Sgt. John Ward, spokesman for the unit, said officials had hoped to house its offices in the Vancouver Organizing Committee's seven-storey facility in east Vancouver, but there wasn't enough suitable space.

"It's unfortunate," Ward said. "We would like to have been with them."

Ward said they needed more office and logistical space, and confirmed that the RCMP has leased space in Richmond, and "we are hoping to be there in next few months."

Public Works and Government Services Canada found the space and arranged the lease of a 10,000-square-metre building on No. 5 Road. The lease will run from April 2007 through Aug. 30, 2010.

The building, which was once home to an engineering unit of cellphone giant Motorola, is just under half the size of Vanoc's headquarters, the former Glenayre Electronics building on Boundary Road in Vancouver.

Ward and the security unit routinely refuse to talk about the details of its operations or security issues, but he said the building will be used for operations.

"It is office space and logistics," he said. "It's difficult to discuss that without getting into security arrangements. At this particular point, it certainly will be the operations base."

The security unit, overseen by the RCMP and run by Chief Supt. Bob Harriman, was set up by the governments providing security for the Olympics.

Ed Franklin, senior leasing officer with Public Works Canada in Vancouver, said finding the space was no easy task in Greater Vancouver, where office vacancy stands at a five-year low of 7.8 per cent. That was the same problem Vanoc encountered until it convinced the City of Vancouver to buy the Glenayre building for $24 million as an investment.

Franklin first started shopping for suitable space on behalf of the RCMP about two years ago and tried to carve out an office location from within the government's inventory before putting out a public tender in October.

Franklin said the RCMP requirements were fairly simple: a large block of preferably free-standing office space with secure parking within Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey or Richmond to use through August 2010.

However, the old Motorola building "had a lot of the additional [amenities] that would have been required to accommodate the client department already existing."

Those included a 625-kilovolt backup generator, gated parking lot, extensive wiring for computers and communications and furniture for 400 office workstations.

Buying a generator could have cost in the range of $750,000, Franklin said.

"Those are substantial cost-savings to the Crown," he added.

At $1.4 million, the rent works out to just under $13 a square foot, which is about the average net asking rent for Richmond, according to figures recently released by commercial realtor CB Richard Ellis.

The security unit offices will be the farthest south of all Olympics-related facilities. However, the building is located just off Steveston Highway and near the interchange with Highway 99, giving officers easy access to Vancouver International Airport, the new Richmond speed-skating oval and points north.

And while it is remote from Vanoc's headquarters, Guy Lodge, Vanoc's vice-president of service and overlay, said the two agencies will still work closely together.

"Our relationship with VISU is important, and while we were unable to offer enough space for them to fully co-locate here, with a combination of technology and a dedicated liaison person here [at Vanoc headquarters] we anticipate that our strong relationship with VISU will continue."

As part of that relationship, Vanoc hired Francesco Norante, the former head of security for the Turin 2006 Winter Games as director of security liaison.

The federal and provincial governments are jointly contributing $175 million for security and say that is adequate. Critics in Canada and the U.S. have questioned whether that is enough, noting that security costs at recent Canadian events such as the G-8 summit at Kananaskis, Alta., were nearly that much for a much shorter period.

depenner@png.canwest.com

jefflee@png.canwest.com

mr.x

January 9th, 2007, 10:26 AM

awesome fan-made video about Vancouver 2010:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=706Zv3exohM

Rhino

January 11th, 2007, 02:49 AM

brought a little tear to my eye .

Mo Rush

January 14th, 2007, 09:27 PM

well they better get a move on

i sense disaster for these olympics anyway

these olympics will be anything but a disaster.

spongeg

January 15th, 2007, 04:54 AM

i really hope not

ToRoNto, g-town

January 15th, 2007, 03:38 PM

^ i think vancouvers going to do an AMAZING job!

suer

January 19th, 2007, 08:53 PM

Vancouver surely will organize the best OG ever! I am really astonished by the city potential and the projects undertaken.

Sorry for OT but how often do you have snow in the city in the winter? ~ hoe msny days? Keeping finger`s crossed for you, here in Poznan:)

mr.x

January 20th, 2007, 02:03 AM

^ we usually have 1 or 2 snowfalls each winter. This year has been above average, with 5 snowfalls so far.

EarlyHits

January 20th, 2007, 07:44 AM

Will the opening ceremony audience and atheletes be wearing jackets like all the other winter games? I assume the BC Place staffs will turn down the heating system(if there is one)?

mr.x

January 20th, 2007, 08:09 AM

Will the opening ceremony audience and atheletes be wearing jackets like all the other winter games? I assume the BC Place staffs will turn down the heating system(if there is one)?

well it wouldn't be as cold as past Opening Ceremonies, but it'll still be cold. before the stadium roof blew a hole, the temperature inside was just 7 degrees.

mr.x

January 22nd, 2007, 09:52 PM

The Vancouver 2010 street banners are up again for the next three months to celebrate the 3 year countdown.

Vancouver to host '08 figure-skating championships

Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, January 22, 2007
VANCOUVER - The road to 2010 for Canada's best triple lutz leapers and tango-on-skates dancers will go through Vancouver.

Skate Canada announced in Halifax on Sunday that the 2008 Canadian figure skating championships will be held at the Pacific Coliseum Jan. 16-20.

"It's terrific, we're so excited," Ted Barton, executive director of the B.C./Yukon division, said in a telephone interview from Halifax, where the 2007 nationals wrapped up Sunday.

"We believe this organization is back on track now and there's no better place to host the Canadians than Vancouver. We want the people of B.C. to follow the race for the [Olympic] team, to be focused on these skaters as they prepare for 2010."

The nationals were last staged in Vancouver in 1997 at GM Place. The last major skating event in the city was the 2001 worlds, which were also held at GM Place and sold out the entire week.

Barton said he hopes skating fans in the Lower Mainland will get behind these nationals. With the new scoring system making the event easier to follow, new athletes on the scene and plans for an aggressive advertising campaign, he thinks crowds will be big at the 15,000-seat Coliseum, which will be the venue for figure skating during the Olympics.

"We're going to be telling the story of the road to the Games and want people to be attached to the human element with these skaters committing to trying to do their best for a home audience," Barton said.

Having the nationals in Vancouver will be a terrific opportunity, he added, for young B.C. skaters like Mira Leung, Kevin Reynolds and Jeremy Ten, to skate in front of a boisterous home crowd. Leung of Vancouver finished second to Joannie Rochette of Ile Dupas, Que., in the women's event in Halifax.

Reynolds, the 16-year-old out of Coquitlam, was 11th in the men's, where veteran Emanuel Sandhu, the Ontario native who has trained in Burnaby for years, was third. Ten, of Vancouver, won the junior men's and could move up to senior competition next year.

"I think they'll all be very jazzed up to be at home," said Barton. "They've had 'away' games for so many years. And if you don't learn how to cope with the extra pressure of being right at home, it's going to be harder for them at 2010."

For the 2008 nationals, regional qualifiers will be held prior to the event, making for a more attractive competition, said Barton. In Halifax, there was an unwieldy 35-40 skaters in qualifying rounds for senior men and women.

The on-sale date for all-event ticket packages will be announced Feb. 8.

gkingston@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

January 27th, 2007, 05:12 AM

http://vancouver2010.com/images/Features/rcm_coins_1.jpg
http://vancouver2010.com/images/Features/rcm_coins_2.jpg

Vancouver 2010 Winter Games Commemorative Coin Collection
January 26, 2007 | VANOC NEWS RELEASE

Art and coins come together in the launch of a series of commemorative coins for the 2010 Winter Games.

Beginning in February and spanning the period up until Games time, the Royal Canadian Mint will unveil an extensive Olympic and Paralympic-related coin collection. With expressive designs created by Canadian artists, these coins offer an opportunity to relive the Games for years to come.

The first modern Olympic-themed coins were struck to commemorate the 1952 Olympic Summer Games in Helsinki, Finland. Since that time, coins have been produced by the mints of the Games host countries and are an integral part of Olympic culture, history and art.

Over the next three years, 17 coins will be put into circulation encompassing the most extensive Olympic Games circulation coin program ever undertaken by a Mint: from two commemorative Lucky Loonies to 25-cent winter sport-themed coins to a unique series offering Canadians the opportunity to vote on the athletes featured in its design.

“Taking into account the subject and the sport as well as who the audience is, is integral to the designing of coins,” says commemorative coin designer Steve Hepburn of Richmond, BC. “It’s important to convey a sense of what makes that sport special or different from others, and to make it visually appealing while remaining true to the sport and its intricacies.”

Numismatic, or collector coins, are detailed works of art worth far more than their face value and are sought by collectors as commemorative treasures and gifts.

“The audience for collector coins is more specific than that for circulation coins,” says Hepburn. “When designing collector coins, there is more artistic freedom and room to be less conventional.”

Included in the limited mintage collection are sterling silver holographic coins, premium gold coins, and pure gold one-kilogram coins sure to satisfy the most ardent collector.

When designing collector coins Hepburn says “size and readability is a challenge. I worked on designs many times larger than the final product to ensure clean, crisp lines with good proportions. It’s very important to remove unnecessary details and information to make a strong-reading design at its final size.”

One of the design challenges Hepburn says is, “What looks good at 8 feet across may be a jumbled, unrecognizable mess when reduced to one inch. It’s important to involve the viewer when designing coins and to make them as interesting as possible by using perspective, angles and foreshortening.”

“I love sports,” says Hepburn. “When the Mint called, I was thrilled to be part of the project. I consider myself quite patriotic so the Olympic Games carry great importance to me. They’re always exciting and with them being in my backyard in 2010, it’ll be a year to remember. Go Canada, Go!”

Canadians can purchase the commemorative coins through the Royal Canadian Mint’s website. Circulation coins are available at RBC Financial Group and participating Petro-Canada locations. Canadians can also look for these coins in their change – the first coin, curling, will begin circulating on February 23.

zonie

January 27th, 2007, 09:08 AM

Incredible coins!! Absolutely incredible.

mr.x

February 5th, 2007, 05:44 AM

Wanted: 14,000 people to carry Olympic torch

Winter Games: 100-day relay will visit every region in Canada
By Damian Inwood | The Province | February 4, 2007

About 14,000 people will bask in the glow of the 2010 Olympic torch as they carry it across Canada.

The 100-day relay will visit every province and territory on its way to the Vancouver opening ceremonies on Feb. 12, 2010 says VANOC relay director Jim Richards.

“The Olympic relay begins in Greece with the lighting of sacred flame in Olympia,” Richards told a 2010 Aboriginal Business Summit workshop. “The Greeks pass it by relay to Athens, where Canadians will pick it up. It’s not yet decided where it lands in Canada or the path it will take to Vancouver.”

Richards said the image of a lone runner against a Prairie backdrop, his breath steaming and feet crunching on the snow, is a long way from reality.

The Sydney 2000 Games had two convoys, totaling 30 vehicles, which leapfrogged each other, he said.

They included minibuses to ferry torchbearers to the route, police, media, a command vehicle, ambulance, broadcast and technician trucks, backup vehicles, equipment trucks, and sponsor vehicles.

In addition to the 140 people who carry the torch each day, it takes 150 people to organize and run the relay, he added. The RCMP has agreed to provide 20 officers.

Richards said organizers are starting on the route’s first draft and will send out invitations to communities in the fall. By November 2008, the torch design, uniforms and final route will be announced, he added.

Richards said provincial and territorial capitals and past Olympic cities like Montreal and Calgary are guaranteed to be on the route. It’s also possible the torch will take a side trip to the U.S. – possibly to take part in the lighting of a Christmas tree in Times Square, an event sponsored by Ottawa.

As to who will actually carry the torch, Richards said that’s still up in the air. For the Calgary 1988 Olympic torch relay, participants were picked by lottery, and focus groups seem to like that concept, he said.

dinwood@png.canwest.com

mr.x

February 8th, 2007, 05:33 AM

Canadians won't get first dibs on executive producer job at 2010 Olympic Opening & Closing Ceremonies
Published: Wednesday, February 7, 2007 | 8:32 PM ET
Canadian Press

VANCOUVER (CP) - The executive producer behind the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics will have to have Canadians working on the project, but the top job won't necessarily go to a Canadian.

The committee organizing the Vancouver 2010 Games, known as VANOC, has issued a call for an executive producer for the ceremonies which are "critical to the success of the Games," CEO John Furlong said in a news release.

"They (the ceremonies) reach out to the hearts of spectators and fuel the dreams of athletes."

VANOC is looking for a company that has experience mounting at least five television productions and five live productions.

The executive producer of the Games ceremonies will be responsible for picking the creative and technical talent that come up with the show themes, as well as managing details like rehearsals, volunteers and all the other elements that go into the mega-shows.

Terry Wright, VANOC's executive vice-president of ceremonies, said in an interview Wednesday the ceremonies must communicate Canada to the world - its bilingualism, multiculturalism and aboriginal heritage.

"Every aspect of the ceremonies is potentially iconic," he said.

But that doesn't mean the competition for the executive producer job is limited to Canadian companies.

"It's an open search," Wright said.

"But to capture and portray to the world the uniqueness of Canada, there's got to be very strong Canadian content within the team."

A small group of VANOC executives will get final say on the themes of the show.

The closing ceremonies last year at the Winter Games in Turin - the last Games before the Olympics are staged in Vancouver - had heavy Canadian content, but became the brunt of radio talk-show ridicule for portraying Canadian stereotypes.

The image of an ice fisherman came under particularly ruthless attack.

Wright said VANOC had "learned lots of lessons around Turino," but he declined to elaborate.

"I don't really want to go back there, but we are looking forward here. We're going to obtain some great talent. We've got a great story to tell. I think we'll definitely move forward from that experience."

mr.x

February 9th, 2007, 08:02 AM

Vincor Canada toasted as Official Supplier to the 2010 Winter Games

February 8, 2007 | VANOC News Release
Vincor Canada, A Constellation Company, is pleased to officially announce its sponsorship agreement with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

The six-year agreement provides Vincor Canada with “Official Supplier” sponsorship rights in the wine product and service category for the 2010 Winter Games, in addition to sponsorship rights to the Canadian Olympic Team for Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and the London 2012 Games.

President and CEO of Vincor Canada Jay Wright said, “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to honour our Canadian athletes while affirming our role as Canada’s wine industry leader. Like our Olympic and Paralympic athletes, Vincor Canada shares a passion and determination towards excellence. This agreement is by far Vincor Canada’s most ambitious and broad-reaching sponsorship and will be great for the Canadian wine industry. I hope Canada will join us in the excitement that we feel regarding this exceptional opportunity to position Canadian wine brands on the world stage.”

Vincor Canada’s key wine portfolios include Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin, Inniskillin Icewine, Sumac Ridge, Nk’Mip Cellars, Naked Grape, Sawmill Creek and See Ya Later Ranch. All will be participating directly in this partnership opportunity by bearing the official Vancouver 2010 contained emblem prominently on their back labels.

"Vincor Canada and their talented team of winemakers have embraced the spirit of the Games. This is a unique way to build excitement for 2010 and support Canadian athletes,” said VANOC CEO, John Furlong. "Cheers to Vincor Canada and welcome to our Vancouver 2010 family."

Commemorating the spirit of the Games
Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the sponsorship is the release of the Jackson-Triggs Esprit™ wines, a unique wine vinted by Jackson-Triggs Vintners and co-branded with the Vancouver 2010 emblem. These wines will celebrate the spirit of possibility created by the 2010 Winter Games while reflecting the pioneering spirit of the Canadian wine industry. Named to capture both the French and English connotations of the word ‘spirit,’ these wines also symbolize the dedication, passion and artistry evoked by the Games.

The Jackson-Triggs Esprit wine collection, launching with a Merlot (UPC # 063657017548 $11.95 MSRP) and a Chardonnay (UPC # 063657017555 $11.95 MSRP), exhibits excellent varietal character while offering exceptional quality and value for today’s consumer. Jackson-Triggs Esprit wines will have wide distribution and will be found at provincial/private liquor stores and dining establishments across the country, beginning in summer 2007. A portion of sale proceeds from each bottle will support the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the Canadian Olympic Team, enabling Canadians to join Vincor Canada in cultivating Canadian champions.

“We are very proud that Jackson-Triggs Esprit will be in wide distribution so Canadians across the country can share, with these symbolic wines, in the celebration of the Winter Games,” said Wright.

In addition to Vancouver 2010 branded Jackson-Triggs Esprit wines , Vincor Canada’s sponsorship activities, staged over the next six years, will include innovative retail and restaurant promotions, high visibility at Vancouver 2010 events, hospitality programs, entertainment (at Vincor Canada’s state-of-the-art wineries) and corporate gifting opportunities. All in all, this will serve to position Vincor Canada on the centre stage, alongside other leading sponsors from around the world.

About Vincor Canada
Vincor Canada, A Constellation Company, has a history that dates back to 1874, and has grown to become Canada's largest producer and marketer of wines. Its founding vision has been to further the reputation and sales of Canadian wines in the premium, super-premium and ultra-premium categories, not simply at home, but as importantly, in the international marketplace.

With an emphasis on quality grapes, the company has worked consistently to develop vineyards with the most sophisticated viticultural technologies, not to mention research capabilities. Vincor Canada’s land holdings in Canada’s largest wine growing regions, the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia and the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, are dedicated almost exclusively to the production of European vitis vinifera. Vincor Canada also works with a large group of talented high quality grape growers and viticultural experts to draw the best from their vines.

Well known brands from the Vincor Canada portfolio include Inniskillin Wines, Jackson-Triggs Estate Wines, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, See Ya Later Ranch, Naked Grape, Sawmill Creek, President Sparkling, Nk’Mip Cellars, Le Clos Jordanne, and Osoyoos Larose, the latter three of which are joint venture partnerships between Vincor Canada and the Osoyoos Indian Band in the Okanagan Valley, the Boisset family in Burgundy, France, and Groupe Taillan in Bordeaux, France, respectively.

About Constellation Brands, Inc
Constellation Brands, Inc. is the world’s largest wine business, producing, marketing and selling a broad portfolio of wines though out the world. The company is the number one producer and supplier of wine in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and is also a leading producer and exporter of wine from Australia and New Zealand.

About Inniskillin Wines
Inniskillin Wines, established in 1975 by co-founders Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, is Canada's premier estate winery producing truly distinctive and elegant wines from premium grape varieties grown in Canada that rank among the world's finest. Inniskillin has vineyards in the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. Inniskillin has gained international recognition for its award winning Icewines, which, as the number one selling wine in duty free stores, can be found in over 40 countries around the world. Inniskillin is proud of the role it has played and continues to play as one of the rising stars in bringing recognition to Canada as part of the international success of Canadian wines. For more information, visit www.inniskillin.com.

About Jackson-Triggs Estate Wines
Since the inception of Jackson-Triggs Estate Wines in 1993, both its Okanagan and Niagara wineries have been uncompromising in their pursuit of crafting Canadian wines that offer exceptional quality and value. Jackson-Triggs enjoys a reputation for producing some of the country’s leading premium VQA varietal wines. Driving the Jackson-Triggs winemaking teams both in Ontario and British Columbia is their vision to craft wines that will compete with the world’s finest. In addition to a large collection of outstanding reviews from wine writers in Canada and from magazines such as Wine Spectator, Jackson-Triggs wines have been consistently applauded with medals and awards from prestigious wine competitions around the world. Illustrating that point, Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate recently won the title of the Rosemount Estate Trophy for the World’s Best Shiraz/ Syrah at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London, England. For more information, visit www.jacksontriggswinery.com.

About Nk'Mip Cellars
Nk'Mip Cellars (pronounced “in-ka-meep”) is North America’s first aboriginal owned and operated winery. Overlooking the shores of Osoyoos Lake, the winery sits on natural desert land surrounded by the stunning contrast of vineyards. Using grapes grown onsite and from the Osoyoos Indian Band's own Inkameep Vineyard, winemaker Randy Picton produces quality wines in two tiers: Nk’Mip Cellars and the reserve Qwam Qwmt (pronounced kw-em kw-empt) series. Wines receiving constant acclaim include a Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Merlot, Meritage, and Riesling Icewine. The Nk’Mip Cellars Pinot Noir recently captured Best in Show at the Vancouver Magazine Wine Awards. The winery is open year-round with seasonal patio foodservice. Special events celebrating native traditions are held throughout the season. For more information, visit: www.nkmipcellars.com.

About See Ya Later Ranch
Located high above Okanagan Valley, See Ya Later Ranch at Hawthorne Mountain was named to salute both the site's distinctive history and also the man who first planted grapes in the beautiful mountain setting, Major Hugh Fraser. The Major made the ranch his home for more than 45 years and became a favourite among the locals, due to his kind nature, eccentric parties and his love of dogs. The labels for See Ya Later Ranch wines feature a white dog with angel wings in celebration of "man's best friend". The portfolio, crafted by winemaker Dave Carson, includes a Brut, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Semillon, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Ehrenfelser Icewine, Pinot 3™ (a blend) as well as two blends named for the Major’s dogs: Ping™, and Jimmy My Pal™. For more information, visit www.sylranch.ca.

About Sumac Ridge Estate Winery
Founded by Harry McWatters in Summerland, British Columbia in 1979, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery is the oldest operating estate winery in British Columbia, and celebrated its 25th anniversary in July 2006. Notable wines crafted by winemaker Mark Wendenburg from Sumac Ridge’s vineyards (including its acclaimed 115 acre Black Sage Vineyard) include Gewürztraminer, Meritage, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, “Methode Classique” sparkling wines, and Icewine. Open year-round, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery offers tours, a retail shop, a wine tasting bar, and a private Founder’s Tasting Room. The winery is also home to the highly praised Cellar Door Bistro which offers exceptional regional cuisine. For more information, visit www.sumacridge.com.

About Naked Grape
Naked Grape is the first complete line of varietal wines dedicated to being unoaked. Oak aging can hide the true varietal characteristics and fruit flavours of a wine. Since Naked Grape Wines are unoaked the crisp fruit flavours and true varietal characteristics shine through. Naked Grape is widely distributed across Canada so ask for it at your local wine or liquor store. Naked Grape … It takes confidence to go unoaked.

About Sawmill Creek
Sawmill Creek Wines are smooth, easy drinking wines. One of Canada’s favourite wines, Sawmill Creek is committed to producing high quality varietal and blended wines that are approachable and enjoyable. Widely available across Canada, ask for Sawmill Creek at your local wine or liquor store.

mr.x

February 9th, 2007, 08:02 AM

Canada’s Games will sparkle: Birks announces sponsorship of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games
February 7, 2007
Birks announced as Official Supplier of Jewellery as part of 100th Anniversary Celebration in Vancouver

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) and Birks & Mayors Inc. (Amex: BMJ) announced today that Birks, Canada’s premier luxury brand has been named Official Supplier of Jewellery. Details of the new partnership were shared with employees and customers as part of Birks’ 100th Anniversary celebration in Vancouver. As a Tier III supplier, Birks will provide VANOC with a uniquely Canadian gifting and licensed merchandise program that will commemorate the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“This important initiative was born of shared values and of Birks’ commitment to delivering an incredible brand experience to a national and international audience,” stated Thomas A. Andruskevich, president and CEO, Birks & Mayors. “We are extremely proud to take part in this journey that honours our best athletes and celebrates excellence as the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games shine on the world wide stage. Canadians look to Birks to mark the most important celebrations in their lives which is why Birks wants to commemorate this important moment in Canadian history.”

The six-year partnership designates Birks as an Official Supplier of the 2010 Winter Games, including sponsorship rights for the Canadian teams participating at the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

“We are delighted to welcome over 1,100 employees of Birks & Mayors Inc. to the Vancouver 2010 family,” said John Furlong, CEO, VANOC. “Birks has a proud Canadian heritage and it is an honour to participate in their Vancouver centennial celebration with this exciting announcement.”

Birks will create licensed products bearing the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games marks as well as the Canadian Olympic team emblem. Birks will also be the exclusive licensee for distinctive collections of fine jewellery retailed at over $150. These exclusive products will include necklaces, earrings, pendants and rings bearing the Olympic and Paralympic marks. All Canadians will have an opportunity to purchase a unique 2010 Winter Games jewellery item wrapped in the Birks iconic blue box, when these collections are launched throughout Birks retail stores, website and network of corporate sales representatives in Canada, by the beginning of 2008.

About Birks & Mayors Inc.
Birks & Mayors Inc. (Amex: BMJ) is a leading operator of luxury jewellery stores in Canada and the United States. The Company operates 38 stores (Birks Brand) across most major metropolitan markets in Canada and 29 stores (Mayors Brand) across Florida and Georgia. Founded in 1879, Birks is Canada’s premier designer and retailer of fine jewellery, timepieces and giftware. In addition, Birks offers a full range of corporate gifts, estate jewellery, and gift and wedding registry services. Birks also has six corporate sales offices and offers catalogue and on-line shopping. For more information please visit www.birks.com.

mr.x

February 11th, 2007, 11:38 PM

Olympic countdown
Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, February 10, 2007

With three years until the 2010 Winter Olympics open there is still a lot of work to be done:

2007

Business plan -- Vanoc is promising its long-awaited business plan -- the operational blueprint for how it will afford to run the Games. The document will be made public this spring. It was originally supposed to be out last year, but financing issues and concerns from its government partners led Vanoc to redraw the plan.

Staffing ramps up as Vanoc, with nearly 400 employees now, grows to 600 by this time next year. By 2010, Vanoc's ranks will swell to 1,200 full-time and 3,500 temporary positions. And that doesn't include the 25,000 volunteers needed between now and the Games.

Spring -- The opening and closing ceremonies -- the most-attended events at an Olympics -- gets a boost with Vanoc's selection of an artistic planner. This month it asked for applications; in March it will likely pick a winner. High on the list is likely to be Montreal's famed Cirque du Soleil.

Feb. 23 -- After official groundbreaking, construction starts in earnest on the Hillcrest Curling venue. Now budgeted at more than $49 million, the venue is the last to be started by Vanoc. With a pushed-up deadline of December 2008, it's supposed to be the site of the 2009 World Junior Championships.

March -- Vanoc will release the first of its annual status reports on its sustainability initiatives; 2010 will be the first Olympics invoking all three areas of sustainability -- social, environmental and economic. The report will grade Vanoc's efforts to date.

March 6-8 -- The IOC's Vancouver Coordination Commission makes the first of its two annual visits to keep tabs on progress. The 11-member team will meet Vanoc staff behind closed doors, and, if the pro-forma format of previous visits is anything to go by, issue very little public criticism. The second visit is in September. Look for repeats in 2008 and 2009.

May 19 -- The 1,000 days countdown. Like each of the three annual countdowns between now and 2010, this is more of an excuse to party, and to hype the coming Games. Look for an event centred around the new Omega countdown clock that will be erected in downtown Vancouver.

Summer 2007 -- Construction starts on Whistler's "Celebration Site," the new plaza being built after Vanoc scrapped a sledge hockey venue because of Whistler's dithering over increased costs. It agreed to give Whistler up to $5 million for the party site as a consolation prize. Meanwhile, construction starts on the two 2,400-unit athletes villages in Vancouver and Whistler. Utilities and foundations this year, buildings in 2008.

Summer or fall -- First came the logos, then the merchandise. This year it's the Olympic and Paralympic mascots, the creatures expected to launch millions of toys, key rings, coffee mugs, cellphone ring images, souvenir clothing and anything else that can be branded with what is always supposed to be cuddly kid-friendly emblems.

July 1-3, 2007 -- The new Olympics rises: the IOC selects the host of the 2014 Winter Games. Two of the three vying cities, Pyeongchang, South Korea and Salzburg, Austria, were Vancouver's competitors in 2002. Also running is Sochi, Russia.

November -- Deadline for IOC approval of all sporting event schedules. Until now Vanoc has been negotiating with sports federations and world broadcasters to find the best race times.

Winter 2007 -- Vanoc's two most expensive venues in Whistler, the new sliding centre ($99.9 million) and the Callaghan Valley Nordic centre ($115 million) open for Canada's teams. So do the ski venues and the main hockey and figure-skating venues.

2008

Vanoc begins actively recruiting the 25,0000 volunteers needed to stage the Games. In the fall of 2007 it will open volunteer recruiting offices in the Forum Building at Hastings Park.

The process of accrediting the more than 10,000 media from around the world begins. Vanoc will also hold at least one world press operations briefing to give media planners a sense of what to expect.

Spring 2008 -- In January the Canadian figure skating championships are at the Pacific National Exhibition, one of the first training events in advance of the Olympics. The alpine skiing world cup in Whistler in February will be the first official Olympic test event, with most other tests coming the following winter.

Feb. 12, 2008 -- Another anniversary, another countdown. With just 24 months to go, Vanoc will be looking to capitalize on the growing world interest, especially since it will be organizing a number of international-level test events at its venues.

April 2008 -- UBC Winter Sports Centre opens. In 2007, if all goes well, two of the three arenas at the centre will have been finished. This is the deadline for the main 5,500-seat arena, (7,500 seats at Games-time) where, in addition to hockey, medal rounds of the Paralympic sledge hockey will be held.

Aug. 8 - 24 and Sept. 6 - 17, 2008 -- The 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in Beijing, China. These are the last Games before Vancouver's, serving Vanoc with last-minute lessons on what to do -- and not do -- in 2010.

Aug. 12, 2008 -- Richmond's hold-fast deadline for finishing its $178-million speed-skating oval. In December Vanoc hopes to hold the Canadian championships to test one of the trickiest venues to get right with its scientific need for consistently good ice.

Fall 2008 -- Want tickets to the gold-medal hockey event, the opening ceremonies, or even the first heats of the women's downhill? This is when Vanoc expects to begin marketing the estimated 1.8 million admissions, half of which will go to sponsors, Olympic family members and school programs.

Winter 2008, spring 2009 -- Major test event time. Vanoc hopes to host most international sporting events and championships to test the readiness of everything from timing equipment to spectator facilities to transportation.

2009

Security exercise: With only a year to go before the Games, the secretive RCMP-controlled Vancouver Integrated Security Unit will be looking to practise its skills for protecting the anticipated 5,000 athletes and officials, 10,000 media representatives and 25,000 volunteers, not to mention the 250,000 visitors. No flashy displays, however: we're Canadian.

Feb. 12, 2009 -- The "Oh My Goodness We're Almost There" event. With just 365 days left in a plan that has spanned nearly a decade, if you include bidding activities, look for an all-out celebration the likes of which will be eclipsed only by the Olympics and Paralympics themselves.

June 2009 -- The rubber meets the road. The $600 million Sea to Sky Highway road widening project between Horseshoe Bay and Whistler, which drew more Olympic protests than any other, is supposed to finish. During the Games, the highway will be closed to most public traffic in favour of special transit programs.

Late summer, early fall 2009 -- If all has gone according to plan, construction of the two athletes' villages in Whistler and Vancouver will finish. Watch for Vanoc's staff to take over and start to outfit the buildings with all the furnishings athletes will need, from beds and kitchenware to gymnasiums and the inevitable medical polyclinics.

Fall 2009 -- In its early bid, Vanoc said it would start the famed torch relay exactly 114 days before the Games open, bringing it to Canada over the North Pole after it is lit at Olympia, Greece. It's likely going to be shorter, but Vanoc promises the relay will criss-cross Canada in the hands of thousands of people, carried by almost every conceivable means, from runners to dogsled and snowmobile to airplane.

November 2009 -- Look to any of the Olympic venues and you should see an army of workers moving in to convert them to Games-time use. This is when Vanoc expects to take control of all venues, although it will have been doing fit-out at the sliding and Nordic centres in the summer.

Nov. 30, 2009 -- After four years of constant traffic jams, disruption, noise and dust, the $2-billion Canada Line should be in service. Although not an "official" Olympic project, the 19-kilometre, 16-station automated light rail line between Vancouver and Richmond will be the last major Olympic-time mega-project to finish.

2010

It's Our Time To Shine.

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

February 20th, 2007, 05:45 AM

Renderings of the new 7,500 seat hockey facility (5,500 after the Games), with 4 rinks, at UBC:
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8638/aaaventwscdk7.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3821/ubcwintersportscentremb1.jpg

mr.x

February 22nd, 2007, 02:50 AM

http://vancouver.ca/olympicvillage/photogallery/images/SEFCmodel087web.jpg
http://vancouver.ca/olympicvillage/photogallery/images/SEFCmodel172web.jpg
http://vancouver.ca/olympicvillage/photogallery/images/SEFCmodel189web.jpg
http://vancouver.ca/olympicvillage/photogallery/images/SEFCmodel120web.jpg
From BIV this week:

Developers hit grass ceiling
City’s green roof requirements threaten to derail Southeast False Creek community overhaul

Andrew Petrozzi

City of Vancouver requirements to incorporate green roof technology in Southeast False Creek buildings could seriously hamper the area’s redevelopment.

The provincial Homeowners Protection Office (HPO) informed local governments and municipalities in January that B.C.’s four home warranty insurance providers had serious concerns with the increasing pressure from municipalities to apply green roof technology to residential developments, including large, multi-family condominiums.

A January 16 HPO letter stated that some private insurers won’t provide coverage for buildings that incorporate a green roof design. It also said green roof designs need further study before they’re used in residential developments “to avoid another potential systemic building envelope failure.”

HPO spokesman Jan Calkins confirmed that two insurers have declined to provide coverage, while the remaining two indicated coverage would be provided only under specific conditions,.

“That becomes a concern because you don’t want municipalities mandating it or moving in that direction when you have got warranty providers saying they are not going to insure it,” she said.

Calkins pointed out that new homes in B.C. must have home warranty insurance. Building permits also require that insurance.

She said that the HPO has scheduled a May 29 conference to help find a resolution to the green roof issue.

Green roof systems incorporate a planting medium and vegetation that help control building temperature and manage storm water run-off.

In the policy statement for the area that Vancouver’s council approved in October 1999, 25% of the roof area of the Southeast False Creek (SEFC) community was to be designed to incorporate vegetation. The requirement was further clarified in the water and waste management plan for the community prepared for the city by Keen Engineering Co. Ltd. in September 2002. That plan included different green roof options, their associated impacts on storm water run-off and associated costs.

According to planning documents, incorporating green roofs would add approximately $2.45 million to area building costs.

But by January 2005, a Southeast False Creek Steering Committee report to city council on sustainability indicators, targets, stewardship and monitoring for SEFC indicated that the percentage of buildings with green roofs was yet to be determined.

Trish French, Vancouver’s assistant director of planning, central area, said the city has contacted the insurers to find out how serious the issue is for existing projects and identified alternative green building systems that may have warranty coverage. She noted that only “extensive” green roofs – those tied into the building envelope – were of concern, not rooftop gardens and planters.

The city plans to maintain its green roof requirements for SEFC, she said, but added that the percentage of green roof systems in the area varied with rezoning approvals.

Maintaining the 25% green roof objective could derail the construction schedule for Southeast False Creek developments, according to Neil Chrystal, president and CEO, of Polygon Homes Ltd.

However Bob Rennie of Rennie Marketing Systems, speaking on behalf of the Millennium Group, developers of the Olympic Village, said there would be no impact on that project’s construction schedule.

“The Olympic Village can’t be built without a building permit. So if the amount of green roofs has to be altered in order to get a warranty, cool heads will prevail and that will have to be done.”

The city wants building construction to start in early 2007, with completion by October 2009, according to the project timeline posted on the city’s SEFC website.

Polygon is set to build its 12-storey Foundry development on the historic site of the former Progressive Engineering Works. That project features a small green roof component, Chrystal confirmed.

“We don’t know whether we’re going to get warranty insurance. Without warranty insurance we can’t get a building permit. So the whole place could be in limbo,” said Chrystal, who added that he would like to see the green roof objective removed altogether.

“My big concern is that there may be evidence of green roofs working in other climates, but it really hasn’t been tested to the degree it probably should be in our wet West Coast climate,” he said. “Our concern has been that we are sort of pushing, or legislating, these green roofs in certain communities.

“We’ve been through the leaky condos, and we certainly don’t want to experiment and end up in the same spot.”

officedweller

February 23rd, 2007, 12:27 AM

From the Richmond Review:

Skate blades for oval bridge

By Matthew Hoekstra
Staff Reporter
Feb 22 2007

Motorists and pedestrians crossing the future span over Hollybridge Canal will be passing through skate blades.

The latest public art project endorsed by city council for the oval precinct involves transforming an otherwise plain crossing into a gateway to the Olympic venue.

Four towering light poles designed to look like skate blades will be installed on both sides of the short four-lane bridge, accompanied by skate marks in the concrete, images in pedestrian railings and benches.

The city has hired artist Buster Simpson to design the $230,000 public art project—made possible from cash leftover from the $2-million budget for the bridge.

“That gave us some extra money and we wanted to add a public art element to this bridge since it is the primary gateway to the oval and that entire precinct,” said city spokesperson Ted Townsend.

Simpson has been designing public art since the 1970s. Most of his work, ranging from standalone sculptures to integrated or collaborative designs, has been in the Pacific Northwest.

In a staff report, Simpson noted his design will mirror the landscape and “reflect and diffract the ambient light sources.”

“The sun’s daily passage creates a dynamically changing incidence of light. At night, through the use of efficient LED lighting, the pylon blades transform into an illuminated vector, a beacon to what is beyond.”

At Monday’s general purposes committee meeting, Mayor Malcolm Brodie questioned whether passersby will realize they’re looking at skate blades.

The project is not part of the first $1.72-million phase of public art for the oval approved by council, but is part of the overall plan.

More such art projects could be added to the oval and its precinct if other aspects of the project come under-budget or the city secures grants or sponsorships, said Townsend.

mr.x

February 24th, 2007, 02:04 AM

Construction begins at Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park curling venue marking the final venue ground breaking for the 2010 Winter Games: Construction of all 2010 Winter Games venues now underway, on schedule and on budget

February 23, 2007

Construction is now officially under way on Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park, the final competition venue of the 2010 Winter Games to break ground. The centrally located facility will host the men’s and women’s curling competitions for the Olympic Games, as well as the wheelchair curling tournament for the Paralympic Games. Post-Games, Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park will be converted into a permanent, multi-use community legacy facility.

Jack Poole, VANOC’s Chairman of the Board, was pleased to participate in the special ceremony marking the beginning of construction. “This is an historic day for our project,” said Mr. Poole. “This start to construction supports our commitment to providing Canadian athletes with early venue access for training that will help them achieve podium success in 2010. This venue will provide a wonderful community legacy for generations of Canadians to enjoy in the future.”

Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2008 and will seat 6,000 for the Olympic curling and Paralympic wheelchair curling competitions. The wheelchair curling seating capacity is one of the largest in Paralympic Winter Games history.

Post-Games, the curling venue will become a multi-purpose community recreation centre that will include an ice hockey rink, gymnasium, library and eight sheets of curling ice. Attached to, and being constructed with the curling venue, is a new aquatic centre with a 50 metre lap and leisure pool to be managed by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.

The multi-purpose centre has been designed using leading environmental and business practices and is targeted for LEED Gold certification. An example of the environmentally sustainable features planned include the transfer of waste heat from the refrigeration plant to heat other building spaces, the adjacent aquatics centre and the venue site.

The Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park is part of a $580 million investment for 2010 Winter Games venues that is funded equally by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia. The $38.0 million budget for the Olympic and Paralympic venue is provided by VANOC and its federal and provincial government partners. The City of Vancouver is contributing an additional $41.1 million of legacy project funding. The total cost of the Olympic and Paralympic venue and related projects, including the post-Games curling ice, aquatic centre and other legacy components is $79.1 million.

Also on hand for the ceremony were the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics; the Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia; Chief Leah George, Representing the Four Host First Nations Society; His Worship Sam Sullivan, Mayor of Vancouver, Ian Robertson, Chair of the Vancouver Park Board and members of the local curling community.

mr.x

February 24th, 2007, 08:01 PM

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2007/vch2007_049.jpg

Aaron W

February 25th, 2007, 10:33 PM

Vancouver to host '08 figure-skating championships

[article]

I was in Halifax for Canadians last month and it was great that the arena was directly downtown. Unfortunately the Vancouver Olympics will be holding the figure skating event miles from downtown at PNE rather than GM Place. It just sorta sucks that if I want to go to Canadians next year, I won't have the opportunity to stay downtown and just walk to the arena like I did in Halifax this year. I was actually in Vancouver for the 2001 World Figure Skating Championships and had an amazing time walking all around downtown where the Championships were held. Hockey is lucky to get the prime venue for the Olympics in 3 years and figure skating is very unlucky to get shoved off to a more suburban setting. SLC put hockey out in the suburbs & figure skating downtown. But I'm still excited for Vancouver to host the games. It's really going to be spectacular! :)

mr.x

February 26th, 2007, 02:50 AM

Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Curling Facility
http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/venue_display/hillcrest_park.jpg

spongeg

February 26th, 2007, 03:09 AM

Vancouver hoseted the world figure skating a few years ago

i remember it was insanely busy - the plaza of nations was packed a lot - they had big video screens and events planned

it was pretty cool

----------------------------

World will watch Vancouver, B.C. in 2010

By WILSON CHOW, for kgw.com

BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA – Three years from now, the world’s attention will focus on Vancouver, British Columbia for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The Vancouver-area is a booming region, home to more than two million people and before the Olympics arrive, it must transform itself. Construction cranes and large trenches are visible all over the city and surrounding suburbs.

Just across the Fraser River is Richmond, a bedroom community quickly becoming a major city. Richmond is home of the speed skating oval, a building designed for competition and looks because it sits under the flight path of Vancouver International Airport.

“A lot of them will see this as they fly in an out, so we wanted it to be a landmark building,” says Ted Townsend with the City of Richmond.

The entire north side of the speed skating oval comprises of windows, allowing for views of the river and mountains. The roof is constructed to represent the feathers of a heron, a bird that adorns Richmond’s logo.

Construction on the oval is just underway. The new building will host all the speed skating events for the 2010 Games. When complete in 2008, the building will be more than 300,000 square feet, large enough for four DC-10 jets to line up wingtip to wingtip. It will also be the largest new building constructed for the Winter Games.

Mountain Venues

Further north, Vancouver’s natural beauty will play host to a number of snow events. Freestyle skiing and snow boarding competitions will take place on Cypress Mountain, just a half-hour drive north of the city.

“As the athletes are competing there’s going to be a scene where you’ll see an athlete jumping and in the background you’ll see the city or the ocean or the coastal mountains,” says Kent Rideout with Cypress Mountain.

The relatively small mountain is working to add a half pipe just below the chairlifts for many of the snow boarding events. Cypress also plans to carve out the mogul runs on a hillside near the lodge.

The alpine, sliding and Nordic events will take place in Canada’s internationally acclaimed ski town, Whistler Village.

“There’s a lot of people feeling us hosting the games is fulfilling Whistler’s destiny,” says Maureen Douglas with Vancouver 2010, which is the official organizing body. Whistler made an unsuccessful bid to host the 1976 Winter Games.

In 2003, the International Olympic Committee selected Vancouver/Whistler to host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Douglas says Whistler’s peaks and vertical drop make it an ideal setting for the Games.

A new sliding center is under construction, which will host the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton events. The structure is being built on a mountainside visible from Whistler Village. As it nears completion, the excitement builds.

“You can feel it, and as we hit each milestone along the way, you can feel it building and building,” says Chris Brumwell with Vancouver 2010.

Major Construction

One project will take longer. Highway 99, or the “Sea to Sky Highway” is undergoing a massive expansion. The narrow, winding two-lane highway linking Vancouver and Whistler is being widened to accommodate the extra traffic expected during the Olympics.

Spectators can then shuttle between the mountains and city stadiums, home to hockey and figure skating, two of the more popular events.

Vancouver’s Olympic Spirit

In Vancouver, many residents marked February 12 through 28, 2010 on their calendars because those are the dates for the 2010 Winter Games. The event is expected to put the city on the world stage once again.

“Oh I’m pretty excited about it,” says Vancouver resident Christina Hartigan.

Many locals fondly remember Expo ’86, the last time Vancouver hosted such a big world event.

Ben Seghers also remember the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, the last time Canada hosted a Winter Games. “I’m really excited. I think it’ll be great for Vancouver.”

The Olympic sprit does not stop at the Canadian border. Officials say they have seen a strong interest in the Games from residents in Washington state and Oregon, especially since the 2010 Olympics will be the closest Winter Games to the Pacific Northwest.

“I think particularly people, Seattle and Portland, feel a little bit, it’s so close, it’s a bit of their games as well,” says Douglas.

Hot Tickets

The proximity of the Games will allow visitors from many Northwest states to watch the Olympic events in person. Nearly 1.8 million tickets will be available and officials expect demand to be high. “It’s an international event, and there will be ticket interest across the globe,” says Brumwell.

Tickets will not go on sale until 2008, but Vancouver 2010 officials say people interested can sign up for information now.

Housing Challenges

While Vancouver and Whistler are both ideal settings for the Winter Olympics, the hotel situation is not as picturesque. “It’s a little bit challenging because Whistler does only have so much space,” says Douglas.

To help with the hotel room crunch in Whistler some private homes are up for rent, but prices up to thousands of dollars a day are steeper than some of the ski runs. Douglas urges caution because “there’s a lot of crazy numbers that fly around in this stage of the games, three years out.”

Olympic officials realize spectators making the trek to Whistler may be overwhelmed, so Vancouver 2010 is working to help visitors find affordable places to stay.

“Most consumers are willing to pay a little bit more because it’s the games, but nobody wants to feel like they got ripped off,” says Douglas.

Organizers say getting value is part of the Olympic experience. It is a magical time when a city, a region is transformed. Three years from now athletes, along with a city, will look for a place in Olympic history.

Official 2010 Winter Games site

Tourism Vancouver

Tourism Whistler

Vancouver is almost ready to host the world.

BY THE NUMBERS

5,000: number of Olympic athletes and officials

80+: number of countries expected for the 2010 Winter Olympics

1.8 million: number of event tickets available

10,000: estimated number of media representatives

25,000: estimated number of Games volunteers

(Source: Vancouver 2010)

http://www.kgw.com/sports/stories/kgw_021207_news_sweeps_vancouver_oly.7902cfce.html

watch the video report:
NWCN report: 2010 Olympic preview
http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=120471&catId=131

NWCN photographer Adam Tischler takes us behind the scenes: What it took to photograph and edit this Olympic preview
http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=120602&catId=131

NWCN photographer Adam Tischler behind the scenes: What it took to photograph and edit this Olympic preview
http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=120469&catId=131

officedweller

February 27th, 2007, 03:31 AM

The Walter Francl website has renderings/model pics of the Trout Lake practice facility:

http://www.wfrancl.com/main.htm

Go to Portfolio - Recreational projects and scroll down.

mr.x

February 27th, 2007, 06:50 AM

^ thanks!

Renderings of the new Trout Lake facility:

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/5442/trout1zf4.jpg
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/2686/trout2ej8.jpg
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/8973/trout3zk9.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/1967/trout4dh4.jpg
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3870/trout5qr9.jpg
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3011/trout6cp5.jpg

mr.x

March 7th, 2007, 02:25 AM

Military to provide 'robust' support to combat potential terror attacks at 2010

By PETER O’NEIL, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, March 06, 2007

OTTAWA — The Canadian military will provide “robust and wide-ranging support” to the RCMP to combat potential terror attacks against the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, according to newly released internal documents.

An analysis by one of Canada’s most senior military officials says international terrorist organizations like al-Qaida will likely see the Olympics as an opportunity to target Canada and other countries.

“Canada was ranked the fifth most important ‘Christian’ target, behind the U.S., Britain, Spain and Australia by an al-Qaida document in 2004, and is the only nation amongst this group yet to be attacked,” wrote Lieutenant-General Marc Dumais, commander of Canada Command, in an October 26, 2006 document obtained by the Montreal newspaper La Presse.

“As a visible participant in the international campaign against terrorism, Canada could become a direct or indirect target for terrorist attack.”

The 2010 games, according to the analysis, “could offer opportunities for terrorists (international and domestic) and extremists to further their agendas at a high profile event either against Canada or another participating nation(s).”

The document also warns that the games could draw interest from organized crime groups, who could “take advantage of the large volumes of funds being disseminated to make illicit profits.”

Dumais stressed that the RCMP is taking the lead security role.

So military support for security “will need to be discrete to the general public,” though the Canadian Forces will be publicly visible at ceremonial functions.

A separate briefing note, also obtained by La Presse under the Access to Information Act, said the Canadian Forces (CF) will be working closely with the RCMP in security planning.

“Given heightened post 9/11 security measures for major international events of this nature, the CF can expect requests from the RCMP to provide robust and wide-ranging support.”

© Vancouver Sun 2007

we should have tanks and armed troops guarding the countdown clock and flag pole. :lol:

mr.x

March 7th, 2007, 02:28 AM

Land sale to bring more than $43 million

Nelson Bennett, Richmond News
Published: Tuesday, March 06, 2007

RICHMOND - The city will make "significantly" more from the sale of land adjacent to the Olympic oval than it needs to help cover the project's $178-million price tag, city officials say.

The city has struck a deal with an unidentified developer for about 7.5 hectares of city-owned waterfront property adjacent to the oval on River Road for more than $43 million, according to a report to the city's general purposes committee.

The report also projects the $178-million oval to come in slightly under budget.

"Given that the revenue to be generated from land sales was one of the key risk areas, it's a relief to know you will satisfy or exceed your goals," CEO George Duncan said.

Duncan said the deal includes the sale of five parcels of land and the leasing of two.

When Richmond was awarded the bid to build the Olympic skating oval in 2004, city officials promised they would not raise taxes to pay for it.

Making good on that promise means making at least $43 million on the sale of land immediately west of the oval site on River Road. Duncan's report confirms the pending sale will generate that much and more.

"Final proceeds of sale significantly exceeds required amount," the report states.

The oval is budgeted at $178 million, and so far is projected to be under budget by $2.5 million. That's based on 91 per cent of the contracts being awarded.

The project is still 18 months from its completion date.

Duncan confirmed the offer being made is from a single proponent, not a consortium of developers. He would not say who the developer is or how much the land is being sold for, only that is exceeds the $43 million the city needs.
© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

March 7th, 2007, 09:51 AM

NEW RENDERINGS OF RICHMOND OLYMPIC OVAL

Olympic mode
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_Main_Activity_Area_-_2010_Games16689.jpg

Post-Games mode
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_Main_Activity_Level_-_Post_Games16690.jpg

Exterior
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_Exterior_-_Southeast_view16687.jpg

Lobby exterior
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_Exterior_-_Southern_view16688.jpg

mr.x

March 10th, 2007, 04:59 AM

Site of the oval in Richmond - October 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_construction_panorama15146.jpg

December 2005
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated__2005-12-28__Fullsize12882.jpg

January 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated__2006-01-2013513.jpg

February 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/February_2006_Construction_Site13672.jpg

March 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/March_2006_Construction_Site13673.jpg

April 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated__2006-04-0614677.jpg

May 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated__2006-05-0814679.jpg

June 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated__2006-06-1114682.jpg

June 2006-2
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-07-0815113.jpg

July 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-07-1415114.jpg

July 2006-2
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-07-2115115.jpg

July 2006-3
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-07-2915116.jpg

August 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-08-0215642.jpg

August 2006-2
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-08-1015643.jpg

August 2006-3
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-08-2015645.jpg

September 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-08-3115646.jpg

September 2006-2
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-09-0815647.jpg

September 2006-3
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-09-2515648.jpg

mr.x

March 10th, 2007, 05:05 AM

Site of the oval - October 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_construction_panorama15146.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-10-2216706.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-10-2416707.jpg

November 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-11-0716708.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-11-2416710.jpg

December 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-12-1616711.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-12-2916712.jpg

January 2007
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated--2007-01-1116714.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated--2007-01-1716715.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated--2007-01-2416705.jpg

zonie

March 10th, 2007, 07:13 PM

That Trout Lake facility looks awesome - way beyond my expectations (hadn't seen it before)!

I noticed they've put up streetlight banners for the Olympics on Boundary near VANOC HQ. Also, a block down Boundary, the new Harley dealership has installed colour-changing lights in its windows that are highly visible throughout the eastern side of Burnaby, from Metrotown to the Heights.

mr.x

March 10th, 2007, 10:38 PM

Skyscrapercitizen

March 11th, 2007, 04:43 PM

The Olympic Oval looks nice! I hope to go there in 2010!

mr.x

March 15th, 2007, 09:48 PM

Vancouver 2010 reports strong quarterly results for Nov ’06 – Jan ’07: Completion of field of play for 13 of 15 sport disciplines expected by year end

March 15, 2007 | VANOC News Release

With the release of its quarterly results for the period of November 2006 through end of January 2007, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) provided a summary of major activity to date and a look ahead to the 2007 construction season. VANOC also reconfirmed its goal of ensuring that athletes and officials in thirteen of fifteen sport disciplines will have access to their venues for training and competition during the 2007/2008 season.

The latest quarterly financial report released today, which covers the period of November 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007, highlights the significant venue construction activity completed in 2006. It also confirms that the venue development budget remains at $580 million and that the venues will be completed to allow athletes ample time to train and compete on the venues before the Games.

“Our project is literally rising from the ground,” said John Furlong, VANOC chief executive officer. “With venues under construction, rapid growth on our team, and a sponsorship program that continues to attract some of Canada’s best corporate partners, we are feeling very confident entering the second half of our project. The approval of our business plan and budget by our Board of Directors this week is a sound endorsement and we now look forward to the review and approval by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia and its subsequent release to the public.”

Venues for thirteen of fifteen sport disciplines will be ready for training and competition by the end of this year, including:

- Whistler Sliding Centre (bobsleigh, luge, skeleton)
- Whistler Nordic competition venue (biathlon, ski jump and cross-country skiing, Nordic combined)
- Whistler Alpine venue (alpine skiing)
- Cypress Mountain (snowboard and freestyle skiing)
- General Motors Place (ice hockey)
- Hastings Park (figure skating and short track speed skating)

As anticipated and planned, VANOC has started to allocate funds within the venue development central contingency budget. The overall venue development budget remains unchanged at $580 million including contingency. The report notes $11.5 million from the original $66.8 million venue development contingency has been allocated to certain venues and the current contingency of $55.3 million is appropriate for the remaining commitments and risks.

“We are more than half way through our venue development program and have allocated less of the venue construction contingency than forecast,” said Dan Doyle, VANOC executive vice president, construction. “We are on schedule, on budget and on target to meet our goals of ensuring early completion, reducing complexity, and providing access to athletes while maximizing our testing opportunities.”

The quarterly report, available at vancouver2010.com, includes unaudited interim financial statements for the three months ended January 31, 2007.

VANOC’s revenue (deferred operating revenue) from marketing and sponsorship, the International Olympic Committee and other sources for the quarter ending January 31, 2007 was $35.2 million while expenses (deferred operating expenditures) were $28.4 million. Overall, operating revenue since VANOC was formed in 2003 totals $121.8 million while operating expenses total $121.2 million. In accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, due to the extended business cycle of preparing for the Games, all revenues and expenses are deferred until the commencement of the Games.

VANOC’s venue development expenditures for the quarter were $59.5 million and now total $242.0 million since venue construction started.

VANOC’s next quarterly report, covering the three months ending April 30, 2007 will be available in June 2007.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

mr.x

March 28th, 2007, 02:46 AM

Richmond Announces Sale of Oval Riverfront Lands

26 March 2007

The City of Richmond announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell and lease the 18.6-acre Oval Riverfront Lands to ASPAC Developments Ltd. for a total of $141 million.

The Oval Riverfront lands will become the site of a world class urban waterfront development surrounding the Richmond Oval, home of long track speed skating for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The Oval development will include 12 to 14 mid-rise residential towers. It will be the largest master planned neighbourhood in Richmond and will include commercial residential, recreational and open park space along the banks of the Fraser River’s Middle Arm.

“This is a momentous day for the City of Richmond,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “This agreement will provide untold benefits for countless generations of Richmond residents as it will allow us to reinvest in our community’s future. We look forward to working with ASPAC to create a highly livable new neighbourhood. It will be a showcase for outstanding and sustainable design and become a destination of choice for visitors from around the world.”

Established in 1993, ASPAC is best known as the developer of Coal Harbour, transforming a former industrial site into an internationally-recognized waterfront neighbourhood popular with both residents and visitors.

“Working with Richmond, we will create a world class legacy that is worthy of this unique riverfront site,” said Raymond Li, Senior Vice President of ASPAC. “The Oval Riverfront Lands will be a high-quality, sustainable, residential neighbourhood, with diverse commercial amenities, extensive open space, and enhanced public access to the area’s most prominent assets, the Fraser River and the recreational facilities created by the Richmond Oval.”

The City required $43 million from the Oval lands agreement proceeds to support the completion of the Richmond Oval project. This agreement exceeds that requirement and fulfils Council’s commitment that no borrowing or property tax increase would be used to fund the construction of the Oval.

Council is considering options for the investment of the remaining proceeds from the agreement. It is considering a proposal that the bulk of the funds be invested in a series of Community Legacy Funds, which will preserve the principal and use investment proceeds to fund a variety of initiatives.

“The Oval Riverfront Lands are the last remaining portion of the Brighouse Estates, which was purchased by the City more than 40 years ago,” noted Mayor Brodie. “That wise investment provided for many of the civic amenities we enjoy today and helped guide the development of our City Centre. The legacy of the Brighouse Estates gave us the opportunity we have today and we need to make a new investment in our community that will also pay dividends for future generations.”

ASPAC will purchase five of seven parcels contained within the 18.6 acres and sign a 60-year lease on the remaining two parcels. Four of the parcels at the west end of the site are designated for high density residential, while the remaining three, adjoining the Richmond Oval, are designated for commercial or mixed use development.

ASPAC was selected through a Request For Proposal process initiated in the spring of 2006. In addition to its financial commitment, ASPAC’s proposal met or exceeded the RFP requirements by:

* Ensuring no net loss of public open space and extending the waterfront through “green fingers” from the dyke to the new River Road
* Increasing the publicly accessible open space within the privately-owned development area
* Improving and maximizing river views within and through the site
* Creating additional pedestrian friendly commercial activities along the entire west side of the Oval Lands
* Committing to achieve LEED Silver standard for environmentally sustainable building design

ASPAC will begin work immediately on detailed site planning. ASPAC’s design team will be led by acclaimed architect James Cheng. An initial parcel at the northeast corner is expected to be developed by 2009. While marketing and some construction is expected to be launched over the next two years, most site development will occur after 2010.

The City has retained a half acre site adjoining the Oval Riverfront Lands, which has been designated for a future affordable housing development.

mr.x

March 28th, 2007, 08:16 AM

A little off-topic but nevertheless interesting:

http://images.beijing-2008.org/08/78/Img214027808.jpg
Back

http://images.beijing-2008.org/11/78/Img214027811.jpg
Front

http://images.beijing-2008.org/33/78/Img214027833.jpg
http://images.beijing-2008.org/31/78/Img214027831.jpg

Medal Design Video (WMV) (http://mms//stream1.beijing-2008.org/CN/INFO/500d_jpxcp_bjjp.wmv)

Today (500 days to the opening) the design of the Beijing Olympic Medals launch at the Capital National Museum.

The design incoperated with elements of the traditional Chinese jade. In the Chinese culture jade plays an important role. It brings kindness, happiness, peace and health to the people.

More info:
http://en.beijing2008.cn/55/69/olympicmedal.shtml

And what will VANOC make? A pile of rocks.

zonie

March 28th, 2007, 08:51 AM

I hope ours use some coloured metal like those coloured coins from the Mint. Yes!

Nutterbug

March 30th, 2007, 10:45 AM

It seems VANOC has gained ownership of the English language and numerical digits.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=9ed1e9e5-4e53-413f-b038-e507b502ba9c

The law says don't try to make money using these 'Olympic' words

Jeff Lee
Vancouver Sun

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Doug Bell needs permission from University of Victoria to use his company's "Viking" name on industrial gear.
CREDIT: Staff Photo
Doug Bell needs permission from University of Victoria to use his company's "Viking" name on industrial gear.

Friend 2010 Sea To Sky 2000 Top '10 Road to Vancouver Road to Whistler Road to Beijing See You in Beijing See You in Vancouver See You in Whistler We're Next Let the Dreams Begin Driven by Dreams Game Plan Driven by Nature Celebrate the Impossible 2002 '02 Vancouver '10 Vancouver 2-10 bid booster gold medal Go for Gold Host Country It's our time to shine '00

- - -

Warning: The following piece of bad prose may be breaking a federal law, for which I can get into a passel of trouble. Especially if I put it on a T-shirt and try to sell it for $5.

"My friend and I took a trip on the road to Whistler. I stopped at the Sea To Sky Cafe. There was a lineup. "We're next," I said to the pushy man behind me. I ordered the Top 2010 burger. I gave the overworked waiter a gold medal for patience. Then, driven by nature, I visited the bathroom."

That improbable bit of writing could earn me an injunction, a lawsuit ordering me to forfeit the proceeds of any sales, and the destruction of all offending property -- and not because it really is the worst thing I've written.

It's because this is a commercial used of words that are "official marks" of the Vancouver Organizing Committee, its predecessor bid corporation, the Canadian Olympic Committee and its predecessor Canadian Olympic Association.

And the words Vancouver Winter Olympic Games are not even included.

The offending words and phrases: Top, friend, Sea To Sky, we're next, road to Whistler, driven by nature and gold medal.

All of these, and hundreds more, including whole years, are claimed under the Trade-marks Act as official marks by Vanoc and the other three Olympic groups, over which Vanoc ultimately has trademark jurisdiction because it is the host of the 2010 Winter Games. Even the innocuous-looking '10 is an official mark of the Olympics.

Vanoc says it has no intention of ever stopping people from using those words on their own. And Bill Cooper, director of commercial rights management, said the Olympic organizers aren't trying trying to stifle debate.

Nor does he think Vanoc would come after me, or anyone else, for the purple prose above. That's because it doesn't create a direct and identifiable commercial association with the Olympics.

What Vanoc is trying to do is stop the deliberate association of words that can lead to a commercial ambush, such as the person who wants to sell T-shirts with the words "On the Road to Vancouver in 2010".

"It is through the use of multiple expressions or marks that typically an ambush marketer, somebody who is trying to build an unauthorized association with a property, will build that association," he said.

"The logic from the get-go was that we needed to have an inventory of pieces that when blended, might contribute to that unauthorized association."

But if Vanoc chose to go after people using any of those words in isolation, it has the incredible power of the Trade-marks Act behind it. That's because as a "public authority" Vanoc has claimed words under a special section that gives blanket protection to the official marks of such agencies as the RCMP, the Red Cross, the United Nations, and universities, municipal, provincial and federal governments.

Section 9 of the act allows a deemed authority to claim any emblem, word or other design it uses as an official mark. And it supersedes the rules that ordinary businesses face in order to register a conventional trademark.

Cooper said if Vanoc didn't claim the marks it has, ambush marketers could siphon revenues that are meant to help financially support the Games.

Last year, in the run-up to the 2006 Turin Winter Games, Vanoc had to deal with more than 300 cases of businesses wanting to use words that would create that feared commercial association.

"Pre-Torino, there were some prominent cases where what was being done wasn't the use of something like a set of rings or a torch, it was referencing those Games and developing promotions using a blend of expressions that built an association," he said.

But the power of Section 9 is such that it impedes even the most innocent use of a registered trademark.

Just ask Doug Bell, chief executive of Alliance Mercantile, a small Burnaby-based clothing manufacturer and importer. Four years ago, shortly before Vancouver won the Olympic bid, the company decided to create a new line of work wear called "Sea to Sky Gear."

Bell says the company wasn't deliberately trying to make an association with the Olympics, but he admits the fact Vancouver had won the Games was in the minds of his executives.

"I guess about six months into it, after Vancouver won the Olympics, I was given a phone call from their legal department that they now have government right, which is an all-encompassing right to . . . abrogate everyone's rights on any brand that is related to the Olympics, and Sea to Sky was one of them. So they told us to cease and desist, and we said okay, we'll abandon it. It is a battle you can't win."

But Bell has an even better example of the power of Section 9 of the act. Since 1984 his company has owned the trademark "Viking," a term that was first registered in 1922. But every time he wants to put out a new brand of clothing with that trademark, he has to ask the University of Victoria for permission.

Why? Because UVic has claimed "Vikings" as an official mark and uses it as the nickname for the university's sports teams.

"Every time I want to add a wear to my Viking trademark I have to get permission from them. That's how powerful that is. Because they will contest any addition to a Viking brand."

In using Section 9, Vanoc is following a well-trodden path set by the Canadian Olympic Association, which has claimed 339 official marks and aggressively defended them in court. Its successor, the COC, has a mere 41 marks. The Vancouver bid corporation -- which was subsumed by Vanoc -- has at least 33. Vanoc itself has 143. Many of these marks include combinations of words and designs that help define their right to the intellectual property.

But many are just simply combinations of words.

And that should not be a good enough reason to claim them as official marks, according to several trademark specialists and the Canadian Intellectual Property Institute.

Dan Bereskin, a Toronto trademarks lawyer, has argued strongly that the COC and Olympic organizers are misusing the original intent of the official marks section of the act.

"The legislation that was enacted was supposed to benefit real public authorities that might have symbols or marks that were unique to them, and the imitation of which would normally be considered to be improper," he said. "I don't think they had in mind that so-called public authorities would get involved in merchandising activities."

Bereskin says courts in Alberta during the run-up to the Calgary Winter Games ruled the organizing committee had the right to claim "Calgary '88" because it could be associated with the Olympics. But the committee couldn't claim "winter" because it is a season, or "1988" because it is a year.

That hasn't stopped Vanoc or the COC from claiming whole years. And they've been successful in warning off potential transgressors, even if the potential commercial association isn't that clear.

In 2003, Vancouver lawyer Roger Kuypers represented a paint company, General Paints, which wanted to register the term "HP2010" as a "decorative and protective waterborne coating." It ran into the full force of Vanoc's legal department.

Kuypers said the normal vetting and opposition process that is available to companies that fear a trademark infringement does not apply under Section 9.

"There is no examination and there is no opposition period, so it is a very powerful type of mark. A lot of people in the profession believe it is inappropriately strong. There is no requirement to specify wares or services," he said.

Cooper says Vanoc has no desire to go after people who aren't making an Olympic association. He says his four-person office, which also uses third-party groups to help police its marks, looks for the use of a more than one official mark when determining if someone is trying to take advantage of its intellectual property.

"We owe it to Canadian athletes and the Canadian public to police the brand, and we take that very seriously. But at the same time we owe it to the same Canadian public and athletes to police it in a way that makes sense," he said.

Michael Erdle, secretary of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada, says his organization represents proponents and opponents of Section 9.

"I think there is a feeling among members of the profession and the institute that the section as it is used today has gone well beyond what it was originally intended to do," he said. "It was originally intended to give special protection for official marks, to protect things like government agencies and official agencies, and not to give protection to those who are engaged in commercial activities."

Erdle said the Olympic rights-holders aren't doing anything that they don't have the right to do, but they also aggressively defend it.

"They have been involved in a lot of litigation because there is a lot of money at stake with the Olympics. The Olympics generate huge amounts of sponsorship monies and the sponsors want to know that they are guaranteed exclusive use of those marks and symbols and phrases."

But he said many in the institute believe commercial use of marks should not be protected under Section 9.

"The designation of the agency or its symbol should have some protection but all of the other things that they want to do to sell T-shirts and sponsorships and engage in commercial activities, even though it is for a very good purpose and worthwhile, should be treated as any other trademark."

There is one official mark that the Olympic organizers tried unsuccessfully to claim. It was "Lucky Loonie," a play on that centre-ice dollar at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.

But the Ontario Lottery Corp. had already claimed that trademark. As an official mark.

jefflee@png.canwest.com

THESE WORDS CAN'T BE USED

Here are SOME of the words that are claimed as official marks by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Games, its predecessor Vancouver Bid Corp., the Canadian Olympic Committee and its predecessor Canadian Olympic Association. All are still in force. Vanoc has ownership of these official marks as the rights-holder for the 2010 Winter Games. The COC also has some of these words under other marketing rights they haven't given up to Vanoc but share in common.

See You in Vancouver

See You in Whistler

See You in Beijing

Let the Dreams Begin

Friend

Sea To Sky

Top

2010

'10

We're Next

Road to Beijing

Driven by Nature

Road to Vancouver

Road to Whistler

Driven by Dreams

Celebrate the Impossible

Vancouver '10

Vancouver 2-10

Vancouver 2'10

Gold Medal

Game Plan

2000

2002

'00

'02

Host Country

Bid Booster

Bid Champion

Beijing and Beyond

I'm Backing the Bid

It's Our Time To Shine

For The Fire Within

- - -

You can now listen to every Vancouver Sun story on our new digital edition.

Free to full-week print subscribers or sign up for a 7-day free trial.

www.vancouversun.com/digital.
© The Vancouver Sun 2007

I'd say those trademark fascists have gone too far. They've somehow screwed the legal system and found a way to get the sole rights to some common phrases, words and even numbers.

Considering the amount of money the public has paid to support the games, any reference to it should be public domain. The only rights they should be entitled to is the bloody logo and the officiality claim.

mr.x

March 31st, 2007, 07:15 AM

Nutterbug

March 31st, 2007, 02:59 PM

^ The Olympic Games, even Vancouver 2010, are the property of the International Olympic Committee. They also require the host nation and host city to enforce Olympic trademark laws, such as what has been enforced.

They're hoarding, wouldn't you say?

If it comes with the stipulation that all those phrases (which are quite broad in meaning) and numbers (since when can anyone claim the rights to those) cannot be used by the public, then they can go take a hike.

Freedom of speech > Olympic games

mr.x

April 1st, 2007, 12:06 AM

They're hoarding, wouldn't you say?

If it comes with the stipulation that all those phrases (which are quite broad in meaning) and numbers (since when can anyone claim the rights to those) cannot be used by the public, then they can go take a hike.

Freedom of speech > Olympic games

i actually do agree with you, they're almost going a bit too far now. We don't see the same extremes with FIFA or others.

EastVanMark

April 2nd, 2007, 05:57 AM

The Trout Lake facility is awesome! Another jewel of a legacy to go with the equally awesome Hillcrest Curling facility by Queen Elizabeth Park. Can't wait to see Killarney's proposed new ice rink. Great news for East Vancouver!

Congratulations to the city of Richmond for finding more streams of revenue to help pay for speed skating oval costs. Shows what can be done when a municipality has vision and rolls it sleeves up to work its way past any obstacles when they arrive.

Then there's Burnaby; left with yoke on their nimby faces, who were unwilling to make the commitments needed to bring this much needed facility to their university that STILL lacks a proper winter sports training centre. (that should never happen in Canada).

Congrats to East Van and Richmond.

WinnipegPatriot

April 3rd, 2007, 06:33 PM

Does anyone know what seedy yet full-of-potential hotels have been closed? East Hastings, with its numerous heritage buildings, has so much potential. It would be great to see the area cleaned up.

Poor kicked out of their homes for 2010 Games and UN must monitor: NDP MLA

VANCOUVER (CP) - The city's desperately poor are getting kicked out of their homes in the lead-up to the 2010 Winter Olympics and the United Nations needs to monitor the situation because local governments aren't, says an Opposition politician.

NDP MLA Jenny Kwan has sent a letter to Louise Arbour, the UN's high commissioner for human rights, asking her office to act as watchdog. Kwan argues in her letter that the closure of single room occupancy hotels and the loss of hundreds of rooms is an international human rights issue.

The right to basic housing is mentioned in international human rights covenants, she wrote.

"I am very concerned that the prospect of revitalization triggered by hosting the Olympics is causing property values to skyrocket which, in turn, is displacing some of the most vulnerable people in our society," Kwan wrote in her letter to Arbour.

The city argues they are actively working on an effort to ensure many of Kwan's concerns are met.

An international expert on the Olympics and housing says it's not a stretch for some international oversight body to get involved in the issue, though he questions whether the United Nations is the right one.

Single room occupancy hotels are the last housing resort for many of Vancouver's poor. The often-squalid accommodations include a sink and sometimes a hot plate for cooking. Washroom facilities are shared.

Housing activists have demanded the city put a moratorium on the closures of such hotels.

Kwan said the poverty-stricken Downtown Eastside has lost over 700 units of low-income housing since the Games were awarded to the city.

The city and provincial governments as well as the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games have signed an agreement making a commitment, among other things: to "protect rental-housing stock,. . .ensure people are not made homeless. . . (and) ensure residents are not involuntarily displaced, evicted or face unreasonable increases in rent due to the Winter Games."

But Kwan argued they aren't living up to their agreement and the UN must step in.

"The 2010 Winter Olympics were supposed to be sustainable and not be implicated in the displacement of long-term residents," she said.

"Unfortunately, the worst fears are coming true due to the inaction of government and inadequate public policy planning."

However, city planner Celine Mauboules said Vancouver and other governments are actively looking at ways to ensure people aren't left on the street.

She said the city is considering 25 recommendations made last month in a report on the housing issue by a roundtable of experts including representatives from housing groups, the homebuilders association and the apartment owners association.

The recommendations include building more low-income housing and measures that would make it much more difficult to sell or demolish a single room occupancy hotel.

"We do monitor the SROs," she said.

Kwan's suggestion that the UN monitor the situation is "interesting," she said, declining to elaborate.

Mauboules also said the city does a survey of housing in the downtown core that looks at changes in the low-income housing stock and the latest issue is out in the spring.

A spokesman with the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee declined to comment on Kwan's letter.

Rich Coleman, provincial minister responsible for housing, was unavailable for comment, as was Colin Hansen, the minister responsible for the Olympics.

Kris Olds is a geography professor at the University of Wisconsin who has studied the impact of the Olympic Games on cities. He's also a former Vancouver city planner.

His studies found about 740 people were displaced from two apartment complexes in Calgary leading up to the 1988 Winter Games.

He also found there were up to 850 people evicted from their homes during Expo 86 in Vancouver and between 1984 - when the city was granted Expo - and 1986, 600 low-income housing units were permanently lost.

He said monitoring such situations should be done by several organizations, "not just some UN agency which is overstretched inevitably.

"It's probably useful for the UN to know what's going on, but the more appropriate organizations are the local governments."

mr.x

April 6th, 2007, 01:42 AM

The Olympic and Paralympic Spirit Flies High With Air Canada
April 5, 2007
Official Airline of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
- Official Transportation Provider for the Canadian Olympic Teams to Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012
To Donate Over $600,000 to Canadian Paralympic Committee
Air Canada and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced today the appointment of Air Canada as the Official Airline of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The six-year partnership includes sponsorship rights and transportation for the Canadian Olympic teams participating at the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

“All of us at Air Canada are honoured to support the Olympic and Paralympic spirit,” said Montie Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our sponsorship also underlines Air Canada’s continuing support of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees. We are looking forward to Vancouver’s success as the host city of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and are committed to playing a key role in bringing athletes, families, friends and supporters from around the world to the Games.”

Vancouver is a major hub for Air Canada’s domestic, U.S. transborder and international networks and is the airline’s main North American gateway to and from Asia. Air Canada has developed its Vancouver hub to offer Canadians access to the world and international visitors easy access to Canada’s Olympic Games host city for 2010.

“With Air Canada onboard, together we will stage Canada’s Games in 2010,” said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer. “Throughout their proud seventy year heritage, Air Canada has been connecting Canadians from coast to coast and travellers to and from around the world to Canada. Through this exciting partnership, they will connect Canadians and the world to the Games and carry the Vancouver 2010 message broadly around the globe. As Canada’s airline, it is only fitting that Air Canada will carry our Canadian teams – and their dreams for podium success - to the next three Games in 2008, 2010 and 2012.”

"Be it in sport or business, one rises to the top through hard work, perseverance and a dedication to excellence everyday and that's why this partnership with Air Canada is such a good fit" said Jennifer Heil, Olympic Gold Medalist (freestyle). "Whether delivering athletes in seamless, worry-free travel or welcoming visitors to this country, we'll all be heading to the games knowing we have Air Canada's commitment to excellence right there with us".

In addition, Air Canada's Olympic commitment will include support to Canadian Paralympic athletes through an annual on-line fundraising initiative at aircanada.com. Air Canada has pledged to give a total of over $600,000 over the next six years to the Canadian Paralympic Committee. The airline will be donating $1 from every on-line booking made through its website during a designated annual campaign period. In 2007, the campaign will be held during the week of April 30, 2007.

“On behalf of all Canadian Paralympic athletes, I would like to thank Air Canada for this very generous support,” said Benoit Huot, Paralympic Gold Medalist (Swimming). “When we know that there are iconic Canadian companies like Air Canada who are putting their financial support behind our team and the Paralympic Movement in Canada, it is incredibly inspirational as we prepare for Beijing, Vancouver and then for London.”

About Air Canada
Air Canada has been a proud supporter of the successful bids and organizing committees for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Summer Games, the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games, the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games and the 1999 Winnipeg Pan Am Games. Air Canada also sponsored bids for the 2002 Quebec City Olympic Winter Games and the 2008 Toronto Olympic Summer Games.

Montreal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 170 destinations on five continents. Canada’s flag carrier is the 14th largest commercial airline in the world and serves 34 million customers annually with a fleet consisting of 335 aircraft. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, providing the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network.

mr.x

April 8th, 2007, 10:35 AM

Gearing up for an Olympic show
2010 Vancouver Games. Stakes higher than ever with new broadcaster in place
Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, April 07, 2007

Televising the 2010 Olympics will be a billion-dollar job for the Olympic movement. And already, the vanguard to an army of 2,200 camera operators, technicians and producers has landed in Vancouver to draw up its plans to deliver competition footage that the Games' official broadcasters will beam to a global audience of more than three billion.

"It is a mammoth undertaking just because it's such a short period of time to get it all prepared and up and running," said Nancy Lee, chief operating officer of the newly anointed Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) Vancouver, the International Olympic Committee-owned entity charged with the job.

OBS is separate from the official broadcasters -- such as CTV/TSN in Canada and NBC in the United States -- and the thousands of technical and on-air staff they will bring to Vancouver to prepare coverage for their home audiences.

But OBS completes a critical task for them, generating images with a high degree of "wow" factor: The shots from track-mounted cameras that put viewers right next to racing speed skaters, aerial cameras to capture aerial ski jumpers mid-flight and inside-the-net cameras to catch every goal in hockey.

As Richard Pound, a long-time International Olympic Committee member from Canada and director of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (Vanoc) puts it, OBS's job is to make sure "all those bells and whistles are going to be there so that broadcasters, who ... pay a pretty penny for all this, can be assured their own broadcasts will be high-quality."

Pound added that broadcasters "pay a ton of money" for the rights to broadcast the games (NBC alone will pay $820 million US to cover the 2010 Olympics, and CTV/TSN will pony up $90 million US), and the International Olympic Committee wants to make sure the Olympic movement earns it.

Television rights, according to figures released by the IOC, will generate more than $1 billion US from the 2010 Olympics alone, and some $3.8 billion US in total between Vancouver and the 2012 London Games.

Lee, who headed up CBC Sports as her last job, said it will take the balance of the less-than three years remaining before the 2010 Games to draw up OBS's plan of attack.

That will involve mapping out, with Vanoc, all 15 competition venues in Vancouver and Whistler, plotting all the camera positions, where cables will run and where the compounds for broadcast-production trucks will be.

OBS also has to liaise with the official broadcasters (it is expecting about 100) to sort out where each one will get to place studio, commentary and interview spaces.

Lee added that OBS Vancouver has already been meeting with rights-holding broadcasters, having toured a group through some of the completed venues this past February.

Lee's group is growing month by month as it hires new staff. Eventually, it will be a team of about 120, which will also be responsible for the logistics of bringing 2,000 technicians and their equipment to Vancouver, as well as feeding, housing and transporting them once they are here.

The technicians, Lee explained, are not permanent OBS employees. Instead, OBS hires crews on contract, mostly from broadcast companies that have experience televising international sports (at Turin in 2006, for example, CBC crews were hired to cover hockey and curling) often with seasoned Olympic veterans behind the camera lenses.

"It's very much an international effort, and always has been," Lee said.

"What we try to do is ensure that [event coverage] is neutral," she added. "You should never know the country from which the [OBS] crew is from [just from watching the event]."

THE OBS VENTURE

The IOC and organizing committees for each Olympic Games have long been responsible for creating a "host broadcaster" to fulfil the task of producing event coverage.

However, Pound said that while the physical task fell mostly on the organizing committees, the brunt of the responsibility fell on the IOC. And with the Olympics' television stakes rising to ever-precipitous levels, the IOC decided to take the core broadcasting job entirely in-house.

"If things go wrong, [official broadcasters] don't blame the Chinese or Korean [organizing committees], they blame the IOC," Pound added. "So if we're going to have this can tied to our tail, [the IOC] should be responsible [for producing the competition footage]."

The IOC, under president Jaques Rogge, created OBS in 2003 as part of Rogge's campaign to turn the entity into a more service-oriented organization that controls key functions that are crucial to the ongoing success of the Games, according to the IOC's 2001-2004 Final Report.

Headquartered in Madrid, OBS is headed by long-time Olympic broadcast executive Manolo Romero. Vancouver will be its first test.

Pound said creating OBS involved breaking some of the IOC's own administrative inertia. Some members wondered why the IOC would take over broadcasting responsibilities when they hadn't had problems before.

And he added there was some diplomacy involved in dealing with organizing committees, which had to be assured that the IOC's assumption of broadcasting control wasn't a vote of non-confidence in their abilities.

"[OBS] is a way, we hope, of delivering a superior product at a lower cost than [organizing committees] could alone," Pound said.

GROWING STAKES

The IOC's charter spells out that its responsibility is to make the Games accessible to the largest number of people it can, but televising the Olympics has become extremely lucrative.

As a result, the television stakes for the IOC have become enormous.

Pound recalled handling the negotiations for the television-broadcasting agreements at the 1976 Olympics, where broadcasters paid a grand total of $35 million US.

"I pretended it was in lira, not dollars," he joked.

By the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, television rights fetched $935 million US. And between Vancouver's 2010 and London 2012 Games, broadcasters will pay $3.8 billion US for exclusive rights to carry the Games.

"Broadcasters pay that because they get value," Pound added. "You go and negotiate [the price for television rights], and it's not good business for us to have broadcasters losing money."

Between 2001 and 2004, television revenue contributed 53 per cent of the IOC's ongoing revenue, which included the substantial contributions the IOC gives to each Games' organizing committee.

The IOC used to share television revenues with organizing committees on a specific formula. Out of the revenue for one set of Winter and Summer Games (the IOC negotiates multiple-games rights) 49 per cent would go to the organizing committees.

The larger Summer Games organization would get two-thirds of the total, the Winter organization one-third.

However, taking over the broadcasting responsibility changes that formula, which did create some friction with the Vancouver and London organizing committees.

Last fall, Vanoc CEO John Furlong acknowledged that he had approached the IOC about sharing a larger portion of its record television rights and London 2012 CEO Sir Craig Reedie said his group wasn't happy with the notion of capping the IOC funding.

However, by March, Vanoc had completed its business plan, which Furlong said included a final, negotiated contribution from the IOC.

Pound added that organizing committees "can haggle, especially in the early days. But I think when all is said and done, both sides end up satisfied with whatever number they pick."

"To have [broadcasting] taken on by someone else has got to be a real load off [the organizing committee's] back," Pound said.

VANOC AND OBS VANCOUVER

Graeme White, director of broadcasting integration for Vanoc, said the organizing committee is already working with OBS Vancouver on a daily basis under an official agreement that spells out which organization is responsible for which task involved with fitting broadcasters into the venues.

White added that there are planning meetings and site visits to develop layout plans and overlays because "venues have to work from a broadcasting perspective in addition to a pure sporting perspective."

"We're very confident OBS has the experience and ability to bring the images to the world, and images that are compelling, inspirational, entertaining: All the things people would expect from the Olympic Games.

"So we're very happy to have them on board for 2010," White said.

depenner@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

April 12th, 2007, 03:18 AM

Insurance Corporation of British Columbia joins drive towards 2010: 2010 Winter Games Licence Plates Unveiled

April 11, 2007 | VANOC News Release

Premier Gordon Campbell, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) announced today a new Official Supporter partnership that will offer BC residents the opportunity to directly support the Games with one-of-a-kind 2010 Winter Games Licence Plates available for BC motorists to purchase starting next week.

”British Columbians are excited and proud to be hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and these licence plates are one more way for all of us to show that pride,” Campbell said. “I want to thank ICBC and VANOC for providing this innovative opportunity for British Columbians to get involved in supporting the 2010 Winter Games as we countdown the 1,038 days until the Opening Ceremony.”

The six-year partnership designates ICBC as an Official Supporter in the “motor vehicle insurance” category of the 2010 Winter Games, including sponsorship rights for the Canadian teams participating at the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games. In addition to the introduction of the 2010 Winter Games licence plates, ICBC will also be the official supplier of motor vehicle insurance for VANOC’s fleet of approximately 4,500 General Motors passenger vehicles.

“ICBC is extremely pleased to support the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and help make these the most successful Winter Games ever,” said ICBC President and CEO, Paul Taylor. “ICBC’s sponsorship provides British Columbians with a number of opportunities to directly support the 2010 Winter Games and promote BC.”

The licence plates allow motorists to showcase both the 2010 Winter Games and their province as they travel inside and outside British Columbia. They will be available for an initial fee of $35 starting the week of Monday, April 16 through Autoplan Insurance brokers across the province with the net proceeds going towards the successful staging of the 2010 Winter Games and as a result, the future success of Canadian athletes.

“With the addition of ICBC to our family, we’re driving the Games onto every highway and into every driveway with a top BC company synonymous with safety and community building,” said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer. “Our goal is for all BC residents and Canadians to feel ownership of the Games and ICBC’s reach to all British Columbians will offer everyone the chance to demonstrate their pride and excitement. Following the leadership of ICBC, we’ll now look to develop additional licence plate programs in provinces and territories across Canada.”

ICBC’s contribution to VANOC will include net proceeds from the sale of 2010 Winter Games licence plates and the provision of auto insurance services. Costs for the insurance services will be funded by ICBC’s Optional Insurance business, which competes with other auto insurers in the BC marketplace. ICBC is the largest provider of Optional auto insurance in BC with $ 1.4 billion in net premiums written and 2.2 million customers.

The 2010 Winter Games joins five recent Games that have introduced licence plate programs, including Montreal 1976 and Calgary 1988. The BC licence plates will feature the 2010 Winter Games emblem, the province’s slogan, “The Best Place on Earth” and will be valid through 2012. The mountain scene on the 2010 Winter Games plate is that of Mount Garibaldi in Garibaldi Park, located 13 km north of Squamish, 97 km north of Vancouver along Hwy 99 on the road to Whistler. The chosen plate design captures the spirit of the Games while showcasing one of the most scenic and breathtaking areas between Vancouver and Whistler. The image was also used in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Bid proposal.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

VANOC's marketing program is focused on securing mutually rewarding partnerships with shared values to generate sufficient revenue to host successful Winter Games in 2010 and to leave a financial legacy for sport. VANOC’s Worldwide TOP Partners include Coca-Cola, Atos Origin, GE, McDonald’s, Omega and Visa. VANOC's National Partners are Bell Canada, Hbc, RBC Financial Group, GM Canada, Petro-Canada, and RONA.

VANOC’s Official Supporters include Air Canada, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Canadian Pacific, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, Jet Set Sports, the Royal Canadian Mint, Ricoh Canada Inc. and Teck Cominco Limited. VANOC’s Official Suppliers are Birks, Dow Canada, EPCOR, Haworth Canada, Vincor Canada and Workopolis.

BACKGROUNDER: 2010 Winter Games licence plates

- 2010 Winter Games plates will be available at any Autoplan broker or government agent starting the week of April 16
- 2010 Winter Games plates are available in B.C. for most vehicles (owned or leased) including:
o private passenger vehicles
o motor homes
o commercial trucks
o motorcycles
o utility trailers
o commercial trailers
o farm trucks
- 2010 Winter Games plates have an initial fee of $35 and an annual renewal fee of $25. Net proceeds from the 2010 Winter Games plate program go directly to supporting the Games
- Passenger vehicles - Autoplan brokers will keep 2010 Winter Games plates in stock for private passenger vehicles
- Special orders - For some vehicles, such as utility trailers and farm trucks, 2010 Winter Games plates may need to be specially ordered. Special orders will take approximately seven business days
- 2010 Winter Games plates can be obtained for each eligible vehicle that a person owns or leases
- Based on the limited duration of the program, anticipated demand, additional costs and administration, personalized slogans are not available for 2010 Winter Games plates
- Current licence plates must be returned to your Autoplan broker when customers switch to 2010 Winter Games licence plates
- 2010 Winter Games plates will be on sale until December 31, 2010

mr.x

April 14th, 2007, 02:09 AM

Party site chosen for Olympic Games

KEVIN GRIFFIN, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, April 13, 2007

Vancouver city council is being asked to spend $91,960 to develop a plan for a public celebration and gathering spot downtown during the Olympics.

“As the host city for the 2010 Winter Games, it is incumbent on the city to create a welcoming and celebratory atmosphere in the urban domain for our visitors, residents, athletes and media,” says a report to be considered by council on Tuesday.
“One of the ways past host cities have created a festive atmosphere is by providing a public gathering space for residents and visitors to enjoy the Games at no cost. These public gathering spaces are known as ‘live sites.’”

The proposed location for the city’s live site is the former bus depot in the block bounded by Cambie/Dunsmuir/Beatty/West Georgia and the adjacent Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza facing West Georgia.

The location is close to BC Place and GM Place, the two main downtown venues for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Council has already approved the site area as a future cultural precinct which may include amenities such as a provincial Asia-Pacific Museum of Trade and Culture and a National Gallery of Aboriginal Art.

The site would hold a range of performances and activities during the day and night. It would be centred around a large TV screen with live broadcasts of the Olympic competition.

The site would have a lasting physical legacy that would remain after the Games. Once a plan is in place, the city would be able to apply for up to $10 million from the federal government for the site.

The report recommends the contract be awarded to Fireworks Marketing Group, which also produces The Vancouver Sun Garden Show.

The report said a unique aspect of the group’s proposal was that it included a first nations team member who could help with first nations involvement.

kgriffin@png.canwest.com

mr.x

April 14th, 2007, 02:09 AM

ICBC is helping out 2010 Games on your dime
Organizers would otherwise have to book it as expense

Michael Smyth, The Province
Published: Friday, April 13, 2007

You won't see NDP Leader Carole James driving around town with a set of 2010 Olympic licence plates on her car any time soon.

"It's not a priority," she said yesterday.

Ditto for NDP Olympics critic Harry Bains, who thinks the $35 Olympic-logo plate -- available from your friendly neighbourhood Insurance Corp. of B.C. dealer starting next week -- is just another Olympic-sized cash grab from taxpayers.

"I think I'm paying enough for the Olympics already," Bains told me.

"What's next? Is the Ministry of Health going to issue new Care Cards with the Olympic logo and charge you 20 bucks for it?" Keep in mind that James and Bains are both supporters of the 2010 Games. It was the NDP that launched the bid in the first place.

So why not show their support by purchasing a set of 2010 plates? After all, the profits will go toward defraying the cost of the Games and to train our athletes.

"Because they keep going back to the same taxpayers over and over again," Bains said.

He's got a point. But the worst part is that they're trying to hide it from you.

ICBC expects to raise $9 million from the sale of the licence plates. (They're good through 2012 and will cost $25 a year to renew them.) They're also going to insure the Games' fleet of 4,500 vehicles for free -- a $6-million value.

That's another $15 million of your money going to the Olympics that won't be counted as a direct Olympic expense. At some point, this little financial shell game starts to insult the intelligence.

If ICBC didn't insure the Olympic fleet of vehicles for free, then the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee would have to foot the bill.

Either way you slice it, it's still your money. The least the government could do is admit it.

As for the licence plates, I thought $9 million sounded like an overly optimistic target. But ICBC did a customer survey that found 106,000 households expressed interest in getting the commemorative plates. If enough of them sign up and renew for a year or two, they'll hit the target.

But, again, that money will only show up in VANOC's revenue column -- it won't be counted as an Olympic expense. Somebody should give these guys the gold medal for creative bookkeeping.

The plates themselves look cool, though, and it's certainly a nice way for people to support the Games if they choose to.

But what happens when the Games are over? At this point, ICBC is saying the plates would have to be returned and exchanged for normal licence plates.

They should rethink that. After all the money taxpayers are shelling out for the Olympics, the least they could do is let you keep the licence plates as a souvenir.

© The Vancouver Province 2007

isaidso

April 22nd, 2007, 08:26 AM

mr.x

April 22nd, 2007, 09:33 AM

How large would the live site be? If Canada makes it to the Gold Medal match in Men's Hockey, it would be nice to have a large screen every 50 metres for about 2 km on one central street. The entire city could watch it together on the street. That would be a defining moment if it were to happen. Having 500,000 to 1,000,000 cheering Canada on one street would be amazing.

A similar phenomena occurs in Barcelona during soccer matches. Every store front has a gathering around a tv set. When Barcelona scores, the whole city trembles as the population jump up and down in unison.

The live site is two city blocks in size i think. They are also planning to close down much of Robson Street for festivities like one's during the Torino Games.

We won't have 500,000....at the most 100,000. Half a million would be a logistical, transportation, and security nightmare.

isaidso

April 22nd, 2007, 10:40 AM

Yes, 500,000 would be difficult on a number of fronts, but Vancouver should plan for it. Vancouver may be envisaging 100,000, but I don't think it's wise to disregard the possibility of many times that number wanting to revell in it.

Upwards of 1,000,000 converged on the Champs Elysees in Paris when France won the World Cup. Planning for 100,000 may, in itself, be looking for trouble. Can you imagine 1,000,000 people trying to cram into the live site only to realize they are going to miss the game because they can't fit in?

It may be wiser to plan for 500,000+ and let the city revell in it.

mr.x

April 22nd, 2007, 08:36 PM

isaidso

April 23rd, 2007, 11:30 AM

OK...that's too bad...would have been great.

:dance:

mr.x

April 24th, 2007, 08:39 AM

Olympic hockey arenas on stream
Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, April 23, 2007

Two Olympics-related hockey arenas at the University of B.C. will be completed within weeks, well ahead of the planned August completion date.

That means UBC will be able to hold its hockey school at the new complex in July and minor hockey programs will be back this fall.

It had previously been unclear when the minor hockey programs would be able to return, putting pressure on other Lower Mainland arenas when UBC shut down its old four-rink complex last year.

John Furlong, the CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee, said Sunday the completion of two of the three arenas at the new $47.8- million UBC Winter Sports Centre is a psychological boost for both Vanoc and arena users.

"Naturally, most of us try and imagine what these incredible 2010 Winter Games sport venues will be like during and after the Games. We're pretty excited to share with the community that tangible evidence that the legacy of the Games is here now -- a full two and a half years ahead of the Games when two of the UBC arenas open their doors in July."

One of the completed rinks is new; the other is refurbished. Work on a third, larger 7,500-seat main stadium arena won't be finished until April 2008.

Vanoc is contributing $37.6 million to the construction of two new arenas, and refurbishment of the existing Father Bauer arena. Work began in April 2006.

The project created controversy because it forced the relocation and downsizing of a vibrant minor hockey program, as well as dislocating existing recreational programs. It also resulted in an overall loss of one arena.

But earlier this year the university said it would reopen the arenas to the Thunderbird Minor Hockey Association, as best it could while improving and expanding varsity sports programs of its own.

The project also ran into an unusual technical problem. Faulty cooling systems in the original arenas that were ripped down created a deep ground frost that forced Vanoc's builders to dig, raising costs.

The facilities will also be the home of the Paralympic sledge hockey games. Vanoc moved the events from Whistler last year after that community began to hedge on the cost of building a new arena. The move saved Vanoc $20 million.

Furlong said he was happy to see that the original Thunderbird arena, built in 1963, was retained and improved.

That arena was where Father David Bauer, a member of the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame, trained Canada's first national team and the 1964 and 1968 Canadian Olympic teams.

"We're also proud of what this means from a sustainability point of view because we've been able to take legendary Thunderbird arena and its history, and upgrade it so it can continue to contribute to community hockey and ice sports long into the future."

The new main arena, which is taking shape adjacent to the old Thunderbird arena, will have 7,500 seats at Games-time but will be reconfigured later to have 5,500 permanent seats.

jefflee@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

April 24th, 2007, 08:47 AM

VANOC Headquarters - Campus 2010
http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/Features/green_highrise_stacked.jpg?action=scale&width=250&height=544&quality=75

Whistler Nordic Competition Venue
http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/01/06_12_Whistler%20Nordic%20Venue%2001.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/01/06_12_Whistler%20Nordic%20Venue%2002.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/01/06_12_Whistler%20Nordic%20Venue%2004.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

Whistler Sliding Centre
http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/01/2006_11_01_Whistler%20Sliding%20Centre%2001.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/01/2006_11_01_Whistler%20Sliding%20Centre%2002.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/01/2006_11_01_Whistler%20Sliding%20Centre%2003.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/01/2006_11_01_Whistler%20Sliding%20Centre%2004.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

UBC Winter Sports Centre - Practice Arena
http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/01/2006_11_09_UBC%20014.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/01/2006_11_09_UBC%20019.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

mr.x

May 2nd, 2007, 02:37 AM

Nortel Named Official Converged Network Equipment Supplier for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games: Nortel Infrastructure to Enable Converged Voice, Data, Video over IP Network

May 1, 2007 | VANOC NEWS RELEASE

Nortel* [NYSE/TSX: NT] and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced today that Nortel will be the Official Converged Network Equipment Supplier for the 2010 Winter Games. As part of the sponsorship agreement, Nortel will supply the network communications equipment required for what will be the first all-IP converged Games network.

Nortel will be providing the converged local area network (LAN) equipment to VANOC at 15 Games venues in both Vancouver and Whistler, as well as at the Vancouver 2010 headquarters and numerous supporting venues.

In addition, Bell Canada earlier selected Nortel to supply the wide area network (WAN) equipment it will use to build a core network to enable secure and reliable communications among all event locations. Bell Canada, the exclusive Telecommunications Services Provider and Premier National Partner for the 2010 Winter Games, will use Nortel VoIP, Metro Ethernet and IP solutions to create and deploy a dedicated carrier-class IP network for VANOC that securely converges all voice, video, and data communications.

With Nortel’s selection by VANOC for the Games’ LAN network and by Bell Canada to supply equipment for the Games’ WAN network, Nortel equipment will be used end-to-end for the 2010 Winter Games.

“VANOC and Bell Canada chose Nortel to supply the network infrastructure for one of the most important, most visible, and most watched sporting events in the world,” said Mike Zafirovski, president and CEO, Nortel. "It takes world-class networking expertise to support an event of this magnitude. With the eyes of the world upon them, VANOC can depend on the strength of Nortel to ensure the success of the Games."

“At Vancouver 2010, we are pleased to build on Canada’s proud history of advancing the way people communicate,” said John Furlong, VANOC CEO. “With Nortel joining our team, we will provide a positive human experience through reliable, secure and mobile communications. We are delighted to welcome Nortel’s employees to our team and invite them to help us celebrate the true spirit and potential of our country.”
Nortel’s six-year Official Supplier partnership with VANOC provides sponsorship rights for the 2010 Winter Games and the Canadian Olympic Teams participating at the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

Designed and delivered by Bell Canada and using Nortel equipment, the 2010 Winter Games will be the first ever to converge all of its voice, video and data traffic over a single IP-based network backbone. This will also be the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to use voice over IP (VoIP) for all event locations, allowing athletes and support staff to have true user portability through a phone number that roams with them wherever they go.
“With all our athletes and event staff relying on this network, absolute network reliability and security are of paramount importance,” said Ward Chapin, chief information officer, VANOC. “Nortel’s rich history of designing and deploying some of the world’s most reliable and robust communications infrastructure is why we asked Nortel to design and build our converged LAN. In addition, Nortel’s support to Bell Canada in building the Games WAN will also increase the seamless power of the network while lowering costs to build and operate the network.”

"Given our experience with and trust in Nortel in supporting the delivery of our commercial networks, it was only natural that Bell Canada select Nortel to help us build the wide area network for the 2010 Games,” said Justin Webb, vice president, Olympic Services, Bell Canada. “We are working together closely to create a network for VANOC that delivers uncompromised performance, security, and simplicity, from the core infrastructure down to the individual user.”

Bell Canada will use the Nortel Ethernet Routing Switch 8600 and Optical Multiservice Edge 6500 to create a resilient, high-bandwidth transport network that connects all venues and supporting sites, with the Ethernet Routing Switch 5000 Series converging communications at all location sites. Bell Canada will also be providing network-based VoIP within all VANOC sites and competition venues utilizing Nortel’s market leading Communication Server 2000-Compact and IP Phone 1100 Series sets.

Nortel will directly supply LAN, WiFi, management and network security solutions to VANOC for all venues and supporting sites. Nortel Global Services will also be provided to support the design and deployment of the network.

About Nortel
Nortel is a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities that make the promise of Business Made Simple a reality for our customers. Our next-generation technologies, for both service provider and enterprise networks, support multimedia and business-critical applications. Nortel’s technologies are designed to help eliminate today's barriers to efficiency, speed and performance by simplifying networks and connecting people to the information they need, when they need it. Nortel does business in more than 150 countries around the world. For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at www.nortel.com. For the latest Nortel news, visit www.nortel.com/news.

mr.x

May 2nd, 2007, 02:41 AM

Whistler to get 20 hydrogen buses

Catherine Rolfsen, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, May 01, 2007

The provincial government pledged $45 million Monday for a hydrogen bus fleet to service Whistler in time for the 2010 Olympics.

The 20 buses will be developed by a private company and are expected to be operating in 2009. The money will also go towards developing hydrogen fuelling stations in Whistler and Victoria.

The plan also involves an additional $34 million to be provided jointly by the federal and provincial governments, for B.C. Transit to operate the fleet over a five-year period. Mike Long, communications director at the Ministry of Transportation, said those operating costs are comparable to spending on regular buses.

It's all part of Premier Gordon Campbell's vision of a "hydrogen highway" to provide hydrogen fuelling stations from Whistler to San Diego. The province is working with U.S. partners on the project.

Campbell's announcement came at an international conference and trade show on hydrogen and fuel cells, held in Vancouver.

Buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells produce no greenhouse gas emissions and can be twice as energy-efficient as conventional buses, although hydrogen is not yet a miracle fuel.

crolfsen@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

May 3rd, 2007, 04:31 AM

March 2007

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-2007-03-14-Camera-217215.jpg

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-2007-03-1217214.jpg

mr.x

May 10th, 2007, 01:23 AM

Coliseum gets new scoreboard

Tuesday, May 08 - 04:19:48 PM
Reshmi Nair

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A new clock and scoreboard is coming to Pacific Coliseum. It costs $1.3 million, weighs close to 18,000 pounds, and features a state-of-the-art video board. Final touches are still underway, but it should be installed in time for the Memorial Cup, which begins May 18th.

The clock replaces the previous scoreboard that was installed in 1984. It's also part of a series of renovations that are taking place at the Coliseum leading up to the 2010 Olympic Games.

mr.x

May 12th, 2007, 07:18 PM

Vanoc has a plan to fill seats in 2010
Redistributing unused tickets is the cornerstone of the strategy

Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, May 12, 2007

VANCOUVER - When the television cameras sweep across the ice of the gold medal Olympic men's and women's hockey finals in 2010, what Dave Cobb doesn't want the world to see in the background is a sea of empty seats.

That may seem like a simple wish for the man in charge of determining the Vancouver Organizing Committee's Games ticketing strategy. After all, who wouldn't want to be at such electrically charged events, especially when Canada's teams are likely to be finalists? Or at any of the other sporting events, ranging from downhill skiing to figure skating and bobsleigh?

In fact, Cobb doesn't doubt Vanoc will sell all of the tickets it will produce for the 17 days of sporting events.

The reality is that there is an arcane Olympic history of ticket distribution that has often denied some of the best seats to the public.

- There's the special "accredited" section of prime non-ticket seats reserved for dignitaries and members of the International Olympic Committee that often go unused.

- There are large blocks of prime tickets bought by sponsors, national Olympic committees and international sports federations for clients and supporters who don't show up.

- And there are seats left empty by fans when a country or athlete ends up getting knocked out of competition.

Those factors, combined with the lack of a system for getting those unused tickets into the hands of people who want them on short notice, can result in a negative image being sent out to the world.

Cobb, Vanoc's executive vice-president of marketing and communications, saw that problem first-hand last year at the Turin Winter Games. He watched the gold-medal women's hockey game, where Sweden faced Canada after beating the United States in the semi-finals.

"Half the tickets in the final the next day were held by Americans expecting to go see their team," he said. "A number of them didn't care any more, so there was a scramble to get those tickets in the hands of Swedish fans and others who just wanted to go see the game. There was no efficient system in place for that to happen, so you ended up with wasted tickets."

It didn't help that Turin's organizers only managed to sell 896,000 of the one million Olympic tickets available.

The sluggish sales became a significant story for many of the 10,000 journalists covering the Games. When the Olympics were over, Cobb told reporters the biggest message he'd learned was to get bums in seats.

"It has a huge impact on the atmosphere in the arena or stadium and a huge impact on the athletes. It also has an impact on the other spectators," he said Friday.

"It affects how [the event] looks on television, and the whole image of what we're portraying to the world. That has been a bigger problem in previous Games, I would suggest, than selling the tickets has been."

Cobb said Vanoc is now a long way towards solving those problems, and that technology and a hard-nosed approach toward how seats are allocated is at the centre of the solution.

"We're going to push people where they haven't been pushed before," he said. "We don't want sections in say, the lower bowl of the hockey rink, being empty when people are desperate to buy a ticket to get in there."

Vanoc is expecting to make available 1.8 million tickets, up to 30 per cent of which will be reserved for the "Olympic family" that includes the IOC, its sponsors, international sports federations, athletes and the national Olympic committees of participating countries.

Vanoc expects ticket sales to generate more than $230 million of its $1.63-billion operating budget.

Three ticket service providers who could handle distribution have been short-listed, and a winner will be selected by July.

"We know these companies can handle, from a technology standpoint, the sale of multiple events and multiple venues at the same time, but the area that has fallen behind is the redistribution of tickets at very late notice.

"We think technology is going to be a primary way to solve that problem of empty seats."

Did Turin have that technology?

"Certainly, if it was used in Torino, it didn't work because there were so many empty seats."

Cobb said Vanoc will likely also have a trading or reselling forum on its website, citing as an example the Vancouver Canucks' online "Prime Seat Club" system for members to list tickets they can't use.

The advantage, he said, is that it bypasses scalpers and ensures that tickets are authentic. Since tickets now have bar codes scanned at the door, all a buyer needs is access to a printer where the resold or traded ticket can be printed on regular bond paper.

Vanoc's intention isn't to resell last-minute tickets at a higher price, he said, but rather to make sure seats are filled.

Cobb also wants sponsors and sporting federations that normally have first crack at tickets to be more restrained in their purchases.

But the most sensitive change he's putting in place involves special "accredited" non-ticket sections for dignitaries and IOC members. Historically those seats are the best in the house. They are also the most visibly empty when television cameras pan the events.

"My opinion is that in the past, those sections have been way too big and the locations they have been in have been way too prominent," Cobb said.

"We want to minimize the size of those locations and put them in areas that are less prominent. Part of what we consider are the TV pictures that go out to the world. We don't want those in camera view. That's the delicate balance we face, and this one could well be the biggest challenge."

Cobb is working on a preliminary ticket pricing strategy that will go to the Vanoc board Wednesday. A more complete version will be seen by the IOC's executive board in July. Tickets will tentatively go on sale to sponsors and sporting federations in October, and to the public in early 2008, he said.

On the issue of pricing, Cobb won't disclose what's being considered but says it's not going to be out of line with Turin and Salt Lake City in 2002.

"If you look at the prices from the two previous Winter Games, convert them to Canadian dollars and add an inflation factor, our pricing will be viewed as very fair by the public," he said.

jefflee@png.canwest.com

mr.x

May 13th, 2007, 08:44 PM

UBC Winter Sports Centre (7,000 seats) - secondary Olympic ice hockey, Paralympic sledge hockey
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1447/p5120001yh3.jpg
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/8394/p5120002od4.jpg
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/6608/p5120003np0.jpg
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/1358/p5120004zn7.jpg
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7513/p5120008bl5.jpg
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/6718/p5120009ya9.jpg
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7086/p5120010jo7.jpg
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4162/p5120011jp2.jpg

mr.x

May 15th, 2007, 02:03 AM

TransCanada builds on proud Olympic history by joining Vancouver 2010

May 14, 2007 | VANOC

TransCanada and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced TransCanada as a new Official Supplier in the Natural Gas Pipeline Operator category for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The partnership was announced at the University of Calgary campus, site of the TransCanada Arch which stood proudly in front of the Olympic Village during the Calgary 1988 Winter Games.

"We are excited to play a role in helping share the Olympic and Paralympic experience with all Canadians and the world," said Hal Kvisle, TransCanada's Chief Executive Officer. "Our sponsorship demonstrates our commitment to excellence as a Canadian company, and that commitment extends to playing a role in the success of world-class events held here in Canada."

Building on TransCanada’s proud Olympic history with the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games as part of Team Petroleum, this partnership provides TransCanada with Official Supplier sponsorship rights to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. TransCanada’s financial contribution will also designate TransCanada as the Official Supplier for the Canadian Olympic Team competing in Beijing in 2008, Vancouver in 2010 and London in 2012.

“TransCanada’s past and present commitment to Winter Games in Canada is an example of how a Canadian company can contribute to the staging of great Games while leaving lasting legacies,” said Cathy Priestner Allinger, Executive Vice President, Sport, Paralympic Games and Venue Management. “VANOC shares TransCanada’s ongoing commitment to excellence and is pleased to welcome TransCanada and all of its employees to our Olympic and Paralympic family.”

“Canadian athletes continue to benefit from the legacy of the 1988 Winter Games and the road to Vancouver 2010 truly does go through Calgary. TransCanada’s commitment to the Winter Games in 2010 is a commitment to all of us Canadian winter athletes who are pursuing our dream of representing Canada to the best of our ability in 2010,” said Chandra Crawford, Olympic Gold Medalist (Cross-Country Skiing).

About TransCanada
Founded in 1951 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, TransCanada has approximately 3,550 employees.

With more than 50 years experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North America’s energy infrastructure including natural gas pipelines, gas storage facilities, and projects related to oil pipelines and LNG facilities. TransCanada’s network of wholly owned pipelines extends more than 59,000 kilometres (36,500 miles), tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is one of the continent’s largest providers of gas storage and related services with approximately 360 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. TransCanada’s common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP.

mr.x

May 23rd, 2007, 05:31 AM

Richmond celebrates 1000 days until 2010 Games
May, 20 2007 - 10:20 AM

RICHMOND - With exactly 1000 days to go until the opening of the 2010 Games, the Olympic bug is spreading in Richmond. About 500 people had their picture taken Saturday with the 2006 Olympic torch to mark the milestone at the site of the new Richmond Oval.

The Oval itself is quickly rising above its surroundings on River Road. The first massive roof span will be installed next month by a specialized crane, shipped from Japan. City spokesperson Ted Townsend says the foundation on the first level of the Oval is almost completely poured, and work has already started on the second and third levels.

He says the $178-million project is on time for its fall 2008 opening.

mr.x

May 26th, 2007, 09:32 PM

A really small interior rendering of the UBC Winter Sports Centre:
http://www.kasian.com/images/public/UBC_03.jpg

mr.x

June 13th, 2007, 08:39 PM

Vanoc ready to book Games acts
14,000 artists and performers needed for Olympics cultural events

Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, June 13, 2007

VANCOUVER - Olympics organizers unveiled an ambitious call to arts and culture organizations Tuesday, saying they will need nearly 14,000 performers and artists over the next three years, including a two-month extravaganza of events in 2010.

In its first community meeting with the organizations since it won the Games in 2003, Vanoc laid out its needs for three years of cultural exhibitions and events, starting with one in February 2008.

It also said it is still winnowing a thick list of proposals for executive producer of the opening and closing ceremonies, which will draw the biggest television audiences of the Games.

Over the next three years, Vanoc is planning to produce or co-produce more than 950 events, ranging from ticketed concerts and shows to free exhibitions that will celebrate Canada's rich cultural diversity, said Burke Taylor, Vanoc's vice-president of culture and celebrations.

"As opportunities go, this is rare and it is big," he said. "Our opportunity for the here and now is to do this at the highest level."

Vanoc has roughly divided the cultural component of the 2010 Games into two portions: the opening and closing ceremonies and nightly victory celebrations at BC Place, and a "cultural Olympiad" of events that will take place from 2008 to 2010.

The meeting at the Vancouver Playhouse was attended by more than 400 people.

Vanoc used the event to issue its request for proposals for the 2008 celebration, which will run from Feb. 1 to March 21, 2008. Robert Kerr, Vanoc's cultural Olympiad director, said a subsequent call for proposals for the 2009 celebration, and an expanded festival during the Olympics, will be issued in September.

Kerr said festivals will offer regional and national Canadian artists an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their talent.

"With respect to the cultural Olympiad, we see the arts and cultural program as having the opportunity to give voice to the soul of the nation. Our vision is to showcase a contemporary Canadian imagination," he said. "We have an incredible opportunity through the arts and cultural program to differentiate 2010 from every other set of Games."

But the deadline of July 16 for the first request left at least one cultural group saying it wouldn't be prepared in time.

Moshe Denburg, program director for the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, a 75-member group, said he had been waiting for three years to find out how to participate in the Olympics, but likely won't submit a proposal this year.

"Things are a bit too late for us this year, with only five weeks before the deadline," he said. "Our program for next year is already in place. But I like the tone of things here and every person up on the stage has our best interests at heart."

Kerr said the proposal was delayed while Vanoc completed its budget and business plan this spring, but he is confident enough organizations will meet the deadline. Vanoc will also work with groups that are already planning regular performances or exhibitions.

The meeting also drew concerns from some that Vanoc wouldn't be interested in producing controversial events.

"It's really essential that it be open to a tragic view of the world and to critiques and subversive material," said David Bloom, a producer with Felix Culpa, a theatre group. "Social criticism and just weird, dangerous stuff. If there is not room for that, then I am afraid it's impossible to touch the soul of Canadian people."

But Taylor said Vanoc has no intention of trying to stifle legitimate commentary.

"We're talking about reflecting the best we can be. We will never be taken seriously as an arts community or a creative community or a society or a nation unless we can deal with difficult subjects," he said. "We're going to have some tough choices to make, no question about it, but I don't want anyone to think that all we're going to do is put on a party."

jefflee@png.canwest.com

IN THE WORKS

12: Number of countdown events planned in Greater Vancouver and Whistler corridor in 2008 and 2009.

250: Number of ticketed performances and exhibitions planned for Vanoc's Cultural Olympiad in 2008 and 2009.

700: Number of free and ticketed performances and exhibitions during the Cultural Olympiad.

250,000: Estimated number of people attending ticketed events over the Olympiad.

1 million: Estimated number of people attending free events during the Olympiad.

$2 million: Amount Vanoc will spend on cultural events in 2008 and 2009.

$18 million: Amount to be spent on cultural celebrations during the Games.

Source: Vanoc

- - -

You can now listen to every Vancouver Sun story on our new digital edition.

Free to full-week print subscribers or register for a seven-day free trial.

www.vancouversun.com/digital.

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

June 20th, 2007, 02:14 AM

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vasn/20070619/203460-66740.jpg

Games ski jumps barge to Squamish
Massive steel trusses begin their trip from a Port Coquitlam fabricator to the Nordic venue in Callaghan Valley
Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, June 19, 2007

As they sit on a barge, ready for a short voyage to Squamish, the massive steel trusses that comprise parts of two ski jumps do not look much like the towering graceful curves that will be used to launch the death-defying arcs of competitive skiers at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

But within days the jumps will begin to take shape as they are lifted into place in the Callaghan Valley with the aid of a 375-tonne crawling crane.

On Monday, the first steel sections of the K-125 and K-95 jumps left their birthplace at Dynamic Structures in Port Coquitlam. The jumps will be moved to the Callaghan in two lots; one today and another in mid-July.

The pieces are so large that they are being barged down the Fraser River and up Howe Sound to Squamish, where they will then be driven up the Sea to Sky Highway tonight while the road is closed to public traffic for construction.

Doug Ewing, the Nordic venue project manager for the Vancouver Organizing Committee, said the concrete pilings that will support the huge tubular steel trusses have already been built. The sections now being moved include the top portion of the larger ski jump, and the bottom section of the smaller one.

"What is being shipped is part of the in-run superstructure," Ewing said. "The reason they are being barged is that they are fully completed structures that will be lifted into place by a 375-tonne crawler crane."

The higher ski jump, when completed, will be about 100 metres in length. It has been broken into numerous sections, the longest of which is 24 metres in length and eight metres wide. The smaller K-95 jump is nearly 80 metres in length.

The jumps are part of the $115.7-million Nordic venue, which will host the ski-jumping, Nordic combined, biathlon and cross-country ski events.

Vanoc gave the overall ski jump construction project in December, 2006 to Emil Anderson Co., a well-known B.C. construction company.

Ewing said Emil Anderson then sought bids from a small group of Lower Mainland fabricators. One of those was Amec Dynamic Structures. Another was Empire Industries. Amec won the bid and began fabrication in February. But two months later Empire bought the company out in a $9.8 million deal.

The entire Nordic facility will be finished this year. John Heilig, Vanoc's sport manager for ski-jumping and Nordic combined, said the venue will see its first competitions in January with several national championships.

jefflee@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

June 27th, 2007, 10:28 PM

First section of the Olympic oval roof going up:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1100/628353085_2f85656a01_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1363/626813283_e273ac4c1f_o.jpg

Photos: Delirium

mr.x

June 30th, 2007, 10:18 AM

Credits to bils:

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval1.jpg
http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval2.jpg
http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval3.jpg

looks like parts of the roof
http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval4.jpg

mr.x

July 2nd, 2007, 09:20 PM

Wednesday, July 2, 2003 @ 8:41 AM PST: "The International Olympic Committee has the honour of announcing that the 21st Olympic Winter Games in 2010 are awarded to the City of Vancouver". - Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (Prague)

http://www.canucks.com/images/inbydate03/jul0203/2010_fans_b.jpg

http://www.canucks.com/images/inbydate03/jul0203/2010_streamers_b.jpg

http://olympic.org/common/images/games/gallery/election_vancouver/v3.jpg

Host City Announcement Live on CBC
sFPf8HhOkUo

Final Presentation Bid Video
AStJijEj0oE

great memories.

mr.x

July 6th, 2007, 08:46 PM

Aboriginal art to be prominent
Organizers use $53M contingency fund

Damian Inwood, The Province
Published: Friday, July 06, 2007

Vancouver 2010 organizers will dip into their $53-million contingency fund to put aboriginal art at Olympic venues.

A call has gone out for a project manager, with Tuesday as the deadline for applications.

"Our vision is to have unprecedented aboriginal participation in our Games," said Dan Doyle, 2010 executive vice-president of construction. "The second thing that spurred us on was the success of B.C.-Canada Place in Torino, particularly the carved doors. We got tons of positive comments from that."

The doors were carved by Squamish Nation artist Aaron Nelson-Moody.

"Our goal is to have representation of aboriginal art at every venue," said Doyle. "We have to achieve that within our budget."

To date, Vancouver 2010 has committed $533.5 million to its venues, with a $53.3 contingency fund.

"We've allowed for aboriginal art in our overall budget," added Doyle. "The concept is within my contingency. I'm going to be looking at it and we will try to get the best pieces of art we can for the best deal we can."

Doyle said the exact budget for the artworks hasn't been nailed down.

He cited the Richmond Oval as an example of how First Nations art is being incorporated at venues.

Musqueam artist Susan Point designed inlaid channels depicting Coast Salish water, heron and salmon motifs on 15 concrete buttresses. The budget for that project was $125,000, funded by the City of Richmond.

Doyle said aboriginal art is being considered at the $38.5-million University of B.C. Winter Sport Centre.

Tewanee Joseph, CEO of the Four Host First Nations Secretariat, said B.C. native artists are excited to show their work at Olympic venues.

"For us, it's an important step to enhancing the whole Games experience for people from around the world," he said.

dinwood@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2007

mr.x

July 15th, 2007, 08:37 PM

Work Begins on Richmond Oval’s Massive Wood Roof

06 July 2007

The Richmond Oval marked a major construction milestone today with the completion of the first roof span. When completed the Oval’s roof will be a massive 6.5 acres in size, feature one the longest clear spans in North America and will be almost entirely constructed from BC wood.

“The Richmond Oval will be the premier venue of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “The spectacular wood roof will be one of its most remarkable features and help make it an international showcase for sustainable building practices.”

The Government of Canada and Province of BC have each contributed $30 million to the Oval through the $580 million capital budget for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. In addition, the Government of Canada and Province of BC funded the Games Operating Trust, which will provide significant ongoing funding toward the operating costs of the Oval.

“Today’s raising of the roof at the Richmond Oval marks a milestone in our preparation for the 2010 Winter Games,” said Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn, on behalf of David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver–Whistler Olympics. “Not only will this impressive facility become a lasting legacy for our community and our Canadian athletes, it will also showcase the advantages of working with lumber from post-beetle timber from the forests of British Columbia."

“British Columbia is the world leader in softwood lumber products and the engineering technology to use wood in place of concrete and steel,” said Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman. “The Richmond Oval highlights both of these advantages and showcases that BC wood products and designs are an energy efficient and cost-effective alternative for large-scale construction projects.”

“This is a momentous development in the construction of what will certainly be one of the most recognizable venues of our 2010 Winter Games,” said Dan Doyle, Executive Vice President, Construction for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. “The entire Richmond team can take great pride in celebrating the progress that has already been made on this spectacular venue and the significance today’s milestone event represents.”

The first of the Oval’s 15 roof spans was completed in a special ceremony at the Oval today. Manufactured in Penticton from BC wood and using a glulam process, the spans are nearly 100 metres in length. Once completed, the spans will be linked by a one-of-a-kind “wood wave” design that was developed in BC and features arched trusses and rafters, and a curvature in the surface panels that will give the roof a rippled appearance. The Richmond Oval, home of speed skating for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, will be the first building in the world to include a roof of this exportable new design, which is built exclusively from wood and will use more than one million board feet of pine beetle kill wood from BC forests.

Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. is contributing $1.5 million towards the engineering and design of the roof in order to support and promote the use of BC wood.

The 33,000 square-metre Oval is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008, with a 400-metre track and seating for approximately 8,000 spectators. In addition to being the home of speed skating competitions during the Olympic Games. the Oval will become an international centre of excellence for sports and wellness, special events and other activities. The Richmond Oval is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008.

------------------
also...

richmond city council selected Boston artist Janet Echelman www.echelman.com to design an artwork combining a Water Works feature and Pedestrian Bridge as one of several public art initiatives proposed at the Richmond Oval. The artwork will be a focal point on the east side of the Richmond Oval marking a key entry and passage through this new civic park. The Water Works will be a collection area for storm water and, together with the Pedestrian Bridge, will become a dramatic, playful and engaging water feature.

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/2007-06-15-117870.jpg

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval-0717927.jpg

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval-0717932.jpg

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval-0717928.jpg

runnels (does that mean water will flow down here?)
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Runnels-Installed17934.jpg

mr.x

July 16th, 2007, 09:30 PM

Venue Update

Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, July 16, 2007

Venue: Pacific Coliseum

What's new: Vanoc has awarded a contract to upgrade dehumidification equipment at Pacific Coliseum to Munters.

The details: The Pacific Coliseum will host figure skating and short-track speed skating events for the 2010 Winter Olympics and is in the midst of $25.7 million worth of sprucing up. As a head start, seating in the almost 40-year-old building was replaced prior to the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championships. It also includes upgrading of electrical systems, lighting, its refrigeration system and the dehumidification system. Dehumidifiers suck moisture out of the air inside the rink, which results in a harder, better-quality ice surface and prevents fogging inside the building. Massachusetts-based Munters has been awarded the contract to install four dehumidifiers each with the capacity to remove 289 kilograms per hour of moisture from the air inside the coliseum, keeping relative humidity levels to about 45 per cent.

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

July 25th, 2007, 12:39 PM

It is about time. Whistler is going to be back in the FIS World Cup circuit again in the alpine ski events, after a couple of years absent due to the weather I believe. And, yes, Lake Louise and Panorama will be in the calendar, too.

From February 18th to 24th, 2008, these World Cup events will take place at the resort.

- Ladies' Downhill (Feb. 21st);
- Men's Super G (Feb. 22nd);
- Ladies' Super Combined (Feb. 23rd); and,
- Men's Giant Slalom (Feb. 24th).

From February 9th and 10th, 2008, Cypress Mountain will host the moguls and aerial events respectively.

Calvin W

July 25th, 2007, 01:38 PM

Good to see things coming along venue wise. Only 2 1/2 years to go.

mr.x

July 30th, 2007, 01:12 AM

Some pics I took of the renovated Nat Bailey Stadium and the adjacent 2010 curling venue and future Riley Park community centre and swimming pool:
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9694/dscf0818lc2.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3268/20pz5.jpg

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/4549/dscf0820vq9.jpg

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2985/dscf0821yy9.jpg

Cranes are about to be erected.
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9596/dscf0822oz7.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1010/dscf0824qi3.jpg

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/4950/dscf0823lq6.jpg

mr.x

August 2nd, 2007, 12:02 AM

Winter Sports Centre @ UBC from Global Air Photos dated July 10th, 2007 (officedweller):
http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2007/vch2007_497.jpg

mr.x

August 10th, 2007, 08:18 PM

Vanoc signs agreements with four provinces

Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, August 10, 2007

The organizers of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics signed joint agreements with four more provincial governments Friday as part of a growing effort to make the Games relevant to the rest of Canada.

On Friday the premiers of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador penned their signatures to separate memoranda of understanding that set down how the province and the Vancouver Organizing Committee will work together.

Each agreement offers distinctly regional or provincial opportunities for involvement in the Games, and are patterned after an agreement Vanoc signed with Quebec in 2005 to celebrate Canada's "linguistic duality" and offer greater inclusion of Quebec businesses, culture and sport in the Games.
Earlier this year Vanoc signed a similar agreement with the Northern Territories.

In June, 2006 it also signed agreement with the Federation des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique and the Fondation canadienne pour le dialogue des cultures to help raise the profile of francophones who live outside Quebec.

The agreements generally all offer the provinces opportunities to participate in the Games in the areas of language, culture, sport development, volunteerism, tourism and economic development.

In a recent interview, David Guscott, Vanoc's executive vice-president for government relations, said each agreement would take advantage of each province's particular cultural, historic or economic strengths.

Friday's agreements were signed at the Council of the Federation meeting in Moncton, New Brunswick.

In a statement, Vanoc CEO John Furlong said the agreements will help cement the Games in the minds of Canadians as being a truly Canadian effort.
"The Olympic and Paralympic Games represent an opportunity for all of Canada to be showcased on the world stage and we invite Canadians, wherever they live, to play an active role," said Furlong.

"The 2010 Winter Games will be Canada's Games. Today, as we come together in a spirit of cooperation with provinces from both the Atlantic region and the Prairies, we are well on our way to fulfilling our goal of including every region of the country in this remarkable endeavour."

Signing the agreements with Furlong were: New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham, Manitoba Premier Gary Doer, Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz and Premier Danny Williams of Newfoundland and Labrador.

jefflee@png.canwest.com

mr.x

August 13th, 2007, 09:04 PM

Venue update -- Whistler Athletes Village
Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, August 13, 2007

What's new: Whistler municipality is looking for general contractors for the Athletes Village.

Details: Whistler 2020 Development Corp. (WDC), which is wholly owned by the municipality, is responsible for building the Athletes Village at Cheakamus Valley, the site of the old municipal dump. The $131-million project includes at least 250 units of post-Games housing, although for the Olympics there will be 2,400 beds for athletes. The Vancouver Organizing Committee is providing $37.5 million of the total cost. In mid-July, Whistler council issued a development permit for the first 40 townhomes, covering approximately 71,000 square feet. In a request for an expression of interest that closes Aug. 8, WDC says it wants general contractors for three projects, including the approved townhouse project and two 50- and 55-unit four-storey apartment and hostel buildings.

It says the projects would be built under a "construction management arrangement for a pre-set fee which could ultimately lead into a fixed-priced contract."

Grading and servicing of the village, which will have district heating recovered from the local sewer system, is already underway. The village is expected to be ready no later than September 2009.

jefflee@png.canwest.com

Vancouverite

August 14th, 2007, 11:31 AM

This is a panorama of the eastern end of False Creek in Vancouver and it shows the Olympic Village site now under construction with three cranes.

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/2532/sefcpano5000x400mediumwin9.jpg

Incidentally, this was my first panorama. I stitched the images together in Photoshop and the edges are a bit rough, but I'm pretty pleased with it.

*all photos by me (SFUVancouver/Vancouverite in SSC), taken on August 13th, 2007

aberrate

August 14th, 2007, 04:16 PM

Great first attempt at a panorama, Vancouverite! It's a beauty.

mr.x

August 14th, 2007, 10:47 PM

awesome! thanks Vancouverite.....gives us a great perspective of what we'll look like in 2010.

mr.x

August 15th, 2007, 09:41 PM

Vancouver Games security chief stepping down

Updated Wed. Aug. 15 2007 9:52 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff

The media-shy RCMP officer who has headed security for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics since the unit's inception in 2003 is stepping down.

Chief Supt. Bob Harriman is "moving on to other career opportunities," RCMP Const. Annie Linteau told CTV British Columbia on Tuesday.

The surprise move comes amid continued budget uncertainties surrounding the security force.

Sources told CTV News that Harriman's departure was not entirely his own decision. Insiders said the move might have been influenced by a recent internal RCMP audit of the security unit.

The audit could have revealed serious shortfalls of the Olympic security budget, reported CTV British Columbia's Mike Killeen.

A confidential RCMP report two years ago made that determination, Killeen said. The document read, "numerous financial funding gaps and risks have been identified which will negatively impact security operations."

The report found the original $175 million budget did not account for communications equipment, metal detectors at venues, accreditation costs and security for the torch relay.

Asked Tuesday about the security budget, the federal minister responsible for the Olympic Games said he will be briefed on the file in the coming weeks.

"The only estimate I have is $175 million -- I've been given no briefing or no indication that the numbers have changed substantially," David Emerson told reporters.

"(The cost figure) was established based on a normal security threat situation. As that threat escalates, the costs will escalate. If the threat is less, I presume the costs could be less."

Harriman, who has never given a media interview while at the helm of the security unit, will remain at the post until he finds a new job within the Mounties and a replacement is hired, an RCMP spokesman said.

The pending vacancy of the Olympic security boss comes just after Jamie Graham ended his five-year tenure as chief of the Vancouver Police Department.

The former RCMP career officer has not discussed details about his future plans.

Military officials say ensuring safety at the Olympics will require the largest security operation in Canadian history.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Mike Killeen

mr.x

August 22nd, 2007, 09:33 PM

Not surprised at all.

Vanoc expects to use entire contingency fund
Strong construction economy, cost of materials a drain on $53.3 million cushion

Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Vancouver 2010 Olympic officials said Tuesday they expect to exhaust their entire $53.3-million capital construction contingency fund.

The fund, established as part of a $580-million construction budget funded by the provincial and federal governments, was set aside for unexpected costs associated with the Games.

But on Tuesday, Dave Cobb, the acting CEO of Vanoc, said he expects just $10 million to remain in the fund by the time the Games begin, and be gone entirely by the end of the event.

What's driving the drain on the account is a continued strong construction economy and venue-specific challenges, such as the cost of materials and even the state of weather conditions.

The latest example of this problem is the Whistler Athletes Centre, once estimated to cost $16 million, but which Vanoc now believes will more than twice as much.

Last week, a government audit written in April indicated Vanoc expected the centre to cost as much as $36.5 million and was considering taking $25 million from the remaining taxpayer-funded contingency.

The report, prepared for the province by Partnerships BC and based on documents provided by Vanoc, was the first public indication the centre's cost had risen dramatically.

Vanoc has regularly insisted to reporters, and stated in its own published documents, including its recently released business plan and quarterly financial reports, that the centre would cost $16 million.

The contingency started out at $52 million in February 2006 when the governments agreed to provide an additional $110 million to Vanoc's original $470-million construction budget.

Through cost-savings, the contingency grew to an all-time high of $66.8 million last December, but by this summer had been drawn down to $53.3 million, according to the latest quarterly report.

The drain on the contingency drew criticism from Harry Bains, the NDP's Olympics critic. He said the money is "only for extraordinary expenses."

"The contingency isn't some slush fund. Just because there is a contingency fund doesn't mean they have to use it all," he said.

However, B.C. Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen, who is responsible for the Games, said he's always expected Vanoc would exhaust the fund, and he isn't worried about the new cost of the Athletes Centre.

"I don't think you can look at just one project. I think you have to look at the whole suite of capital issues that Vanoc is funding out of the $580-million budget."

He said he's satisfied, based on the Partnerships BC report, that Vanoc is managing its venue construction fund adequately.

Cobb, who is in charge of Vanoc while CEO John Furlong is on holidays, said the contingency fluctuates with money taken out or put back in as projects proceed.

The last $10 million will be held back to pay for contractor costs during Games time.

"We do expect, based on our analysis of risks, that we probably will be allocating the majority of that contingency up until the $10 million we will keep going into the Games," he said.

Cobb also said Tuesday that Vanoc didn't intend to mislead the public over the cost of the Whistler Athletes Centre, even though it's been saying publicly for months its budget is $16 million.

Vanoc is constrained in what it can tell the public about amounts that haven't yet been approved by Vanoc's board of directors, he said.

"If there was any misleading, it certainly wasn't intentional," Cobb said. "We're trying so hard not to do that."

The actual cost of the centre remains unknown.

Both Cobb and Dan Doyle, the executive vice-president of venue construction, said Vanoc staff will give a final figure to the board of directors in the fall.

Cobb said Vanoc didn't see the necessity of publishing information every time it withdraws or replaces money in the fund for any one venue because the amounts fluctuate from day-to-day and project to project.

"Our position is that we report out on a quarterly basis when allocations of contingencies are approved by the board of directors. Until they are approved, they are not committed to and they may not happen," he said. "That is still the case with the Whistler Athletes Centre."

jefflee@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

September 8th, 2007, 02:28 AM

A really good video by VANOC on its venue program as of this summer:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/Downloads/PublicVideoArchive/Venue/FieldToPlayOn/EN/VP6_512K_16_9.flv

The latest pictures of construction at Whistler Sliding Centre - June/July 2007, provided by VANOC:

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/08/0705_sliding_02.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/08/0705_sliding_03.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/08/0706_sliding_01.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/08/0706_sliding_02.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/08/0707_sliding_01.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/08/0707_sliding_02.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/08/0707_sliding_03.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/08/0707_sliding_04.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/08/0707_sliding_05.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/08/0707_sliding_06.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/08/0707_sliding_07.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=498&quality=75

bils

September 9th, 2007, 05:39 AM

richmond update:

there's a development application sign outside of a warehouse on the NW corner of elmbridge + hollybridge way, just south of the richmond oval. it's a large site that stretches all the way to the new river road re-alignment. drove past it today and wasn't able to catch anything more than the fact that it'll be a 16-storey highrise residential building. glad to see the warehouses starting to move out of the area. hopefully a sign of things to come....

mr.x

September 9th, 2007, 08:24 PM

International Olympic Committee gobble up Whistler rooms
Olympic family to take up to 85 per cent of major hotel space in 2010

Damian Inwood, The Province
Published: Sunday, September 09, 2007

Vancouver 2010 organizers are still scrambling to find 2,000 extra rooms needed during the Games by the International Olympic Committee, their clients and sponsors.

Drawing up plans for spectator accommodation has been shelved until January, said Terry Wright, 2010's executive vice-president of service operations and ceremonies.

But official Olympic accommodation will be high on the agenda when the IOC's co-ordination commission meets in Vancouver on Tuesday.

"When we bid [for the Games], the forecast demand for the client groups from the IOC was approximately 17,000," said Wright. "What we're seeing now is an unprecedented demand for the Vancouver product."

Wright said organizers originally aimed to secure 18,000 rooms in Vancouver and Whistler.

They've managed to book almost 19,000 rooms to date and Wright says they'll be going for another 2,000.

"That will take a lot of extra effort," he added.

Olympic organizers originally planned to secure 75 per cent of available rooms in major hotels in Vancouver and Whistler.

That number may now have to increase to between 80 and 85 per cent, said Wright.

"What we see, and what the IOC sees, is an even greater demand for accommodation than what they saw in Salt Lake or Torino," he said.

But Wright said that doesn't mean there will be no accommodation left for spectators after "Olympic family" members have been found a bed.

He said there are a lot of rooms in the valley area outside Whistler Village that could be made available.

"In Vancouver, we haven't even begun on bed-and-breakfasts, on properties under 20 rooms and on our home-stay program," he added. "There's huge potential."

He said that, having "shot right through" the original targets, organizers thought they'd now be starting to turn their attention to spectator rooms.

That has been deferred until January.

But Wright said that while Vancouver 2010 expects a strong demand for Olympic tickets, that still leaves time to plan spectator accommodation.

"We're over a year from putting tickets on sale," he added. "We'll have time to zero in on what we need to do to meet spectator demands."

dinwood@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2007

Vancouver to help carry torch for 2008 Paralympic Games
Organizers in Beijing have invited three Olympic cities to take part in a leg of the Chinese event's relay

Christina Montgomery, The Province
Published: Sunday, September 09, 2007

Vancouver will host an Olympic visitor of a new kind next year -- the torch for the 2008 Paralympic Summer Games in Beijing.

The Chinese city's Olympic organizing commitee has invited Vancouver to be one of three foreign cities to host a leg of the relay next year as the Olympic torch circles the globe between the closing of the 2008 Summer Games on Aug. 28 and the opening of the Paralympic Summer Games on Sept. 6.

The date, route and runners for Vancouver's leg of the relay have yet to be decided. Also undecided is the role Whistler, which is co-hosting the 2010 Winter Games along with Vancouver, will play in the relay.

It will be the first time in Paralympic history that a Games torch will travel internationally. To date, host countries have run only domestic relays.

London, host of the 2012 Summer Games, and Sochi, Russia, host of the 2014 Winter Games, will also host legs of the relay.

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan said yesterday the city has received hundreds of e-mails suggesting ways the relay could highlight the city's accessibility for the disabled, and that more community roundtables will be held before a plan for the route and runners is drawn up early in the new year.

"One of the themes that kept coming out [in public comment] was diversity," Sullivan said, adding that he hopes the relay will also highlight the city's multicultural makeup.

He said he hoped that Canada's Paralympic athletes would be given a role, allowing them to showcase their efforts to train for the 2010 Winter Games.

The relay will also provide important advertising for the city, he said, in light of what he called a $13-billion-a-year North American travel market for people with disabilities.

Earlier this year, China announced that the Olympic torch for the Summer Games would make only one stop in North America -- in San Francisco.

cmontgomery@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2007

mr.x

September 10th, 2007, 06:54 PM

Venue Update -- Pacific Coliseum

Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, September 10, 2007

Venue: Pacific Coliseum

What's new: Vanoc has hired Dominion Fairmile Construction as the general contractor for renovations to the arena.

Details: The Pacific Coliseum is slated to be the competition venue for figure skating and short track speed skating during the 2010 Olympics, and the almost 40-year-old building is receiving $25.7 million worth of updates for the event. The Pacific Coliseum's seating has already been replaced, and the work that Dominion Fairmile is now to complete includes modifying the ice rink corners to the international configuration, adding an elevator and catwalks, upgrading concession booths and the mechanical room, replacing and expanding floodlighting in the arena bowl, replacing and upgrading dehumidifiers being supplied by Massachusetts-based firm Munters, along with making some architectural, structural and other improvements. Vanoc has also called for proposals from contractors to bid on upgrading the underground electrical circuits to the Pacific Coliseum and to Hastings Park.

depenner@png.canwest.com

Going for sustainability gold
Vanoc wants silver or gold LEED certification on all its venues

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vasn/20070910/17431-6323.jpg
Vancouver Sun / Construction workers put another piece of the roof on the speed skating oval along River Road in Richmond. The roof panels are made from wood that was damaged by the mountain pine beetle.

Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, September 10, 2007

The promise Vancouver Olympic organizers made to make the 2010 Games' venues more environmentally friendly is starting to take physically take shape, if the sustainable nature of them isn't as obvious as it is visible.

Distinctive wood-roof panels being installed in the Richmond speed-skating oval, for instance, are locally sourced and made from mountain-pine-beetle damaged wood. So besides being esthetically attractive, the panels are an environmentally sensitive choice in the eyes of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building standards -- the mark Olympic organizers and their partners are aiming to build to.

Sustainability, both environmentally and socially, was a commitment of the Vancouver Games' organizing committee "right from the get-go," Ann Duffy, Vanoc's program director for sustainability, said in an interview.

So when it came to planning for the new venues, Vanoc aimed to earn at least LEED silver certification for all the buildings that it or its partners needed to build for the Games.

LEED standards for environmentally sensitive building were pioneered by the United States Green Building Council, and have been adopted and adapted elsewhere, including in Canada, where a Canadian Green Building Council was formed to oversee the effort.

Projects earn credits toward LEED certification for their environmental sensitivity in five categories: siting of projects to minimize impacts on nature, water-use efficiency, energy efficiency and atmosphere, materials and resources sourcing and indoor air quality.

LEED ratings range from basic certification through silver, gold and platinum. The more credits a project earns, the higher the rating.

Duffy said reaching the LEED goals has been challenging. They've made the price tags for venue construction about three- to seven-per-cent higher than they would have been without the environmental touches, and the timelines have been tight.

"There are many more things we would have loved to have integrated into venue designs," she added, "but either the technology wasn't quite ready, or the price tag was too great."

Duffy added, however, that the upside of the effort is that because sustainability was the goal at the outset, all of the people Vanoc has hired, the suppliers and contractors it has engaged, have had environmental sensitivity in the forefront of their planning, so "this wasn't a hard sell."

Not so visible LEED-driven attributes of the Richmond oval include a geothermal, ground-source heat pump for energy, a heat-recovery system in the ice plant that will be used in air conditioning and rainwater recovery for use in ice-making and toilet flushing that will lighten its impact on the surrounding environment. Duffy added that the Hillcrest curling venue, adjacent to Nat Bailey Stadium, was able to bump up the LEED rating it is shooting for to gold status. The Hillcrest curling rink will incorporate a waste-heat recovery system in its refrigeration plant to heat a swimming pool, which will be one of the building's other amenities for its post-Games life as a community centre.

The builders of the Vancouver Olympic athletes village are shooting for LEED gold ratings for all the buildings, which will become residential housing after the Games, except for a community centre, which is targeting a platinum rating.

So far, LEED systems have been established to rate the construction of buildings, but the various green building councils guiding their development are starting to test the rating of neighbourhood designs, and Duffy said the Whistler athletes village, being built by the Resort Municipality of Whistler, is serving as a pilot project to test that LEED rating.

Duffy added that another benefit of Vanoc's setting sustainability as a goal from the outset is that it has attracted a lot of innovators interested in contributing to the project.

"The venues become almost demonstration sites where this [sustainable] technology has been applied," Duffy said.

Spectators and post-Games users will be able to "see, feel, smell and touch this stuff in action, and [that] makes [the sustainable attributes] more realizable."

And in the long run, Duffy said the operators who will take over the venues after the Games will gain benefits from energy and water efficiency built into their facilities.

depenner@png.canwest.com

VENUE STATUS

Certification status for major 2010 Games venues.

Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium: LEED gold certification. Unique feature: Heat recovery from curling ice refrigeration to heat adjacent aquatic centre.

Richmond speed-skating oval: LEED silver certification. Unique feature: Distinctive wood roof made from mountain-pine-beetle recovered timber.

Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic athletes village: LEED gold and platinum certifications.

Unique feature: A district energy system that will recover heat from the development's sewer system.

Whistler Nordic ski venue: LEED silver certification for day lodge. Unique feature: On-site composting of cleared vegetation.

Whistler sliding centre: LEED silver certification for refrigeration-plant building. Unique feature: Capture and reuse of waste heat from refrigeration plant.

Whistler Olympic and Paralympic village: LEED neighbourhood design certification.

Unique feature: A district energy system that captures waste heat from Whistler's waste-water treatment centre.

Source: Vanoc

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

September 13th, 2007, 05:04 AM

IOC checks up on Vanoc's Olympic budgeting
Committee questions plan to spend $25 million more than planned on athletes centre

Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, September 12, 2007

VANCOUVER - The International Olympic Committee questioned Vancouver 2010 Olympic officials Tuesday over a plan to spend $25 million more than first expected on the Whistler Athletes Centre.

In one of the first briefings to the IOC's Vancouver Coordination Commission during its three-day checkup, Vanoc executive vice-president Dan Doyle said the organizing committee will apply to its board of directors next week to take money out of a $53.3-million global contingency fund.

Doyle's comment came in response to two questions from IOC executive director Gilbert Felli, who was concerned about recent media reports indicating the centre would cost far more than the original estimate of $16 million.

In August, a provincial government audit indicated Vanoc expected the centre to cost as much as $36.5 million and was considering taking $25 million from the remaining taxpayer-funded contingency.

But Doyle said in an interview after his briefing with the IOC that no draw-down of the contingency had been approved yet, although a formal request will be made to Vanoc's board on Sept. 19.

"I got two questions, and they were both around budget," Doyle said. "They were about what had been in the media about the $25-million [anticipated drawdown], and I told them, as I told you, that is before our board now, and when our board decides, we will let everybody know."

He said Felli also questioned how Vanoc was handling its construction contingency fund, which Doyle said was in good shape.

"I think what he was mostly after was that he had read the press reports, and he just wanted to confirm where we are at and our process inside. We told him we are going to our board, and he was fine with that."

He said he assured the commission that the entire venue construction program is being done within the $580-million envelope provided by the provincial and federal governments.

Vanoc also provided the commission with updated photographs of the venues under construction.

The commission meetings took place without the presence of Vanoc CEO Jack Poole, who is recovering from surgery relating to malignant tumours found around his pancreas. Terry Wright, another Vanoc executive vice-president, said Poole is expected to participate in the board meeting next week.

The IOC commission meeting was held amid heightened security at Vanoc's Graveley Street headquarters, but without the heavy police presence that has marked previous IOC and Vanoc board meetings.

Reporters and camera operators were allowed to hear the brief opening remarks at the plenary, but were escorted out of the board room before details of the agenda were discussed.

The three days of briefings are intended to provide IOC officials and accompanying staff with an overview of Vanoc's progress in organizing the Winter Games. Everything from the status of construction to operational planning to a plan to create Olympic celebration sites in Vancouver and Whistler is on the agenda.

The session also marks the first time that all seven presidents of the international winter sports federations involved in the Olympics have assembled in Vancouver. On Thursday, they will conduct site visits, including the sliding venue in Whistler, where Canadian Olympic hopefuls are holding a public open house.

This week some of Canada's best figure skaters also gather in Vancouver for a two-day national training camp at the Pacific Coliseum, site of the Olympic figure skating and short track speed skating events in 2010. The camp, which will feature free public performances Friday and Saturday, is being prepared for the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships that run Jan. 16 to 20, 2008.

The public can obtain tickets to the camp performances by contacting Danielle at 604-205-6960 or danielle@skatinginbc.com.

jefflee@png.canwest.com

mr.x

September 13th, 2007, 05:17 AM

Update from richmond.ca of the Richmond Oval
http://www.richmond.ca/ovalsitecam/roo1024px.jpg

nova9

September 13th, 2007, 09:29 AM

call me a lame but it looks like a hull of a ship they're building. can't wait to see the finished product. i just hope the exterior colours will be better than what they have for the UBC arena design.

officedweller

September 13th, 2007, 11:02 AM

City Council report on the Olympic Live entertainment venues:

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20070920/documents/rr2.pdf

Stages at David Lam Park and at the Larwill Park/Bus Depot site.

Vancouverite

September 13th, 2007, 11:18 AM

South-East False Creek and Olympic Village

SEFC construction precinct (14 cranes are visible by my count, and there are lots more to come)
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9106/sefcconstructionprecinczw9.jpg

SEFC Olympic Village construction progress
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6110/sefcolympicvillageconstyd9.jpg

SEFC Olympic Village “tidal island” landscaping progress
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8997/sefctidalislandconstrucha2.jpg

Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project (VCCEP)

VCCEP construction progress (Eastern elevation)
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3161/vccepconstructionno1sepyp5.jpg

VCCEP construction progress (South-Eastern elevation)
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/4498/vccepconstructionno2sepyq9.jpg

VCCEP construction progress (Western elevation)
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/306/vccepconstructionno3sepwt7.jpg

VCCEP construction progress (from the public dock at Harbour Green Park)
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1452/vccepconstructionno4froma6.jpg

VCCEP construction progress from Harbour Green Park
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/86/vccepconstructionno5froxi3.jpg

VCCEP glazing going up.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5043/vccepglazingconstructiovu4.jpg

Canada Line

Canada Line Broadway station
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/3391/canadalinebroadwaystatilz8.jpg

Tunnel Boring Machine in Yaletown station
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/9010/canadalinetunnelboringmqp3.jpg (http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2400/canadalinetunnelboringmia8.jpg)

Tunnel Boring Machine in Yaletown station (zoomed in)
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/7718/canadalinetunnelboringmrx6.jpg

All photos by Vancouverite (in SSC) and SFUVancouver (in SSP)

mr.x

September 14th, 2007, 10:23 AM

2010 Live Sites
The Olympic and Paralympic Games experience for residents, visitors and the media goes well
beyond the athletic competitions that take place within the sport venues. It is an important
to also convey important messages to the participants on the Host City, Host Province and
Host Country. As a result, over the years, Olympic Games host cities have come to recognize
that the overall Olympic and Paralympic experience and celebration must include many
activities and opportunities that attract, entertain, engage, inform and excite people of all
ages throughout the Games period.

In past Olympic Games, Calgary, Sydney, Salt Lake City, and Torino have all found that the
character, impression and legacy of the Host City has been shaped in large part by the
activities and experiences offered by a Live Site. While each Olympic and Paralympic Live Site
is different, their basic concept is to create large open spaces that provide opportunities for
information, entertainment and engagement of thousands of people.

Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler have been meeting over the past year with
partners such as VANOC, Government of Canada, Province of British Columbia and the Four
Host First Nations, to evolve a Live Site concept for the 2010 Winter Games. While the
discussions have centered around Live Sites in Vancouver and Whistler, the Province of BC has
also expressed an interest in activating Robson Square during the Games. Richmond is also
exploring a celebration zone within its community. The VANOC partners have agreed that it is
important to coordinate all of these celebrations to ensure that the activities complement
each other to ensure maximum efficiency is achieved.

The Federal Government has indicated that they have a $20 million program fund available as
their share in the development of Live Sites by Vancouver as the Host City and Whistler as
Host Mountain Resort. Live Sites are seen by the government as an opportunity to expand
awareness non residents have of Canada as a multicultural, accessible and inclusive society.
The program funding, which would be shared equally between the two communities has been
incorporated into the City’s proposed Live Site capital and operating budgets.

The two-site “Live Site” concept plan comprises two central nodes with enhanced linkages to
one another and with other partner sites.

The two nodes, and programming elements for each, are:

1) Bus Depot site (north of Georgia Street between Cambie and Beatty Streets, hosted cultural
events for the 2005 Grey Cup) City owned future site for the proposed Cultural precinct
• large stage for live entertainment performances
• screen for broadcasting Games- competitions and other related events
• potential Olympic and Paralympic sponsor showcase opportunities
• good accessibility to Expo Line Rapid transit
• concession for merchandise and food and beverage
• information booths
• washrooms
• service facilities

2) David Lam Park (a large urban park setting that has hosted events such as the
Vancouver International Jazz Festival)
• large stage on the water’s edge for live entertainment performances and
nightly closing show
• screen for broadcasting Games competitions and other related events
• potential Olympic and Paralympic sponsor showcase opportunities
• False Creek water feature
• good accessibility to the Canada Line Rapid Transit
• concession for merchandise and food and beverage
• information booths
• washrooms
• service facilities
The Beatty Street site provides good proximity to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Complex,
which will be an important venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Arts Festivals as well as a
proposed Four Host First Nations (FHFN) pavilion which has been proposed for the Queen
Elizabeth Plaza. Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with FHFN in May 2007.
Hamilton/Mainland Streets will be used as the primary link from the Beatty Street site, BC
Place, and GM Place, to the David Lam Park site. Way-finding elements, in keeping with the
proposed Downtown Historic Trail (which links Yaletown, Gastown, and Chinatown), will be
introduced along this corridor for use during the Games and will serve as the groundwork for
the potential future development of the trail. It is likely that Georgia Street and Robson
Street will also be used as links, primarily to the Province of BC pavilion at Robson Square and
the Vancouver Art Gallery. Details will be determined once VANOC’s Master Plan has been
completed, and its findings can be taken into consideration.

The cultural entertainment programming for this two-site “Live Site” concept will be
presented as a complement to the Olympic and Paralympic Arts Festivals, and will be
developed in conjunction with VANOC and the other partners. The stages at both the Bus
Depot site and at David Lam Park will offer a unique opportunity to showcase the best talent
from Vancouver, British Columbia, and from across Canada. Meanwhile, the screens will be
devoted to Games highlights, live airings of sold-out events, and to track the progress of
Canadian athletes. In addition, the sponsor-provided activations will be available
throughout each day’s operating schedule.

The peak capacity for the Beatty Street site is estimated at approximately 10,000 people, and
up to 13,000 at David Lam Park. While subject to refinement, the proposed schedule of
operations would be from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The Beatty Street site may close earlier
as the evening finale will take place at David Lam Park. With a full calendar of events over
the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games period, and the projected attendance rates for the
Live Site venues, a total of 1.6 million spectator experiences will be created for the
enjoyment of City visitors and Vancouver residents of all ages.

Site preparation will be initiated and legacy elements introduced by mid-2009 while
construction of the event infrastructure will begin early in January 2010. Both sites will
operate for the duration of the Winter Olympic Games, while operations for the transition
period between the Games and through the Paralympic period (March 12th to 28th ) will
continue on the Beatty Street site only. Restoration of any damage to David Lam Park will
begin immediately after the conclusion of the Games.

Sponsorship

A number of official Olympic and Paralympic sponsors have indicated an interest in placing
pavilions on the Live site. The pavilions would provide an opportunity for sponsor activation
through public information, interactive displays and hosting functions. A similar interest has
also been expressed by several provincial/territorial governments as well as some national
governments. Over the coming months, these interests will be explored to determine to what
extend and on what basis these elements can become a part of the Live site concept.

Security

The creation of a safe, family-friendly environment has been one of the core goals of the
planning and design work to date. The current plans call for:
• a secure, fenced perimeter
• bag check for all entering the site
• the inclusion of magnetic checking capability 24 hour remote video surveillance
on both sites and behind both stages
• video surveillance of the streets surrounding the live-sites
• closed circuit monitoring of the Live Site

Cost

The estimated cost to proceed with detailed planning is $200,000. The funds are required in
2007 to retain a consultant to advance the Live Site design and operation planning. It is
proposed that the source of funding for the $200,000 will be from the Olympic Legacy
Reserve, once the Reserve is funded. It is proposed that interim funding of $200,000 be
provided as a loan from the existing 2007 Olympic and Paralympic Operating Budget to be
repaid from the Olympic Legacy Reserve.

The total estimated cost for the two-site Live Site concept is $23 million; of this the City’s
portion is estimated to be $5 million which would be funded from the Olympic Legacy Reserve
fund. The remainder of funding is expected to be secured from the Federal Government,
value-in-kind and cost recovery site rentals to Olympic and Paralympic sponsors, as well as
ancillary onsite revenues. A detailed project budget will be reported to Council once the
detail planning is complete.

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6530/live1rc2.jpg

David Lam Park Site
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/179367185_26078b6cd6.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/55/180453860_4f8b3a311d.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/16/23186716_70dbf53f06.jpg

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/8954/live2vr6.jpg

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/5347/live3ls9.jpg

Beatty Street bus depot site
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/74/live4sh2.jpg

Robson Square site
http://units.sla.org/chapter/cwcn/conference/NWRC2006/media/067_-_Vancouver_Art_Gallery.jpg
http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca/faculty_projects/terri/images/robson/robson2633.jpg
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/9126/live5fp5.jpg

mr.x

September 18th, 2007, 09:02 PM

As Premier National Partner of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and a long-time supporter of the arts, Bell is bringing together Canada's top talent in the fields of both sport and culture to produce 'Believe (Olympic Inspired Version)', a one-of-a-kind music video and audio track that will raise funds for Canada's winter athletes and chronicle their extraordinary journey on the road to 2010.

Believe 2010 music video by Suzie McNeil:
http://entertainment1.sympatico.msn.ca/Music/Believe/index

xbyfto2F6w

mr.x

September 20th, 2007, 05:39 AM

City council questioning cost of free Games sites

Ian Austin, The Province
Published: Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Vancouver city council yesterday questioned the wisdom of spending $5 million on two entertainment venues for the Olympics.

"Five million dollars -- that's a lot of money for a big screen and a place to watch," said Coun. Heather Deal of the city's proposed Olympic Live Site Plan.

Dave Rudberg, the city's general manager of Olympic and Paralympic Operations, walked the councillors through a video presentation of what the two free entertainment venues may look like.

At the site of the former Beatty Street Bus Depot, large lighting towers dominate a futuristic streetscape, where thousands would gather for 12 hours of free entertainment daily from Feb. 5 to March 28, 2010.

Rudberg also showed off artists' conceptions of an even more ambitious plan for David Lam Park -- a giant floating stage hovering over False Creek, with each evening's show climaxing with a huge cascade of water from a saltwater pumping station and a fireworks display reminiscent of each evening's closing ceremonies at Expo 86.

He said the city hopes to rent out tents and sponsors' pavilions at the two venues to governments and corporations to offset costs, but conceded much work still needs to be done.

"The numbers are pretty good now, but they're based on a concept," he said.

"We'll have to work out the costs, and the revenues, and if they don't match up we'll have to scale back."

The city has scheduled an ideas fair for November to get further public input, including the fact that one live site has now morphed into two, on top of two additional Olympic entertainment venues at Whistler and Richmond. "To have two in the city -- that just seems to add extra costs," said Coun. David Cadman.

"You're right," answered Rudberg. "The plan has evolved. That's in recognition of the space limitations downtown. It does increase the potential for revenue."

Along with corporate sponsors, the city is counting on Ottawa to provide $10 million in funding for the weeks of free concerts and entertainment.

Rudberg promised that the city will receive some long-term benefit from the scheme -- the iconic lighting towers and stages will be moved after the Olympics for use at other sites in the city.

iaustin@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2007

mr.x

September 20th, 2007, 10:53 PM

http://sfgate.com/sports/pictures/2000/09/15/ceremony-13_olx2k.jpg

Sydney Games producer to stage 2010 ceremonies
September 20, 2007 | Vancouver2010.com

Vancouver, BC - In 876 days, billions of people around the globe will tune in to watch the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron to officially open the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games at BC Place Stadium for one of Canada’s biggest international spectacles. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) today introduced the Ceremonies team that will lead the development of the Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and nightly Olympic Victory Ceremony presentations.

“Our goal is to create spectacular Ceremonies of which all Canadians can be proud,” said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer. “This incredible team has the proven passion and talent to develop magnificent Ceremonies that will celebrate the possible and share our great country with the rest of the world.”

David Atkins Enterprises (DAE) of Australia, producer of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Sydney 2000 Summer Games, Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, and the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006, in Qatar, has been selected as Executive Producer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Ceremonies.

The company’s founder, David Atkins, and DAE’s Catherine Ugwu and Ignatius Jones, will collaborate with a world-class team of Canadians to tell the unique story of Canada through the Games Ceremonies. The Ceremonies team will also feature leading figures drawn from Canada’s music, producing, creative and events industries including Sam Feldman, Bruce Allen, Nettwerk Records’ Dan Fraser, Canadian College of Performing Arts cofounder Jacques Lemay, Director and Image Creator Érick Villeneuve and VANOC Ceremonies’ staff members Ian Pool and Marti Kulich.

This Canadian team has created, produced, written, directed and presented many of Canada’s most memorable events. These include some of Canada’s largest concerts and touring music shows, major Games Ceremonies including the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games; the 1999 Pan American Games; the 1994 Commonwealth Games; Canada Games; theatre spectacles; television shows; Royal Visits; and iconic special events, such as the Opening Ceremony of Prince Edward Island’s Confederation Bridge.

“The creation of a strong Canadian team is essential in the realization and successful delivery of the Ceremonies. We are thrilled to be working with VANOC to tell Canada’s story using the breadth of talent and expertise that is so evident across the country,” said David Atkins.

“Our search for the Executive Producer was extremely rigorous because this is our opportunity to show the world what we can do, and what we can be,” said Terry Wright VANOC’s Executive Vice President, Service Operations and Ceremonies division. “DAE was selected as Executive Producer based on its expertise and experience in staging all aspects of extremely successful international events. We’re delighted to be working in collaboration with David Atkins Enterprises and a Ceremonies team that includes many of the very best Canadian creative and production minds.”

“The 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony will be the greatest opportunity British Columbia has ever had to show the world why this is the best place on earth," said Premier Gordon Campbell. "We're pleased to see the level of talent and expertise assembled for VANOC's Ceremonies team and we look forward to a spectacular ceremony that will capture the imagination of viewers worldwide."

"The Government of Canada is proud to support the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The opening and closing ceremonies will capture both the spirit of our country and British Columbia's unique personality. We, and all Canadians, look forward to a global event that Canada can be proud of in 2010," commented David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics.

Viewed by a worldwide audience of approximately three billion spectators, the Games Ceremonies are mandated by the International Olympic Committee to promote international peace and understanding, honouring the world’s greatest athletes and celebrating humanity.

“Beyond the sports competitions, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies are among the most memorable events of the Games and are some of the most complex events to create and deliver. They typically set the scene and offer the first ‘wow’ moments of the Games,” concluded Wright. “Historic ceremony protocols must be integrated into unforgettable shows that translate well to live audiences – both in the stadium and watching on television around the world.”

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony will take place in Vancouver’s 55,000-seat BC Place Stadium on February 12, 2010. The Closing Ceremony, on February 28, 2010, will also be held at BC Place Stadium. This will be the first time in Olympic Games history that the Olympic Ceremonies will be staged in the comfort of an indoor venue. The Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony will be held on March 12, 2010, also at BC Place Stadium, followed by the Closing Ceremony on March 21, 2010, in Whistler.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the
XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit vancouver2010.com for the latest information.

Peeking behind the scenes of the Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies
September 20, 2007 | Vancouver2010.com

For weeks, widespread speculation has surrounded the announcement of who would be named to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Ceremonies Team. While this week’s announcement was met with excitement and enthusiasm, the speculation did not stop. Guesswork quickly turned to what the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will look like and who will be performing.

David Atkins, the newly appointed Executive Producer for Vancouver 2010’s Olympic Ceremonies Team isn’t giving anything away. “No hints, it’s too early in the process.” What viewers can be sure of, though, is that it will be exciting. “There’s no shortage of talent in Canada,” said Atkins. “In fact, there’s an embarrassment of riches when it comes to Canada’s resource of performers, artists and cultural practitioners. The ceremonies will profile and represent the best of these.”

Creating a Ceremonies addiction

The Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies strive to capture the spirit and unique personality of the host city, province and country, while providing inspiring Olympic and Paralympic messages and entertaining billions world wide.

Atkins, who was the Executive Producer and Artistic Director of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Summer Games ceremonies as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 15 th Asian Games in Doha in 2006, admits that working on the Olympic Games becomes a bit addictive. “The pressure is quite extraordinary on every member of the team. These are once-only events. It’s a highly-charged experience with years of work coming down to one night, one time, and one place.”

It’s not surprising, then, that the majority of the Ceremonies Team has worked on past Games Ceremonies, including Calgary 1988, Sydney 2000 and Torino 2006. Marti Kulich, VANOC’s Program Director, Ceremonies and Production Services, noted that it is not just a group of individuals but truly a team that will produce the 2010 Olympic Ceremonies. And what a team.

Ceremonies Creative Team members include Jacques Lemay, Ian Pool, and Catherine Ugwu, all of whom have previously worked on Olympic, Commonwealth and other international Games. Prominent Canadian music scene legends, Bruce Allen, Sam Feldman and Dan Fraser, are also on board. Ignatius Jones, Artistic Director of the 15th Asian Games Ceremonies, as well as Érick Villeneuve, acclaimed Director and Special Visual Effects Designer round out the 10-member team along with Atkins and Kulich.

To learn more about the members of the Olympic Ceremonies Team, read their biographies. (pdf)
http://www.vancouver2010.com/resources/PDFs/CeremoniesTeamBiosEN.pdf

Three ceremonies, one venue

The 55,000-seat BC Place Stadium will be the site for the Opening, Closing and Victory Ceremonies for the Olympic Games as well as the Opening Ceremony for the Paralympic Games.

The stadium, located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, will host an Olympic Ceremony every night from February 12 to 28 as well as the Paralympic Opening on March 12. Given the multitude of Ceremonies, one of the challenges the Team faces is quick turnover at the stadium venue. “It definitely makes it more exciting,” notes Atkins. “The combining of all three Olympic Ceremonies [Opening, Closing and Victory Ceremonies] in the one venue provides another opportunity for Vancouver 2010 to distinguish itself from all other [Games] Ceremonies. There are challenges and opportunities and they’ll need to be managed effectively, but the advantages provided by this decision far outweigh any difficulties that may arise.”

A unique feature of BC Place Stadium is that it’s an indoor venue with the largest air-supported stadium roof in North America. The indoor aspect eliminates weather concerns, while opening up further surfaces for the projection, lighting and special effects planned for the Ceremonies.

With years of preparation involved in staging the Ceremonies, the weather is, in Atkins’ opinion, the “single greatest risk to the delivery of a Ceremony.” Taking weather out of the equation will “free up the team to explore new ideas and push new boundaries.”

Victory, celebration and medal presentations

Even without having to worry about what Mother Nature has in store, the Olympic Ceremonies Team will still be very busy. Nightly medal presentations will be followed by large arena-style concerts, featuring some of Canada’s top performers. Still Atkins and the team aren’t worried. He believes that adding the extra excitement of live musical performances “will provide the Victory Ceremonies with a level of theatre and celebration not replicated by previous Games”.

Medals won on the lower mainland will be awarded during the Victory Ceremony at BC Place Stadium. Medals won in Whistler will be awarded at the 8,000-capacity Celebration Site temporarily located in Whistler Village. For the first time in Games history, both venues will be linked live via video.

With the Ceremonies Team underway and the venue set, speculation has begun again. Who will be the performers? How will they light the torch? What will the Ceremonies look like? Whatever the questions, one thing is certain; the Olympic Ceremonies will capture the spirit and personality of Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada.

deasine

September 21st, 2007, 03:27 AM

As Mr. X pointed out - Global Noon News Hour Report:

http://video.canada.com/Video.aspx?30431

Australian chosen to produce 2010 Winter Games ceremonies
Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
The man who produced one of the most memorable opening and closing ceremonies in Olympic history has been given the job of crafting the ceremonies for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

David Atkins, whose production of the 2000 Sydney Summer Games ceremonies are regarded as one of four top Olympic performances, was named Thursday as the executive producer of a team heavy with Canadian talent, including impresarios Sam Feldman, Bruce Allen, Nettwerk Records' Dan Fraser and Jacques Lemay, the co-founder of the Canadian College of Performing Arts.

Atkins beat out a field of 15 other contenders to head the $40 million production, including such competitors as Scott Givens and Don Mischer, who produced the 2002 Salt Lake Games events, and Austrialian colleague Andrew Walsh, who also worked on the Sydney ceremonies.

But his proposal was not accepted unchanged by the Vancouver Organizing Committee. Instead, in a pattern moulded after the Beijing 2008 Summer Games, Vanoc cherry-picked elements from a number of the other proposals. In fact, one of the largest combinations came from Feldman and Allen, who had submitted a proposal of their own but were asked to form a team with Atkins.

Atkins and his crew will be responsible for producing both the opening and closing ceremony shows as well as the nightly victory ceremonies at BC Place.

It will be the first time in Olympic history that such events have been held indoors, something Atkins said later won't pose a challenge. Instead, creating a performance with 10,000 performers inside a venue where weather isn't a factor will be a joy, he said.

"The greatest impediment to any ceremonies is the weather," he said. "In this case, that has been sensibly removed."

The opening ceremony show, which Vanoc says will last about two-and-a-half hours, will be performed before a live audience of 50,000. The closing ceremonies will last about two hours and fifteen minutes. But Atkins said that by the end of the Olympics, the events will have been viewed by six billion people.

The International Olympic Committee estimates that up to three billion people watch each opening or closing ceremonies.

It will certainly be, by Atkins' estimation, the most-watched television production in Canadian history.

Atkins and Terry Wright, Vanoc's executive vice-president of ceremonies, said the events will be an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Canadian talent. They said they will begin a search later this year to identify national, regional and local talent.

The ceremonies will pay tribute to all of Canada's cultural communities, including First Nations and the country's linguistic duality, Wright said.

Atkins' list of credits include the 2000 Sydney Games, including the Sydney Harbour closing ceremony fireworks show that included the world's longest fireworks show.

Atkins said he won't use such fireworks for the BC Place show, but will look for other opportunities, including using the Teflon dome as a projection screen.

nova9

September 21st, 2007, 04:20 AM

Great news. I hope the height (lack there of rather) of BC Place won't hinder the ceremonies though even if he says he likes it.

mr.x

September 21st, 2007, 05:10 AM

^i doubt it'll hinder it. The former Olympic Stadium in Sydney is about the same height as BC Place. The only thing you won't get is aerial shots from helicopters of what's going on.

Anyhow....

2h30m for the opening and 2h15m for the closing is quite disappointingly short for Olympic ceremonies, comparing to the 3-3.5 hour shows in Athens and Torino and the 4 hour monsters in Sydney and Salt Lake. Or is the 2h30m only the cultural show portions of the ceremonies, not including 1-1.5 hours for the parade of nations, lighting of the cauldron, and IOC protocol? It would be ideal and more proper to have longer ceremonies, about 3-3h30 minutes long.

And no fireworks??? Even though it's an indoor venue, surely they can have fireworks going off outside in Vancouver for the billions of tv viewers to see. An Olympic ceremony isn't an Olympic ceremony if it doesn't have fireworks!

And with using the teflon dome as a giant projection screen, they've got a lot of cleaning to do.

deasine

September 21st, 2007, 05:14 AM

And with using the teflon dome as a giant projection screen, they've got a lot of cleaning to do.

how about replacing instead? *wink

mr.x

September 21st, 2007, 05:19 AM

how about replacing instead? *wink

That would be most ideal.....add in new seats, new lighting, new acoustics to the list.

jlousa

September 21st, 2007, 08:44 PM

Acoustics and lighting are already in the works, as are new concessions. The roof they are awfully quiet about, but last I heard all it required was a wash.

deasine

September 22nd, 2007, 06:14 AM

mr.x

September 22nd, 2007, 08:00 AM

Can they actually bleach it since it is fabric... or wait... we are talking about years of stains... I'm sure anything will look better than what we see now.

BC Places is in need of desperate upgrades...

I heard that all that is needed is a power wash. I'm assuming they tested that method before telling that to the public, though I wonder what kind of equipment they would need to power wash the interior......at its highest point, the dome is taller than the Statue of Liberty.

mr.x

October 16th, 2007, 05:14 AM

Venue Update: Cypress Mountain

Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, October 15, 2007

Cypress Mountain, home of freestyle skiing and snowboarding events, is moving towards completion.

The freestyle aerials and moguls courses, snowboard parallel giant slalom, snowboard/ski cross courses, halfpipe as well as the freestyle surface lift have all been completed. The new Black Mountain chairlift, venue lighting upgrades, new parking lot, aerials judges tower and site-wide high power electrical upgrades will be ready this fall. Final work on the snowmaking reservoir, pumping stations and installation of fan guns is scheduled for later this month. In September, the International Olympic Committee inspected both snowboard and freestyle courses. Not only will Cypress host the world's freestyle and snowboarding Olympians but it will be a location where sustainability was incorporated into venue construction. Locally-significant plants were found growing in the small wetland identified as the site for the future snow-making reservoir. Though not required to salvage the plants, Vancouver 2010 and its partners decided to save them to benefit the park. Volunteers donned rubber boots and hard hats for a day to carefully move tiny plants to their new home nearby.

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

spongeg

October 18th, 2007, 02:39 AM

Expect thousands of native protesters at the 2010 winter games.

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - Olympic organizers are being warned to expect thousands of native protesters at the 2010 winter games.
During meetings held in Mexico last week, first nations leaders from the US, Canada and Mexico formally announced their opposition to the Vancouver-Whistler games.

Chris Shaw with the group 2010 Watch was also there...and he's predicting security costs will undoubtedly rise.

"Whether or not the security forces take that as a threat that they need to increase the security budget or they take it as a point that may be embarrassing for the games and for Vancouver is really the issue."

Shaw says native leaders who support the Olympics have been called 'sell-outs' by opponents gathering in Mexico...because many land claims in BC have not been settled....and most of the homeless people living in Vancouver’s downtown eastside are first nations.

http://www.cknw.com/news/news_local.cfm?cat=7428109912&rem=77215&red=80110923aPBIny&wids=410&gi=1&gm=news_local.cfm

Nutterbug

October 18th, 2007, 04:30 AM

wake2snow

October 18th, 2007, 05:17 AM

How is it that natives always know exactly what to do to piss people off, and what does the olympics have to do with land claims anyway. A big part of why BC is doing so well right now is because of the Olympics. The homeless, native population in the downtown eastside are their because of choices they made in their lives, NOT because of the Olympics. Natives need to stop worrying so much about "land claims" and start focusing on ways to deal with the drug and alcohol problem on and off their reserves. They could have all the land in the world and I don't see how that is going to get their people off the streets.

The amount of groups that are going to be using the Olympics as a platform for protest is going to completely backfire, (I hope). All the bitching, from so many different groups and organizations will cause people to lose interest in any message that any party is trying to get across.
I already don't care what the majority of them have to say.

mr.x

November 1st, 2007, 09:46 AM

Committee for Vancouver's 2010 Olympics signs UN environment agreement

The Canadian Press
October 29, 2007

VANCOUVER - Organizers for the 2010 Winter Olympics Games signed a United Nations agreement Monday as part of their efforts to tout the Vancouver Games' commitment to the environment.

But the pledge reignited criticisms that the lasting impact of the international event will leave a negative environmental footprint.

John Furlong, chief executive officer of the Vancouver organizing committee known as VANOC, was in New York to sign the agreement with the United Nations Environment Program.

Other Olympic cities have also partnered with the UN program and the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy are especially seen as having raised the environmental bar for Olympic events.

Under the agreement, VANOC promises to come up with innovative ways to minimize the environmental footprint of major events before, during and after the Games.

Furlong was unavailable for comment Monday.

But in a text of his speech on VANOC's website, Furlong outlined what Vancouver is doing to ensure the Games are environmentally sustainable, including downsizing some venues, outfitting others with energy-efficient LED lights and recapturing heat and using green power.

"The evolution of Olympic values, from their initial focus on the practice of sport as a human right to where sport can play a key role in the development of humankind, is broadening the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games," he said.

But Joe Foy, of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, said Furlong is only talking about the weeks in 2010 when the Games are underway.

He said the massive transportation infrastructure built for the Games will increase greenhouse gas emissions long after the athletes have come and gone.

Habitat for endangered species like the grizzly bear will also be destroyed with the building of the recreational legacy trails in Whistler, he said.

"For biologists, that's a really important development," he said of the neighbouring Callaghan Valley, believed to be grizzly habitat.

"That, to me, more than anything, symbolizes the truth about VANOC's so-called green commitment."

George McKay, VANOC's director of environmental approvals, said in June at a public meeting in Whistler that $100,000 will be contributed over three years to the Environment Ministry and others to develop a grizzly bear research program in the area.

Deborah Carlson, climate change co-ordinator for the David Suzuki Foundation, said she'd like to know what VANOC will do to mitigate the unavoidable carbon emissions from spectators flying to Vancouver for the Games.

While other Olympic host cities have included officials and athletes in an attempt to deal with carbon emissions from transportation, Carlson said the impact of spectators has never been considered.

Previous Olympic Games have also taken into account only emissions within the region.

"What we'd like to see is some accounting for emissions for spectators that are coming from outside the region," Carlson said, adding about 250,000 visitors have flown to see the Games in other cities such as Salt Lake City and Turin.

"Who is going to take responsibility for those emissions?" she said.

"Is it going to be VANOC directly or is there going to be some mechanism whereby spectators, for example, would be encouraged to offset their flights?"

Carbon offsets involve individuals, companies and governments compensating for greenhouse gas emissions for air travel, for example, by paying for emission reductions elsewhere, including community projects such as tree planting.

United Nations/IOC Environmental conference coming to Vancouver in '09

Damian Inwood, The Province
Published: Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Hundreds of international delegates will attend an environmental conference in Vancouver in 2009, marking the first time it will be held in Canada.

The conference was included in a memorandum of understanding signed in New York yesterday between Vancouver 2010 and the United Nations Environment Program.

"I am confident that we will draw a record attendance and build on the intense and growing interest in sustainability here in B.C., throughout Canada and worldwide," said 2010 CEO John Furlong.

Premier Gordon Campbell said the conference reflects a growing worldwide recognition of the importance of fighting global warming.

The 8th World Conference on Sport and the Environment will be held in spring 2009, said Furlong.

Previous conferences were in Beijing, Nairobi, Turin, Nagano, Kuwait City, Rio de Janeiro and Lausanne.

Delegates come from the International Olympic Committee, national Olympic committees, international sports federations, past and current Olympic organizing committees, candidate cities, major international sporting events, governments, corporate sponsors, academic institutions and environmental organizations.

The annual meeting of the IOC Sport and Environment Commission is usually held in conjunction with the conference.

dinwood@png.canwest.com

mr.x

November 1st, 2007, 11:14 PM

Whistler-Blackcomb mulls over costs of renting out hills
Clare Ogilvie, The Province
Published: Thursday, November 01, 2007

WHISTLER -- How much does it cost to rent the world's second-busiest ski resort?

That's the thorny question Whistler-Blackcomb officials and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games have been struggling over for months.

It's difficult to come up with a number, said Doug Forseth, the resort's vice-president in charge of operations.

Like the current board of elected municipal politicians, the new appointed board will be able to raise property taxes, change taxation classifications, accumulate property and run its own police force.

A council of regional mayors will meet quarterly but will only vote on supplements to the base plan proposed by the new board, which is supposed to take office Jan 1.

"You're creating this significant regional agency which will have significant decision-

making powers and removing it from local accountability," Smith said yesterday.

"It fails the democracy test," he said. "It's designed to have [Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon's] agenda move forward with the fewest hiccups."

Municipal legal expert Jonathan Baker is also critical.

"I think it fails the administrative test," said Baker, a lawyer and former Vancouver city councillor. "It seems outrageous that you have an appointed body doing that sort of thing.

"It seems to me the public should have the right to vote out of power someone that levies a property tax if they don't like it. Didn't someone once say that taxation without representation is tyranny?"

But the government believes the new structure is better.

"I would argue better accountability because every single mayor is involved now," said Falcon. "Every single mayor will have the opportunity to participate in the construction of the alternate 10-year plan, the strategic plan.

"They will be the ones to vote on whether to accept the alternative plan or just continue operating on the base plan they have in place today.

"Under the new model, any new tax measures will have to be authorized and approved by the mayors' council and that's all of the mayors represented on that council."

In addition to the mayors' council, there will also be an independent transit commissioner to investigate TransLink's plans and fare increases.

fluba@png.canwest.com

mr.x

November 3rd, 2007, 11:08 PM

Games should benefit the homeless: UN envoy

Steven Edwards with a file from Chantal Eustace, CanWest News Service
Published: Saturday, November 03, 2007

A United Nations envoy who examined homelessness in Canada says both Olympic Village housing and profits from the 2010 Olympic Games should be used to provide shelter for the homeless in Vancouver.

In an interview from his home in New Delhi, Miloon Kothari expanded Friday on an updated report his Geneva-based office released the day before.

"Vancouver said, 'If we get the Games, we commit to leaving a positive legacy,' and we [at the UN] are taking that at face value," Kothari said.

"The city will get a lot of publicity from this, and a lot of goodwill is generated, so I don't see any reason the profits that are there should not be put back into the city."

He specified that excess funds should be spent on "people who need their lives improved" and "not go into the hands of a few individuals."

Kothari will include the recommendation in a report that assesses Canada's compliance with treaties it has signed covering social and economic rights.

Canada traditionally cooperates as much as possible with such reviews to demonstrate to countries with poor human rights records that everyone should be subject to scrutiny.

But business owners who hope to profit from tourism sparked by the Games are likely to resist any notion their profits should be turned over for housing projects.

Meanwhile, any money left over from the official Games budget is already slated to be spent on sports in Canada.

"There will be a housing legacy of the Games, such as 250 affordable housing units from the Vancouver Olympic village," said Donna Wilson, a senior executive with the organizing committee.

"But our mandate is to promote the development of sport in Canada, as governed by the Host City Contract and Multiparty Agreements. It's already committed that our surplus will go towards amateur sport."

Niels Veldhuis, director of fiscal studies with the Fraser Institute think-tank, said it is not clear whether there will be money left over, but added that reassessing land use in the Lower Mainland is the way to tackle the problem of housing shortages.

Kothari scoffs at the idea that events such as the Olympics do not generate an overall profit.

"It's all a question of how you count the balance sheet," he said.

"I've been to some of these cities where Games have taken place, and there has been a lot of money generated. You have to see the result in terms of looking ahead many years."

He said Vancouver should "have a vision that says, 'Yes, we'll not only become a city known around the world, but we're going to improve the standing of our citizens.'"

Cameron Gray, director of Vancouver's housing centre, said he welcomed the international attention on homelessness.

"So [Kothari's] recommendations, from conversations that we had with him when he was here, are basically to get on and implement the city's homeless action plan," said Gray, referring to a plan to create 8,000 new housing units in the next 10 years. "There is still a lot more for us to do."

Trained as an architect, Kothari toured Canada as the world body's housing envoy from Oct. 9 to 22.

He said he visited Vancouver specifically to assess whether the Olympic bid's pledges "are being kept."

"So far in Vancouver, there aren't many results on the ground, but we still have some time to go," he said.

Kothari's update Thursday highlights his view that "the resources generated by [the Olympics] should be used to improve the adverse housing situation in Vancouver."

It also says Vancouver Olympic officials and city authorities "need to continue to implement specific targets and strategies on housing and homelessness."

The report recommends that funding and other resources should accommodate at least the construction of 3,200 units of "affordable housing" identified by local authorities as a need.

It says officials managing the social development plan of the Games need to do their work in the open so they "can be effectively monitored."

Kothari recommends the creation of an independent monitoring body that would ensure official pledges to alleviate shortages in the region where the Olympics will take place are met.

At a press conference in Ottawa at the end of his trip he made headlines by calling on federal and provincial governments to address what he described as Canada's housing crisis by launching public housing programs "on a large scale."

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

mr.x

November 6th, 2007, 05:24 AM

Recent photo of Richmond Olympic Oval, by bils:
http://www.bilsproductions.com/ovalnov.jpg

mr.x

November 9th, 2007, 05:55 AM

Ottawa offers $20 million for Winter Games entertainment

Clare Ogilvie, The Province
Published: Thursday, November 08, 2007

WHISTLER -- Ottawa is giving Whistler and Vancouver $10 million each to host Live Site celebrations during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"We are confirming that $10 million is there," David Emerson, the federal minister responsible for the 2010 Games, told Whistler officials yesterday.

Whistler plans on hosting a 24-hour-a-day party every day of the Games.

The stage performances, musical acts, theatre and dance will run in six different sites throughout the village with the largest venue being the purpose-built Celebration Plaza. Up to 25,000 will be able to celebrate throughout the village.

The Plaza will also be the site of the closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Games. Athletes will also receive medals at the plaza.

"It is an opportunity for us to create national pride and celebrate our culture," said Emerson.

To date, the budget for Whistler's celebrations is $20 million. Another $12 million will come from the Vancouver Organizing Committee's operational budget, and the resort will put in $7.5 million from a tax on tourists. The remainder will come from sponsors.

Whistler Mayor Ken Melamed said the Live Site plan was based on months of discussions.

The celebrations will not only leave the legacy of the Celebration Plaza, it will act as a catalyst for arts and culture in the community, said Melamed.

"We are convinced that this will carry forward into the years ahead and one of the messages that people will leave Whistler with is the association with culture as well as recreation and service," he said.

"Our intention is to create a party experience that you almost can't escape.

"We want people to have an opportunity to experience the Games whether they are inside the fence of the venue or outside. We really want to make this a true Olympiad for arts culture and sport."

To date no artists or performers have been confirmed, said Doti Niedermeyer, executive director of the Whistler Arts Council.

clareogilvie@telus.net

© The Vancouver Province 2007

Mo Rush

November 9th, 2007, 02:10 PM

sorry for the off-topic discussion but i saw that vancouver hosted the 1954 commonwealth games, any possibility of hosting in the future 2018 2022 etc? i think it would be fantastic.

mr.x

November 19th, 2007, 05:01 AM

Inside Richmond oval
http://spitsnet.nl/uploaded/ANP/img-131107-082.onlineBild.jpg

lightrail

November 19th, 2007, 10:16 PM

Whistler-Blackcomb mulls over costs of renting out hills

"It seems to me the public should have the right to vote out of power someone that levies a property tax if they don't like it. Didn't someone once say that taxation without representation is tyranny?"

Simple answer - you vote out the government that enacted the legisation - in the end it will be the tyrant Falcon that will be held accountable - didn't our grandfathers fight a war against this kind of thing?

I suspect the legislation won't hold up in the Court against the Canadian Charter - so look for a challenge soon after implementation.

mr.x

November 22nd, 2007, 05:05 AM

Vancouver airport death won't dampen Olympic attendance: Vanoc

Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, November 21, 2007

VANCOUVER - The public furor over the tasering and death of Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver International Airport won't stop people from attending the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vanoc officials said today.

But Vancouver Organizing Committee CEO John Furlong said the incident means Vanoc and YVR officials will have to work harder to assure visitors the airport is a welcoming place.

"The airport is an Olympic venue. There is no hiding the fact that the public's awareness of this incident is extraordinarily high," he said. "I think that will have a positive influence on all the parties that are trying to create this an extraordinarily welcoming atmosphere. It is the front door into the city."

Dziekanski's death after being tasered by four RCMP officers is not an image Furlong wants visitors to think about when they arrive in 2010.

"We will do our darnedest to work with the airport authority to make sure people coming through the airport to the Games have the best experience," he said in an interview in Richmond, following a Vanoc board meeting.

Furlong said he has written to YVR CEO Larry Berg offering to meet with him over the next few weeks.

Vanoc chair Jack Poole told reporters he, like many people, was disturbed by the video images showing Dziekanski being tasered by a RCMP officer last month before dying on the floor of the airport's arrival area.

"It's obviously not a day any of us are proud of," Poole said.

But he believes the incident won't affect public attendance at the Games and that Vancouver will survive the bad publicity just as other Olympic cities have.

"If you researched past Olympic Games you would find there are events not totally dissimilar to this surrounding every Olympic games," he said. "This is really an unfortunate, regrettable event but it's not going to impact on the 2010 Games."

Questions about the incident dominated a news conference following the board conference and annual general meeting. But Vanoc also revealed that it's venue construction contingency fund has grown by $250,000 in net savings.

Dan Doyle, Vanoc's vice-president of venue construction, said Vanoc saved $2.5 million on the reconstruction of the Coliseum venue, site of figure skating and short-track speed-skating, but spent $2.25 million more on contracts for the Hillcrest curling venue.

Part of the savings at Hastings Park came from a deal with Great Canadian Casinos, which installed slot machines at the adjacent Hastings Park race track. The two companies agreed to split the $1.2-million cost of upgrading the electrical service to the area, Doyle said.

Overall, the contingency still has $27.1 million, which Doyle said was adequate for the construction work that remains.

The meeting was the first Poole had chaired since June, when he stepped down temporarily to undergo radiation and chemotherapy for cancer of the pancreas. His presence was necessary because this was also the annual general meeting where the 19 appointed board members had to appoint a chairman and also reappoint Vanoc management.

Looking extremely thin but sounding strong, Poole said he was happy to be back and he even joked about his reappointment.

"The biggest news coming from the annual general meeting is that senior management and the chairman each got our jobs back. It was a very close vote, 19 to zero," he said. "The zeroes almost had it."

jefflee@png.canwest.com

mr.x

November 24th, 2007, 04:30 AM

Venue Update: Nearing Completion

VANOC NEWS RELEASE
November 22, 2007

Building the track at the Whistler Sliding Centre, SeptemberBy the end of 2007, construction at all outdoor venue sites will be finished – an unprecedented success. “Just pretty fantastic” noted John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).”We set a target that construction at these venues would be done at the end of this year and they are.”

The Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler Nordic Competition Venue, Cypress Mountain venue, the alpine courses at Whistler Creekside and updates to the short track speed skating and figure skating at the Pacific Coliseum venue will all be completed by Christmas 2007. Construction crews have worked tirelessly to bring these sites to operational use and soon, these venues will be open to the public for recreational use. Not long after, the venues will then be put to work hosting international level competitions starting in February 2008 with the Alpine World Cup in Whistler.

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/Features/1skidjump.jpg

Even with these recent successes, the venue construction team is still not slowing down – there are indoor venues to be completed. “In the coming year, in 2008, you’ll see the completion of the number one hockey arena at the University of British Columbia which will be used for women’s hockey and sledge hockey,” said Furlong. “You’ll see the curling facility at Hillcrest finished in the third quarter. The speed skating facility at the Richmond Oval will also be substantially complete and the two Villages, obviously, are continuing and are exactly where they need to be to deliver on the objective of having them ready in time for the Games.”

“So we’re very proud and, of course, the icing on the cake is they’ll be done and they’ll be completed on budget,” said Furlong. “We’re very, very proud of it.”

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/Features/3nov3.jpg

And the luge track at the Base II of Blackcomb at Whistler Village, which will also open in a few weeks.
http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/Features/1sept17.jpg

mr.x

November 24th, 2007, 10:57 PM

Hyper-hush surrounds 2010 Games mascots 'til Tuesday

Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, November 24, 2007

On Tuesday, the biggest Olympic secret since Vanoc's unveiling of its Inukshuk logo two years ago will be revealed when the mascots for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics are made public.

The drama has been building. Websites and blogs have been speculating on what inevitably cuddly, cute creatures the Vancouver Organizing Committee has come up with.

What's at stake is an indelible image Vanoc wants recognized around the world, representative of British Columbia and Canada. They want mascots that will tie children and youth into the Olympic movement and to the Winter Games.

They also expect the mascots to drive their marketing and licence revenues.

On Wednesday morning licensees will stock stores with every manner of mascot-branded toy, clothing and trinket.

There has already been a frenzy among memorabilia collectors who have tried to get tickets to the unveiling at the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey. Some have gone so far as to ask reporters if they can work as their assistants.

In response, hyper-secrecy has been the order of the day; Vanoc has kept details off Internet-enabled computers and hidden them from search engines that scour patent and trademark databases around the world.

Vanoc has kept most of its staff in the dark. Only slightly more than a dozen employees and executives, the design team and a few close-mouthed sponsors who needed to develop pin designs know the details. Even people working with the design team who don't need access to the images haven't been shown them.

Vanoc is even reluctant to take reporters' calls about the design and process. The launch, as Dave Cobb, Vanoc's executive vice-president of marketing and communications, says, is one of the signature events in the run-up to the Games, and the principle of "loose lips sink ships" has been practised to high art form.

In one unintended hint, Vanoc CEO John Furlong once referred to the mascots in a speech as "critters." We also know that the winning submission came from a pair of graphic designers, location unknown, whose bid was among 178 submissions professional designers made to Vanoc last September.

So, with all that in mind, what else is known about the mascots?

Well, there are at least two -- one for the Olympics and one for the Paralympics. There might possibly be more, but Vanoc won't say if it is following in the steps of other Games committees that have chosen multiple mascots.

They will also have two legs. They have to, in order for humans to operate them. Even if they are, speculatively speaking, four-legged sea otters or Vancouver Island marmots, two-finned beluga whales or a first nations-inspired thunderbird with wings.

Will they be uniquely identifiable as British Columbian? After all, even Premier Gordon Campbell has weighed in, suggesting the white kermode bear of B.C.'s central coast would be appropriate.

Vanoc is keeping mum. But Ali Gardiner, Vanoc's director of brand and creative services, does say the winning designs are ones that Canadians will adopt as their own and yet have regional characteristics that people in any province can accept.

"A good mascot can help reveal a side of your country and tell a story of the Games that will really appeal to children, and also to adults and youth."

Most importantly they will have character. Vanoc has spent a lot of time developing the back story for each mascot, testing them with groups of children around North America. It was fairly easy to find what Gardiner called "the magic factor."

"There were a lot of concepts that were popular, but there were a few we could tell really just captured peoples' imaginations," she said. "You would hear them talking about them as if they were a family member or friend."

Vanoc winnowed through more than 20 concepts. The names and images were also screened for unintended meanings in all the world's languages and cultures.

It's a task Fraser Bullock, the former CEO of the 2002 Salt Lake Games, says is critical if the committee wants to avoid a cultural disaster.

"You have to run all the traps so that you don't offend a culture or a country with a name you didn't realize had a different meaning," he said.

Bullock, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee's Vancouver Coordination Commission, said he hasn't seen Vanoc's designs.

Mascots are supposed to be something that "ties to the culture, to the land, something about your community, province or state," said Bullock. For example, Salt Lake created three mascots, Powder (a hare), Copper (coyote), and Coal (a bear) that represented the Olympic motto of Citius, Altius, Fortius, or Faster, Higher, Stronger, as well as snow and the two primary resources of Utah.

"What we were trying to accomplish was to create greater affiliation with the Games, and at the same time tie it to our local identity," he said. Vanoc is not giving any hints about the form or type, other than to say that they won't be fantastic creations of the mind that have no connection to animals, minerals or elements.

In the history of the Olympics and Paralympics, only the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games ventured into the realm of the fantastic, creating a mascot out of nothing, an amorphous blue blob that even its creators had trouble defining. They even settled on a name, "Whatizit," which became shortened to "Izzy," while wags wanted to call it "Whoneedzit" and "Getridofit."

Gardiner smiled ruefully when asked if she's prepared for the inevitable satirization of the mascots. Satire will only get people talking about the mascots, and that's not a bad idea, she said.

"Oh, we kind of expect that to happen. We try to not make that too easy," she said. "But I don't expect it will be more than five minutes before something is on the Internet."

jefflee@png.canwest.com

OLYMPIC MASCOTS -- FRIENDLY, POPULAR, OR NOT

Ask a dozen people which Olympic mascots they like, and risk getting a dozen different answers. But there are some images that have gone down in history as either the most favoured, or the most disliked.

- The 1992 Barcelona Summer Games may not rank as the most memorable, but it seems its mascot, Cobi the dog, is.

Cobi is repeatedly cited by designers, organizing committees and creative directors as hitting the "sweet spot" with people. With its Picassoesque face and cheeky attitude, it became such a beloved character that on the 10th anniversary of the Games it was still revered as an idol, according to Ali Gardiner, Vanoc's director of brand and creative services.

- At the other end of the spectrum is Izzy, the blue mythic creature picked by the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games organizers. Although it sold well in stores, it didn't garner much respect. Even Simpsons creator Matt Groening described Izzy to Sports Illustrated as a "bad marriage of the Pillsbury Doughboy and the ugliest California Raisin."

- The first official Olympic mascot was Waldi the dachshund of the 1972 Munich Summer Games. But the first unofficial one was "Schuss," a man on skis, which debuted at the 1968 Grenoble Winter Games.

- Canada weighed in with the second official mascot, Amik the beaver, in 1976 in Montreal. Twelve years later, Calgary broke new ground with the introduction of Hidy and Howdy, a pair of polar bears, the first multiple mascots, and gender-specific at that.

- The 2008 Beijing Games have moved to a new level with the creation of five Olympic ring-coloured mascots. Called the Friendlies, they represent four animals (fish, panda bear, Tibetan antelope, swallow) and the Olympic flame.

- In 2006, Turin, Italy, was the first Olympic Games to use mascots that weren't animals or human beings. Neve was a snowball and Gliz an ice cube. Their Paralympic partner was Aster, the one-legged snowflake.

In the history of mascots, parody is a matter of fact. Turin's mascots were turned into political and risque objects by artists around the world. And Australians poked fun of their three Sydney 2000 mascots, Olly, Syd and Millie (a kookaburra, platypus and echidna) with the creation of Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat, an unofficial mascot that quickly became more popular.

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

here's a rendering of the live site at georgia/beatty.
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/olympics/images/OlympicPlazaVancouverLiveS.jpg

Prince Victor

November 27th, 2007, 01:15 AM

Good pictures - thanks. :)

deasine

November 27th, 2007, 08:42 PM

http://members.shaw.ca/clauf/001.JPG

deasine

November 27th, 2007, 08:45 PM

i completely ignored focus, sorry for blury pic... and it doesn't look bad... i think they're cute

mr.x

December 4th, 2007, 05:31 AM

http://www.vancouver2010.com/store/index.html

Vancouver 2010 launches the Olympic Store at vancouver2010.com and welcomes two new licensees

VANOC NEWS RELEASE
December 3, 2007

Vancouver, BC – The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) opens today the virtual doors for its new Olympic Store at www.vancouver2010.com, with hundreds of items available for purchase, including popular items featuring Miga, Sumi and Quatchi, the newly-introduced Vancouver 2010 mascots. VANOC also announced today the addition of two new licensees to its official licensing program: Northern Gifts Specialties Inc., which will supply plush Games mascots and plush Games key chains, and Elastic Path, the Vancouver 2010 Online Store provider.

“Merchandise is popular way for people to connect with the Games” said Caley Denton, VANOC vice president of ticketing and consumer marketing. “People love the convenience of shopping online. The Olympic Store at vancouver2010.com will make it easy for people to own a piece of the Games.”

“Customers to vancouver2010.com can be assured of an easy, convenient online shopping experience and a growing line of quality products that will feature the elements – namely the emblems and mascots – that are quickly becoming iconic to the Games,” said Dennis Kim, VANOC director of licensing and merchandising.

The Olympic Store offers a wide range of Vancouver 2010-inspired merchandise, from caps to pens, t-shirts, mugs and mascot plush. Accessible day and night, year-round, The Olympic Store will regularly offer special promotions and, on occasion, special offers accessible exclusively to subscribers to the Tickets and Merchandise list at vancouver2010.com.

About Elastic Path

Elastic Path, from Vancouver, BC, pioneered flexible e-commerce software that helps online retailers sell more and work less. Elastic Path's fully-integrated e-commerce platform is designed to deliver powerful features out-of-the-box and support fast, easy integration and customization. Using innovative search engine optimization (SEO) technology, comprehensive merchandising and industry-standard open components, Elastic Path's technology empowers its customers to maximize resources and quickly adapt tactics at a comfortable price. Industry-leading companies around the globe use Elastic Path for maximum control over their rapidly evolving online stores.

About Northern Gifts Specialties Inc.

Northern Gifts Specialties Inc. is a Burnaby (BC)-based company jointly owned by Northern Gifts Ltd. and Rocky Mountain Down & Feather. The company is in the business of designing, manufacturing and distributing high-quality plush products.

Through the experience and support of its parent companies, Northern Gifts Specialties Inc. has access to the talents of 45 employees, 40,000 square feet of warehouse facilities in Burnaby, a number of offshore production facilities, an in-house design and creative team as well as 20 years of experience designing and manufacturing plush products, including a number of well-known licensed plush programs.

The Company has a well-established, broad based distribution network of retailers throughout Canada, including the Hudson’s Bay Company (Hbc), airport and duty-free operators, and independently-owned retail shops.

mr.x

December 4th, 2007, 11:50 PM

Olympic mascots for resale on eBay

Damian Inwood, The Province
Published: Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Vancouver 2010's commercial-rights cops are investigating eBay sales of Olympic mascots at higher- than-retail prices.

"Our commercial rights group monitors it quite closely on eBay, if they see anybody crossing the line," Caley Denton, 2010's vice-president of ticketing and consumer marketing , said yesterday.

The Province found B.C.-based eBay seller "Leopard Golden Girl" was auctioning off a 41-centimetre-high Quatchi stuffed toy, starting at $45 US, with a "buy it now" feature at $59.99.

The toy sells for $40 at the Bay department stores.

The eBay seller was claiming that "stores can't keep them in stock, no more shipments before Christmas, HBC online sold out."

Denton said that's not true, and added, "I'll definitely pass that on to our commercial rights people and have them look into it."

The Bay spokeswoman Neesha Hothi said the store still has Quatchi toys in stock selling for $30 and $40.

Last night, eBay featured 38 mascot items for sale, many at prices above those charged at the Bay.

Yesterday, Vancouver 2010 launched an online store, selling mascots and Games souvenirs including key rings, jewelry, bookmarks, coins and shot glasses.

dinwood@png.canwest.com

spongeg

December 5th, 2007, 09:21 AM

^^^ haha

thats the way ebay works

I overheard some guy at work say he wanted to buy 6 Apple Iphones in Seattle last week for the purpose of selling them on ebay

i was at a toy sale last year in the states and some guy was buying all this stuff and he said he was buying it to sell on ebay

i don't see how they can stop it from happenning with the olympic stuff

customers just have to do their own research - but thankfully for some ebay sellers there are enough gullable customers

mr.x

December 5th, 2007, 01:09 PM

800 DAYS!

Olympics will benefit all of B.C., expert says

Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, December 05, 2007

VANCOUVER - The 2010 Winter Games may be coming to the Lower Mainland and Whistler, but that doesn't mean that the rest of the province can't benefit economically and socially.

That's the view of Craig Phillips, the secretary-general for the Australian Olympic Committee, who says communities outside the traditional 604 area code should look for opportunities to host international teams getting ready for the Games.

Phillips, who will tour Kamloops, Vancouver and Prince George this week as part of a speaking engagement for 2010 LegaciesNow, said his own country's Olympic experiences are an example.

Although Australia is strong in summer sports -- it was in the top four in both 2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens in gold medals -- its winter sports contingent is small. Australia is looking for suitable facilities outside the Lower Mainland where its athletes, including short-track speed-skaters, can train.

Olympic host countries should realize that national Olympic committees and their athletes need to find facilities where they can train in the buildup to the Games.

"Some communities in B.C. can realize the opportunities that exist in terms of what the national Olympic committees and national federations are looking for their teams, both in the lead-up period and the pre-Games period," he said. "There are some economic benefits, social benefits available. Some communities removed from the Vancouver-Whistler area might not otherwise have any way of touching the Games."

Today Phillips is visiting Kamloops, which became one of the first B.C. communities to land a national team. In 2005, the Austrian national ski team picked Sun Peaks as its local training facility.

On Thursday, Phillips will head to Prince George, which has also successfully lured some athletes.

Virginia Sprangers, the manager of sports for Events Prince George, a government-backed economic development initiative, said the city hosted the Chinese and Korean curling teams last March in the run-up to the world championships in Edmonton.

It also became the temporary home to Chinese short-track speed-skater Li JiaJun, who won a bronze in the 1,500-metre race in Turin in 2006.

Sprangers said the French hockey team will also practice in Prince George for a week prior to the Games in 2010.

Cathy Priestner, Vanoc's executive vice-president of sport, said many teams -- both national and international -- are looking for quiet places to train.

"Many of these teams come from a long ways away and they have to be somewhere in this time zone, preferably, to acclimatize. If they are coming from outside North America, that's very important. Often, they don't want to be in the limelight or smack in the middle things."

Vanoc is working with LegaciesNow and another organization to produce a guide for visiting countries listing training facilities in B.C. and Alberta. Communities benefit not only economically, but also from the experiences the visiting athletes bring, Priestner said.

"I think it is a really great opportunity for our communities to get engaged with the other nations. The athletes work really well in situations like that. They come into the schools, they are really willing to participate in the community," she said.

Phillips will give a noon-hour address today at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

jefflee@png.canwest.com

clooless

December 8th, 2007, 03:17 AM

mr.x

December 8th, 2007, 09:19 AM

^ sometimes, i think VANOC has too much time and money (on lawyers)...though they don't.

nova9

December 8th, 2007, 10:24 AM

I know VANOC will say that the IOC compels them to be stringent on Olympic naming rights but I somehow think they are being quite/overly rigid about it. Does anybody here know if there was a lot of this legal stuff for Torino or Beijing?

Fxdregs

December 12th, 2007, 05:49 PM

Problem is, there is absolutely nothing Modern about B.C Place. It was built in the 80's and it looks and feels like the 80s.

I don't really want to gang up on BC Place, but I don't feel great about the opening/closing ceremonies being held there. Last football game I went to there was about 45,000 attending. The concourses are mostly narrow and everything you wanted to do outside of your seat, food, souvenier, beer, leak, etc was a significant lineup. Maybe they can at least add tons of consessions. Hope it all goes well.

mr.x

December 14th, 2007, 02:36 AM

A gold-medal opportunity: Vancouver 2010 announces the search for the designer of the Olympic and Paralympic medals

VANOC NEWS RELEASE
December 13, 2007

Vancouver , BC—For the extraordinary athletes who will compete at the 2010 Winter Games, winning an Olympic or Paralympic medal will be one of the ultimate achievements of their athletic careers. To create the design of the medals which symbolize that achievement, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) today announced it is seeking proposals from artists – both from Canada and around the world – interested in designing the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic medals. The official Request for Proposals (RFP) is available at www.vancouver2010.com.

“For an athlete, competing at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games marks the pinnacle of a life’s work. The weight of an Olympic and Paralympic medal around their neck symbolizes the dreams not only of the athlete, but also their families and their communities and their achievement inspires so many. Standing on the podium to accept an Olympic or Paralympic medal is truly a moment without measure,” said Cathy Priestner Allinger, VANOC’s executive vice president of Sport, Paralympic Games and Venue Management, herself a Canadian silver medallist in speed skating at the Innsbruck 1976 Olympic Winter Games.

“The story we will tell through these medals will be uniquely Canadian and will, we hope, present a new opportunity to tell the story of Canada’s Games, igniting the Olympic and Paralympic spirit across the country and around the world,” continued Priestner Allinger.

Vancouver 2010 is seeking an artist(s), designer(s) or creative teams to work with VANOC to design inspiring, timeless medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – medals that reflect the determination and heart of the athletes who will win those medals in 2010. An evaluation team will review submissions and successful applicants will be asked to provide concept designs. The design concepts will then be reviewed by VANOC and approved by the Board of Directors. VANOC will present the medal design to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for review and final approval.

The Royal Canadian Mint , a Vancouver 2010 Official Supporter, will manufacture the medals. The Mint will be involved in the design process, providing production expertise and ensuring the medals can be produced at the highest level of quality.

Teck Cominco , also an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, headquartered in British Columbia, Host Province of the Games, will supply the gold, silver, bronze and other metals used in the production of the Olympic and Paralympic medals.

The design process will involve five phases and is expected to take up to eight months. In addition to the medals, designs are also required for the accompanying ribbon and medal containers.

The Mint will produce a total of 867 competition medals for the 2010 Winter Games. Of these, 549 competition medals will be produced for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, 183 each of gold, silver and bronze. For the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, 318 competition medals will be produced,106 each of gold, silver and bronze.

Although the IOC and the IPC do provide a number of technical requirements for the medals, the designs ultimately reflect the distinctive themes of each individual Games. Many Organizing Committees have chosen to incorporate materials unique to their country or region to spotlight a distinct design concept: Beijing 2008 (jade); Nagano 1998 (lacquer), Albertville 1992 (glass), Lillehammer 1994 (granite).

The Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games medals featured an athlete crowned with an olive wreath and an Aboriginal figure with a stylized headdress comprised of ski poles, bobsleigh, skis, skate blades, hockey stick, luge and a biathlon rifle. For the Montreal 1976 Olympic Summer Games, the medal design featured a stylized laurel crown (a symbol of victory since the Games of Antiquity) and the emblem of the Montreal Games.

The closing date for the submission of proposals is January 30, 2008. The design contract(s) are expected to be awarded in late February 2008.

Olympic and Paralympic Medal Facts (Source: IOC, IPC, COC, CPC)

*
In the ancient Olympic Games, no medals were awarded. The first-place winner was given an olive wreath. Second- and third-place winners received nothing.
*
When the Modern Olympic Games were revived in 1896, first-place winners received silver medals. At that time, gold was considered inferior to silver. Eight years later, at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, gold replaced silver for first place competitors.
*
From 1928 to 1968 all medals for the Olympic Summer Games featured the same design by Italian artist Guiseppe Cassioli. On the obverse side, the design featured the seated Goddess Nike holding a laurel wreath and branch. A coliseum is set in the background, above which the Games’ host city and year are shown. The reverse featured a victorious athlete, palm branch held aloft by jubilant athletes and a stadium in the background.
*
Since that time, the Cassioli design has continued to be incorporated, in varying degrees. The Athens 2004 medals corrected a long-standing inconsistency: the Cassioli design used a classic Italian coliseum on the obverse of the medal he created in 1928.The obverse of the Athens medal featured the 1896 Panathinaiko Stadium, focusing on the Greek nature of the original stadium.
*
Each Olympic medal must be at least five millimetres thick and 70 millimetres in diameter.
*
Each Paralympic medal must be a minimum of 70 millimetres and a maximum of 120 millimeters in diameter and between five and ten millimetres thick.
*
The last Olympic gold medals made entirely of gold were awarded at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Winter Games.
*
The gold and silver Olympic and Paralympic medals must be made out of 92.5 per cent silver, with the gold medal covered in six grams (or .21 ounces) of gold.
*
The Paralympic medals are required to include the name of the sport and/or discipline on the reverse side of the medal in both English and Braille.
*
No specific shape is obligatory for the Olympic or Paralympic medals.
*
The medals for the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games included the Organizing Committee’s vision statement, “Light the Fire Within,” the first time an Organizing Committee’s vision statement had been incorporated into the design of an Olympic medal.
*
The greatest number of Olympic Winter Games medals ever won by an athlete: 12 medals in cross-country skiing, by Bjorn Daehlie of Norway.
*
The greatest number of Paralympic Winter Games medals ever won by a single athlete: 22 medals, in alpine skiing, biathlon and cross-country skiing, by Norway’s Ragnhild Myklebust.
*
The greatest number of Olympic Winter Games medals won by a Canadian athlete: six, by Cindy Klassen (speed skating). The greatest number of Paralympic Winter Games medals won by a Canadian athlete: 12, by Lana Spreeman (alpine skiing). (alpine skiing).

As long as they actually don't look like rocks and stones.....or leafs.....

mr.x

December 18th, 2007, 11:27 PM

Vanoc achieves, tops 2007 goals
Organizers of 2010 Winter Games boast of sponsorships, venue completions

Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, December 18, 2007

VANCOUVER - With 2007 closing behind them, the organizers of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics said they had achieved or exceeded all of their goals, from corporate financial support to completing a number of key sporting venues.

On Tuesday Vanoc released its first quarterly report of the next fiscal year, along with a look ahead for 2008.

It said it had spent $63.3 million in the last quarter on construction-related bills, for an overall total of $427.9 million. It also says it has increased its construction contingency fund by $250,000 to $27.05 million, largely as a result of savings from changes in construction plans at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.

On the sponsorship side, Vanoc says it exceeded its domestic sponsorship target this year of $65 million by more than half. It raised $102.5 million, putting it well on its way towards an overall goal of $760 million. Vanoc CEO John Furlong said it has raised 691 million in corporate sponsorships since Vancouver won the Games, representing 90.5 per cent of its target.

Vanoc piled on more good news in its release, saying it has substantially completed five sporting venues this year, fulfilling its promise to have the sites finished two years before the Games actually start.

Last week Vanoc marked the end of construction for the Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler Olympic Park Nordic venues, and alpine runs at Whistler Creekside.

It says it has also finished renovations to the Coliseum, site of figure skating and short-track speed skating, and Cypress Mountain, which will host snowboard and freestyle skiing.

The next year will mark a number of milestones, Furlong said. Feb. 12 will mark the two-year countdown to the Games. Around that period Vanoc will put on the first of three annual "cultural Olympiads" featuring music, live arts and entertainment.

It also expects the rest of the venues will be finished, including the Hillcrest curling venue, Richmond oval and UBC hockey arenas.

Jim856796

January 20th, 2008, 12:13 AM

I heard from Gamesbids.com that there are major renovation plans for BC Place. Work will start in February 2008. It will most likely involve the replacement of the roof, which is to take 5 months.

mr.x

January 28th, 2008, 10:20 PM

More details will be unveiled in November 2008, which would also mark the one year countdown until the relay begins in Olympia:

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/torch_relay/OTR_TriComposite.jpg

Vancouver 2010 promises marathon torch relay

Updated Mon. Jan. 28 2008 11:02 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Committee says the cross-country torch relay leading up to the winter Games will be the longest such in-country relay in Olympic history.

The committee made its announcement Monday at Halifax's Pier 21, now an immigration museum but once the historic gateway for millions of new Canadians.

"We came to Halifax to symbolize the size of our country and that we are flat-out sharing these Olympic and Paralympic games with the whole country," John Furlong, VANOC's CEO, told Canada AM.

"We'll be taking this torch on the longest in-country relay in Olympic history, summer or winter -- some 35,000 kilometres. Expressed in different terms, it's almost the circumference of the Earth inside Canada."

The Vancouver relay's emblem is to be called "A Path of Northern Lights."

The flame will be transported from Olympia, Greece to Canada. Once in Canada, more than 12,000 torchbearers selected by VANOC and corporate sponsors Coca-Cola and RBC will carry the torch across every province and territory.

Furlong said they expect "millions of applications" for those 12,000 slots.

The relay will last about 100 days, with the flame arriving in Vancouver at B.C. Place Stadium on the evening of Feb. 12, 2010.

Specifics about the relay route, torchbearer application process, torch and uniform designs will be announced in November.

"Right now our team is hard at work trying to look at how we're going to make our way across the country," he said.

"Doing things that respect the iconography of Canada, that respect Canadian values -- trying to get Canadians excited," he said.

Ultimately, the relay's goal is to give Canadians a sense of ownership in the Games, Furlong said.

Several inquiries a week come into his office from communities asking if they will get to see the flame, he said, adding, "it has incredible inspirational powers and we want to share it."

The torch relay for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, billed as "Share the Flame," began on Nov. 17, 1987 and lasted 88 days. That relay was billed as the longest in history to that point.

More than 7,000 people carried the torch 18,000 kilometres in a journey that began in Newfoundland and veered as far north as Inuvik before arriving in Calgary.

officedweller

January 28th, 2008, 10:29 PM

Nice logo!

mr.x

January 28th, 2008, 10:37 PM

Nice logo!

The logo is suppose to symbolize the northern lights...pretty sweet.

Neda Say

January 28th, 2008, 11:11 PM

Nice one! Clean, simple, BC colors!

mr.x

January 29th, 2008, 05:47 AM

How nice of the Americans....

Washington State to spend $71 million on 2010 Games Security

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Jan. 9 (UPI) -- The expected increase in border traffic due to the Vancouver Olympics has officials in Washington state calling for U.S. Homeland Security Department funds.

Officials from Whatcom County, which borders the Canadian province of British Columbia, have begun lobbying the U.S. government for $71.3 million to assist in the expected increase in border traffic and potential terrorist threats the Vancouver 2010 Olympics will have on the northern border county, the Vancouver Province reported.

Pete Kremen, a Whatcom County executive, says as a result of the volume of people expected to cross the border during the Olympics, the county will need the additional funds to fight the potential of a terrorist threat.

Whatcom officials estimate that of the 450,000 expected to attend the Games, approximately two-thirds will travel from the United States, the majority of whom will take the interstate highway connecting route.

If granted, the government funds would pay for a regional emergency operations center, coordinating radio and phones between American and Canadian officials and additional equipment for emergency response officials among other security related items.

County officials will take their multimillion-dollar request to Washington, D.C., Jan. 16.

© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

New perimeter-protection technology for 2010 will be Canadian
Jan, 16 2008 - 11:30 AM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - The head of security for the 2010 Olympics says new perimeter-protection technology will be supplied by a Canadian company.

"It must be Canadian, that's my understanding."

RCMP assistant-commissioner Bud Mercer says a call for bidders went out this morning... And the winning contractor will supply intrusion detection services for 25 venues in Whistler and Vancouver.

"And there's a process involved for that selection process which includes security clearances and then, once they've been selected, then our operational plans will be provided to them to put their costing models together to be competitive and to be considered."

The 2010 games will be the first Olympics in Canada to replace patrol officers with electronic sensors and video cameras.

Nutterbug

January 29th, 2008, 06:13 AM

How nice of the Americans....
Officials from Whatcom County, which borders the Canadian province of British Columbia, have begun lobbying the U.S. government for $71.3 million to assist in the expected increase in border traffic and potential terrorist threats the Vancouver 2010 Olympics will have on the northern border county, the Vancouver Province reported.

If I was a terrorist, I'm really going to waste hard acquired explosives and other weapons to terrorize Bellingham, Washington.

mr.x

January 29th, 2008, 06:29 AM

The pavilion's site is a great location, literally across the street from Tiananmen Square.

http://media.canada.com/gallery/BeijingBCPavilion/SUN0128%20Pavilion.jpg

http://media.canada.com/gallery/BeijingBCPavilion/SUN0128%20Pavilion%20int.jpg

$11 million B.C. Pavilion
Province to pay $3 to $11 million to open B.C.-Canada Pavilion for Beijing 2008

Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER - B.C. hopes to draw four times as many guests to its pavilion at the Beijing Olympics as it did to the B.C.-Canada House log cabin at the 2006 Turin Games, Premier Gordon Campbell said Monday.

The Beijing pavilion, at a total cost of $14.7 million, will be bigger than the log cabin and will be open from May to September, twice as long as the log cabin, which cost about $6 million.

VANCOUVER - B.C. hopes to draw four times as many guests to its pavilion at the Beijing Olympics as it did to the B.C.-Canada House log cabin at the 2006 Turin Games, Premier Gordon Campbell said Monday.

The Beijing pavilion, at a total cost of $14.7 million, will be bigger than the log cabin and will be open from May to September, twice as long as the log cabin, which cost about $6 million.

Of that, B.C. is spending at least $3 million, and potentially as much as $11 million and the federal government $3 million on the B.C.-Canada pavilion, which will be located just outside Tiananmen Square, Campbell revealed.

Both the provincial and federal governments are betting it will bring a big payoff for Vancouver’s position as an Olympic host with high-profile exposure at the Summer Games on the doorstep of the biggest market in the world.

Campbell said he hopes to see up to 400,000 guests stream through the Beijing pavilion, compared with the 100,000 who toured Torino’s rustic log cabin.

The B.C.-Canada Pavilion will be situated between the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

Colin Hansen, B.C.’s economic development minister, and minister responsible for the provincial Olympic secretariat said the governments would never have been able to secure such a strategic location during an Olympics if B.C. were not an Olympic jurisdiction itself.

“This is basically taking an opportunity that we have, which is the Olympic brand, and using it to advance our international marketing,” Hansen said.

B.C. announced in November, 2006 that it was going to open a pavilion in Beijing. Monday, Campbell picked the Council of the Federation meeting of provincial and territorial premiers to unveil some details.

The pavilion will feature 13 striking wood arches at its entrance, representing the provinces and territories, and lead into a 21,000-square-foot, three-storey space Campbell characterized as “a museum of a modern province and modern country.”

“The British Columbia-Canada Pavilion in Beijing will build on that profile and success [from Turin] during the 2008 Games and promote the diversity of B.C. and Canadian business, art, culture and sport to the world,” Campbell added.

The pavilion will include a 200-seat stage, which will be used to feature Canadian cultural performances.

The first floor will also contain interactive displays about B.C. and Canada, including so-called “spirit tree,” a hollow, fallen log from Stanley Park that visitors can explore.

Upper floors will include exhibition and meeting spaces that can be used for commercial and promotional endeavours.

B.C. industry groups ranging from the forest industry and green design to new media and clean-energy sectors will be represented at the pavilion, as well as community-profile efforts for Metro Vancouver, Victoria, the Sea to Sky corridor, Whistler, Kamloops and Prince George.

Hansen added that all provinces have been invited to take part in pavilion events.

Hansen said Tourism BC will contribute $3 million from its regular marketing budget.

B.C. is in discussions with potential sponsors, including Hudson’s Bay Co., Teck Cominco, Haworth, Jade West and ASPAC Developments about potential contributions.

The province has guaranteed, up to $8 million, any costs not covered by sponsorships.

mr.x

February 7th, 2008, 04:39 AM

http://www.marketwire.com/library/20080206-count512.jpg
Ottawa Counting Down to the Games
2010 Olympic Games countdown clock unveiled at nation's capital

February 6, 2008 | VANOC News Release

Sports and timing go hand-in-hand. Today in Ottawa, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) and the Government of Canada, a major partner of the 2010 Winter Games, unveiled the Vancouver 2010 Countdown Clock in Ottawa at the Capital Infocentre, located across from Parliament Hill.

The timing for the unveiling couldn’t be better as Ottawa’s famed Winterlude, or Bal de Neige, celebrations are in full party mode.

Just prior to the clock event, James Moore, Member of Parliament for the riding of Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, issued a statement in the House of Commons prior to Question Period declaring the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to be Canada’s Games, and inviting all Canadians to join in welcoming the world in 2010.

“Let us all be inspired by the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games – the power to promote friendship and respect, stir dreams and tell a story about our country and our people,” said Moore, who also serves as the Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics.

Just two years before the Games officially begin in 2010, the announcement comes as a message of inspiration for all Canadians.

Canada's Games

For VANOC Chief Executive Officer, John Furlong, “The Olympic and Paralympic Games have the power to reach and inspire every Canadian, and more broadly, the power for us, as a country, to make a remarkable contribution to a better world. We need every Canadian to be part of telling our unique story and we’d like to thank the Government of Canada for providing, on behalf of all Canadians, tremendous support toward the success of the Games.”

Going for the Games

Canadian ice sledge hockey Paralympic gold medallist, Ray Grassi, was also at the Capital Infocentre to celebrate the two-year countdown – a celebration that included Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, National Capital Commission officials, athletes, spectators, media and representatives of VANOC.

Grassi, of Windsor, Ontario, was glad to see the dedication of an Omega Countdown Clock in Ottawa. He had heard about the Omega Countdown Clock in Vancouver, and was elated to see 2010 Winter Games excitement celebrated outside British Columbia.

”It’s great to have [a Countdown Clock] in Ottawa, especially with all the tourists coming in, and for all the foreign diplomats there,” said Grassi. “It’s a good idea to have the visual reminder that the biggest stage is coming to Canada for the first time since [1988].”

Vancouver 2010 Winter Games Declared Canada’s Games
The Countdown to 2010 Begins in the Nation’s Capital

February 6, 2008 | VANOC News Release

OTTAWA, February 6, 2008 – Today, at a public event attended by an enthusiastic crowd, David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, and John Furlong, Vancouver 2010 CEO, unveiled the Vancouver 2010 Countdown Clock in Ottawa alongside Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The new clock is an enduring reminder to all who see it that in just two years, Canada will welcome the world.

Earlier in the day, James Moore, Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, set the tone for the celebrations with a statement in the House of Commons declaring the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games as Canada’s Games. “Let us all be inspired by the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games – the power to promote friendship and respect, stir dreams and tell a story about our country and our people,” said Moore.

The illuminated clock today signals 737 days until the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Games. The clock will count down the days, hours, minutes and seconds remaining until the beginning of the celebrations on February 12, 2010. The clock features a timepiece provided by Omega, the Official Timekeeper of the 2010 Games. Showcased opposite the Parliament buildings in the window of the National Capital Commission Infocentre on Wellington Street, the clock provides an opportunity for visitors and residents of the Nation’s capital to share in the excitement and anticipation leading up to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

At the Countdown Clock unveiling event, Minister Emerson noted, “In two years, the eyes of the world will turn towards Canada on the occasion of the 2010 Winter Games. This is a perfect time to re-affirm our commitment to make these Canada’s Games and to encourage all Canadians to get engaged as we prepare to host this once-in-a-generation event.”

“The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games have the power to reach and inspire every Canadian and provide the opportunity for Canadians to come together on a global stage to make a remarkable contribution to a better world,” said Furlong. “We need every Canadian to be part of telling our unique story and we’d like to thank the Government of Canada for providing, on behalf of all Canadians, tremendous support toward the success of the Games.”

“Canada’s Capital Region is the place where we communicate and pay tribute to the achievements of Canadians across the country and honour important national events such as the upcoming Winter Olympics and Paralympics in 2010”, said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Office of the NCC. “The National Capital Commission is honoured to collaborate with the organizers of the 21st Winter Games.”

“With nearly two years from the opening of the 2010 Winter Games, the Olympic and Paralympic spirit and anticipation are spreading all across Canada,” said Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia. “This clock in our nation's capital is a reminder of all that we have achieved in bringing the Games to B.C. and Canada, as well as the legacies that will be shared by all for years to come.”

The Government of Canada is a major and committed partner in delivering successful, well-managed Winter Games in 2010. Total federal investment in the 2010 Winter Games is $578M.

Ottawa's countdown clock is somewhere here:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/117888070_87f58b3598_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/122/311152194_a29cbd0aed_b.jpg

It would've been better if it was at a more prominent location...why the hell is it behind a window?