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There have been bright pink Expo 86 posters put up around town as well.. I suspect they are reprints..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus (Post 4642852)

This really blows the mind: http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangittins/4260013718/

That's a cool poster, but it certainly hasn't been there since 1986.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama (Post 4642884)

That's a cool poster, but it certainly hasn't been there since 1986.

After closer examination, I agree. To begin with, it does not seem sufficiently weathered or aged for a 24-year old poster. But most damningly, there is a visible commercial Internet address printed on another poster which is overlapped by the Expo poster. That would be impossible if the Expo poster had been there since 1986.

Looks like an artist named Jeremy Shaw is behind these.. http://www2.canada.com/vancouvercour...e-d4e5dd9ad464

yeah those have been up for a while now since last year for sure i saw them all last summer

Just want to say that I was checking out The Bay at downtown and those red Olympics mittens are selling like hot cakes :O I saw a number of people buying 5 or even 6 pairs of them. Crazzzyyy !

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetMapel (Post 4643227)

Just want to say that I was checking out The Bay at downtown and those red Olympics mittens are selling like hot cakes :O I saw a number of people buying 5 or even 6 pairs of them. Crazzzyyy !

I still want a pair.. grrr. :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeeCee (Post 4643452)

I still want a pair.. grrr. :(

I'm so glad I bought all my pairs (23!!!) in November! Hahah.

neat

there is a blue shack by the icerink and lots of rent a fence around that area now too and porta potties! hpefully they make it look better

Olympic Airports - 5 Airport Options for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver /

http://airtravel.about.com/od/airpor...csairports.htm

Those panels are back in place on The Bay.

From the Hotson Bakker website -
Four Host First Nations Pavillion (QE Plaza):

http://www.hotsonbakker.com/projectd...hp?pro_id=3023

Quote:

Four Host First Nations Pavilion
Client:
VANOC

Location:
Vancouver, BC

The Four Host First Nations Pavilion will celebrate the cultures of the Four Host First Nations during the 2010 Olympic Games.The contemporary structure makes reference to the traditional post and beam architecture of the Coast Salish bands. The pavilion wraps around a temporary spherical theatre structure onto which films and images are projected. Housed in the pavilion will be a Trading Post / Gift Shop, an Elder’s Lounge / Meeting Room and support space for the temporary sphere structure.

http://www.hotsonbakker.com/project_...yk.jpg_wmd.jpg

wow, you can see my building in the background! lol

so that is on the queen liz theater parking lot right?
that pavilion looks great. nice lighting!

Yeah, the QE plaza - the fabric bubble hasn't been installed yet.
I was wondering why the building had a "dead zone" in the middle - now I know.

**********

The wrap is being applied to the west facade of the TD Tower - 26th and 25th floors so far.

- I heard it is for Samsung....

Do you suppose there will be maps with all of the special events? Like, showing where the Coke thing is, Bell thing, the various "Houses", Heineken, Molson, etc.

Along with each Countries / Provinces pavilions :P? Or will it be a guessing game!

the newspaper will probably do a special edition with an olympics guide

noticed today that scaffolding went up on the north side of the VAG for a huge michael lin mural called A Modest Veil

http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/the_e.../images/ml.jpg
http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/the_e...chael_lin.html

also, bamboo gates will be installed in Chinatown.
"Bamboo Welcome Gates is an installation in Vancouver's historic Chinatown during the 2010 Winter Games where visitors and residents to Zodiac Square will be invited to write Welcome World Wishes for an athlete and/or country. Wishes will be created and placed onto the Bamboo-Cedar Gateways in colourful red, water-resistant envelopes and be read every day to groups of visiting school children and 2010 Winter Games visitors"

http://olympichostcity.vancouver.ca/...ree-events.htm

and LunarFest will have several really neat festivals this year during the olympics. check them out > www.lunarfest.org
they will be giving away these free tiger lantern hats during the Year of the Tiger celebrations on Granville. the kids will love this
http://www.lunarfest.org/files/2010p...s/tigerhat.jpg
(FREE!) Tiger Lantern Hat ^
A fun new way to carry your lantern is wearing it on your head! Made by the paper sculpture master Hung Hsin-Fu, these cute Tiger Lantern Hats outfitted with color changing LED lights will be free for public to pick up on site. Be sure to take one to join the lantern procession to welcome the year of Tiger.
http://www.lunarfest.org/programs/majestic-tiger

Mild B.C. weather raising Olympic concerns

The following CBC news make me worried. The weather is really wet and mild the past few days. Cypress Mountain was closed today because of the warm and wet weather.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...tain-snow.html

Quote:

Mild B.C. weather raising Olympic concerns

Warm rain shuts freestyle and snowboard venue
Last Updated: Monday, January 11, 2010 | 7:45 PM PT CBC News

The massive amount of precipitation falling in B.C.'s Lower Mainland is not the kind usually associated with winter, and that's raising some questions about the conditions on ski slopes for the Winter Olympics.

At a time of year when snow is usually falling at higher elevations, about 60 millimetres of rain fell Monday on Metro Vancouver's North Shore mountains. Another 30 millimetres was forecast for Tuesday.

Cypress Mountain on the North Shore is home to freestyle skiing and snowboarding competitions for the Games, which open on Feb. 12.

But Olympic organizers said Monday they are not concerned about the conditions on the mountain, although they have closed it to public skiing to help preserve the snow that is there.

"We're protecting all the snow that we can to make sure that we have adequate [supply]," said Tim Gayda, vice-president of sport for the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee.

Snow in storage
VANOC has been stockpiling artificial and natural snow since for the past two months, Gayda said. The snow is piled up and covered with blue tarps on the mountainside to keep it cool during the kind of double-digit above-zero temperatures the Lower Mainland has basked in for days, and which are expected to continue for at least a few more days.

Officials were able to accumulate the snow during colder weather and heavy snowfalls in November. That built up a packed base, which is still two metres deep.

Olympic organizers said they would wait a few more days to decide whether to open Cypress Mountain to public skiing again or to keep it closed.

"We want to leave that as late as we can," said Gayda. "If we have this kind of weather staying right through, we want to protect that snow for as long as we can."

all three mountains were closed due to the rain according to the global news report

no cold weather is expected - we've had bad years before on the local mountains - this is just another one of those

kinda funny really the winterless olympics

Anti-Olympic paintings appear at site of removed Beatty Street murals

Stenciled paintings criticizing the 2010 Winter Olympics have appeared on a concrete wall on Beatty Street where a series of murals once existed.

Related content

Beatty Street murals painted over by City of Vancouver

City’s removal of Beatty Street murals handled poorly: artists

The new paintings consist of the Olympic rings surrounded by text reading, “With glowing hearts we kill the arts”. The graffiti art appeared between Friday (January 8) and Monday (January 11).

...

http://www.straight.com/article-2803...bshare.me_ZWfZ

CBC is choked over having lost the bid for the broadcast rights.. just another of a long line of negative articles about the Olympics.

For the other side of the bias coin, see: http://www.news1130.com/news/local/a...olympic-venues

actually, it hasn't been that bad a year. And the report I read said a return to colder weather on the local mountains is expected by this weekend.

I think it's a bit early . . . and a bit too much snow thus far this season to call this the "winterless" olympics.

Seems it would be more accurate to say it rained on Cypress Mountain the last couple of days . . . I don't think winter's been canceled just yet ;).

that was the global headline not mine just for the record...

sorry, spongeg, I hope you didn't think I was directed any ill will at you at all. It was more a commentary on the media's need to find a negative slant, as others have commented on as well.

It is always a possibility it might rain on the local mountains during the Olympics. Of course it could happen. I just think it's funny that the mountains have by and large had a pretty normal season, but the first time it rains the media sets off alarm bells :).

Given last year's snow season it's a little bit understandable to be a little bit concerned at this point IMO. :) But nothing to be turning on the sirens about..

well its el nino the hills shut early in those years february is normal for closing

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delirium (Post 4645422)

http://www.lunarfest.org/files/2010p...s/tigerhat.jpg
(FREE!) Tiger Lantern Hat ^
A fun new way to carry your lantern is wearing it on your head! Made by the paper sculpture master Hung Hsin-Fu, these cute Tiger Lantern Hats outfitted with color changing LED lights will be free for public to pick up on site. Be sure to take one to join the lantern procession to welcome the year of Tiger.
http://www.lunarfest.org/programs/majestic-tiger

:runaway:

this is some serious nightmare fuel.. looks like the tiger is vomiting light..

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeeCee (Post 4646054)

CBC is just preaching to the choir. Look at how happy the people on CBC are that something bad might happen.

Unfortunately they're preaching with our tax dollars :P

Bell News release:

Quote:

http://photos.newswire.ca/cnw-bin/im...107_154119.jpg http://photos.newswire.ca/cnw-bin/im...107_154130.jpg

Bell unveils the ultimate fan zone at the epicentre of the 2010 Winter Games
Bell Ice Cube, located at Robson and Beatty, will be the place to be to connect live to the Olympic experience

VANCOUVER, Jan. 7 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today unveiled plans for Bell Ice Cube, a public showcase located at the heart of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, where visitors can watch Olympic events live in HD, cheer on Team Canada with the latest products from Bell, listen to live music and meet some of world's best athletes, all under one roof.

Housed in a 3,000 square foot (280 square metre) structure, the Bell Ice Cube will open to the public on February 11. It will serve as the ultimate viewing centre and meeting place for those wanting the next best thing to a front-row seat at the 2010 Winter Games.

"Bell wanted to create an experience for Olympic fans that would allow them to connect to the spirit of Vancouver and the Games in a way that no other place could offer," said Loring Phinney, Vice President, Corporate and Olympic Marketing. "With more than 20 HD televisions showing all 10 channels within Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, plus our own dedicated live venue feeds, the Bell Ice Cube is the natural meeting place for people coming into the centre of the city."

Bell Ice Cube will be open daily from February 11 to 28 from 11 am to 11 pm and will feature entertainment, Olympic ticket giveaways and interactive product demonstrations. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the very best of Bell's communications solutions including Bell Mobility, Bell Internet and Bell TV products and services.

The unique high-tech design of Bell Ice Cube will provide visitors an opportunity to view ceremonies and competitions on multiple plasma screens in high definition Bell TV. During the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and during major sporting events, visitors will be able to watch the magic on a large projection screen.

Every day at 3 pm, there will be a live show called Ice Talk, where Olympians will be interviewed by five-time Olympian and Bell Champion Charmaine Crooks. Athletes will share their own Olympic stories and sign autographs for Games fans. The line-up of athletes will include Susan Auch (speed skating), Duff Gibson (skeleton), Nancy Greene (alpine skiing), Clara Hughes (speed skating), Johann Koss (speed skating), Chris Lori (bobsleigh), Karen Magnussen (figure skating), Ashleigh McIvor (ski cross), Steve Omischl (aerials), Joannie Rochette (figure skating), Beckie Scott (cross-country skiing) and Hayley Wickenheiser (ice hockey).

Bell Ice Cube will also feature guest performances by internationally acclaimed vocal play group, Naturally 7. In addition to brilliant harmonies, every instrument sound is created by the human voice. From musical styles that range from pop to R&B, Naturally 7 has charmed fans around the world.

Bell is truly bringing the Games to life. During the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, every image seen on TV, every story read around the world and every real-time score transmitted will traverse a network and communications solution designed and delivered by Bell.

From Metro:

Quote:

To party, add Bell Ice Cube
08 January 2010 05:10

Mockup drawings were released yesterday for a giant glass cube that organizers hope will be party central at Robson and Beatty streets during the 2010 Olympics.

The Bell Ice Cube will be a 280-square-metre structure allowing visitors to watch Olympic events live in HD.

“With more than 20 high-definition plasma TVs showing all 10 channels within Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, plus our own dedicated live venue feeds, the Bell Ice Cube is the natural meeting place for people coming into the centre of the city,” said Loring Phinney, a spokesperson for Bell.

During the opening and closing ceremonies and during major sporting events, visitors will be able to watch the magic on a large projection screen.

The venue will be open daily from Feb. 11 to Feb. 28, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and will feature entertainment and chances to meet athletes.

metro vancouver

Quote:

First Nations say pride, not money is true legacy from 2010 Olympics
Stephanie Levitz, THE CANADIAN PRESS
10 January 2010 12:58

VANCOUVER, B.C. - For some, the fact that official aboriginal merchandise for the 2010 Olympics is being made in China is a slap in the face for aboriginal communities.

For others, the fact that it's getting made at all is proof that First Nations are finally getting looked in the eye.

Games organizers use the word legacy to describe the venues that will remain after the Games. Politicians use it when crowing about the economic benefits of hosting the world's biggest sporting event.

But for First Nations, the legacy of the Games is something much more ephemeral than the money they can make from thunderbirds emblazoned on a sweater with the five rings, no matter where they are made.

"The level of participation hands down is going to be the legacy in that it's given us the opportunity to educate the world (about) who we are," said Justin George, the chief of the Tsleil-Waututh, one of the four bands on whose traditional territories the Games are being held.

It's been a valuable education for both sides.

Back when Dan Doyle worked with B.C.'s Minister of Transportation, he was involved with a band negotiating over a highway being built through its land. He wouldn't name the band.

"It was very, very, very challenging to deal with and it may well have been my approach, I will admit that readily today," said Doyle, who is now responsible for aboriginal participation for the Olympic organizing committee, known as VANOC.

When that same band was approached for involvement with the Games, the discussions started out on a different foot, Doyle said.

"It started with the word respect," he said.

It's the exposure that helps create a comfort level, said Tewanee Joseph, executive director of the society that represents the four bands.

"It becomes less frightening to enter a room to start negotiating a deal, whether it's a business deal, a hydro deal or others," he said.

"It becomes less threatening because you can still point to the example and say it was done (for the Olympics)."

While partnerships are one thing, having a seat at the planning table for the Games has been lucrative for the Squamish, Musqueam, Tseil Wautuh and Lil'wat nations.

At least $54 million has been spent by the organizing committee alone on aboriginal companies involved in venue construction, with around $1 million more in procurement from aboriginal companies.

Over 200 training positions were created by Games sponsor RONA and other companies and further training programs were created in partnerships with local community colleges for Games-related jobs in hospitality.

None of the economic impact studies done about the Games have registered much by way of a boom for the four host nations - yet.

One interesting marker might be the 2011 census. Comparing the data from 2011 with data from 2006 may show whether the Olympics had an impact on any measure of First Nations life at all.

Right now, B.C.'s aboriginal people lag behind nonaboriginals in education, income and health levels.

A report on aboriginal health in British Columbia released last June by the province's provincial health officer analyzed 64 health indicators and found improvements in overall death rates. But it also found aboriginal people still have higher rates of chronic disease, such as HIV-AIDS, and hospitalization rates for problems related to substance abuse.

That's why, in part, some aboriginal groups have voiced loud disapproval over the wholehearted way others have supported the Olympics.

The rallying cry for the anti-Games movement is "no Olympics on stolen native land," a reference to the fact that the territories in B.C. have never been formally ceded to the Canadian government.

They also say the reality of life for Canada's aboriginal community is being whitewashed by the Games under the banner of these new partnerships.

Even Phil Fontaine, former chief of the Assembly of First Nations, once suggested aboriginal people use the Games to showcase their plight.

"We're ignored. Our proposals are dismissed. They're not taken seriously. Our efforts to establish a healthy, respectful relationship with this government obviously are not compelling enough," he said in 2008.

"In fact we don't have much of a relationship."

Months later, Fontaine was hired by Olympic sponsor RBC to work on aboriginal relations, including involving First Nations communities in the torch relay.

On Friday, after he had run with the torch partway through Long Plain First Nation in Manitoba, Fontaine said aboriginal people have a right to use the Games as a platform for protest.

But he also said the Games aren't the best forum and now's not the time to dwell on the negative.

"I have no doubt that there will be a very important and lasting legacy" from the Games, Fontaine said, adding First Nation communities have benefited already.

"Beyond the exposure, in terms of the celebration of culture, there are economic benefits. That is one of the other important features of the 2010 Olympics. We will see what is beyond the Olympics but I feel good about it."

He said education should take place in the political - not sports - arena.

The relay, which ends with the start of the Games next month, will have passed through over 100 aboriginal communities.

It hasn't always been smooth running - the route has been blocked and diverted by protests and in Kahnawake, the organizing committee and RCMP were shut out from bringing the flame in because Mohawks refused to allow the federal police on their territory.

A compromise was reached when the flame proceeded without the usual RCMP escort. But that the flame was allowed in at all can be seen as a victory.

"We've been saying we're full partners in the Games. Well, you don't really become full partners until you have to deal with some adversity," said Joseph.

"I think that VANOC could have taken the approach where they weren't going to listen but at the very senior level they were very engaged in what we were trying to do."

So with all this goodwill, the question becomes what's next?

Each of the bands signed cash-and-land deals worth around $20 million apiece in the last seven years in exchange for supporting the Games.

The Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish plan to use the resources to expand.

"We have to become modern day hunters," said George

"In past it was bows and arrows, today it is degrees and diplomas and relationships and it's with that mindset we move forward."

The Lil'wat hope to capitalize on the construction business that boomed for them during venue construction but also have more of a role in tourism to Whistler.

"It brings back the aspect of the business being possible," said Chief Leonard Andrew.

For Joseph, he hopes to turn the his group into a corporation with a focus on helping other groups integrate First Nations into their affairs.

"We developed all these relationships over five, six years now," he said.

Samsung wrap on the west facade of the TD tower seems to be progressing well - I think one strip has been applied and the next strip is being applied today.

Meanwhile, the RBC wrap seems to be taking forever. Maybe because they have to wrap over top of the precast concrete panels (unlike TD Tower)? (and that may be difficult if they are wet?)

Here you go - it's sort of a honeycomb pattern (the guys applying it peel off a backing layer then apply it like wallpaper):

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/7692/p1120181p.jpg

^ thanks.

VANCOUVER – Welcome to Vancouver – free yoga for everyone!

Yogawear retailer Lululemon and yoga class operator YYoga announced Tuesday they will offer more than 1,200 free yoga classes to visitors and residents during the 2010 Olympics.

The classes will take place between Feb. 12 and Feb. 28 at six Metro Vancouver and Whistler YYoga locations, potentially accommodating more than 72, 000 participants. A typical drop-in fee at YYoga ranges from $17 to $20.

“It’s a cool way to show everyone what sets Vancouver apart from other cities,” said Lululemon representative Jennifer Neziol.

Lululemon normally provides free yoga classes at its stores but the partnership with YYoga allows it to expand that offering on a much larger scale during the Olympics. The company invites anyone to join the free classes – including first-timers, avid yogis and elite athletes.

http://www.kelowna.com/2010/01/12/fr...uver-olympics/

they have a studio at burrard and smithe which is quite nice..

The Future Shop / Winners building is getting wraps over the windows on the Granville side - being installed right now...

I don't think it been said yet...

One more month to go!

For those who are worried about the weather, an arctic air cold front is expected in 2 weeks in which temperatures will dip to zero. However, no snow is expected as a high pressure system is settling in at that time. While it would be nice to showcase a snow covered Vancouver, I think most of the world would see an urban city with ominous looking rain clouds hovering over it 24/7.

i saw signs for another "house" the royal canadian mint is opening its "house" somewhere on granville street - i think it said 311 Granville?

Olympic Opening Ceremony dress rehearsal to bring Feb. 10 road closures

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465...27/1557983.bin
The Cambie Street Bridge and a section of Beatty Street downtown will close between noon and midnight for the dress rehearsal and transportation dry run on Feb. 10, as well as for the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 12, the Closing Ceremony Feb. 28 and the Opening Ceremony for the Paralympic Winter Games on March 12.Photograph by: Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER -- The Cambie Street Bridge and a section of Beatty Street downtown will close to vehicle traffic between noon and midnight on four days in February and March to accommodate 2010 Olympic ceremonies, Vanoc announced Tuesday.

The closures will occur Feb. 10, during a massive dress rehearsal for the opening ceremonies, as well as for the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 12, the Closing Ceremony Feb. 28 and the Opening Ceremony for the Paralympic Winter Games on March 12.

The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists.

It's thought 100,000 spectators, visitors, reporters and TV crews, volunteers, and performers will fill Vancouver's downtown core for opening ceremonies on Feb. 12. The Feb. 10 dress rehearsal will include what's being billed by Vanoc as a "transportation dry run."

The road closures were announced Tuesday as the Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team (OPTT) released the third and final phase of its 2010 Winter Games integrated transportation plan.

...

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/O...127/story.html

>.> 100,000 spectators? Where :P?

I'm happy I live close enough to walk :D Planning to arrive 3+ hours before the ceremony to get through security, though.

100,000 spectators, visitors, performers, media....the sentence continues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.x (Post 4647805)

100,000 spectators, visitors, performers, media....the sentence continues.

You sure the roof in BC Place won't collapse from the hot air of 100,000 people?! ;)

Speaking of Hot Air...

Activists to use Olympics to get media attention

Quote:

# Feb. 7 - The 2010 Poverty Olympics at the Japanese Hall on Alexander Street. Calling it "free family fun with a conscience," organizers say the Poverty Games will include events like Welfare Hurdles and Skating Around Poverty.
# Feb. 14 - An annual memorial march honouring missing and murdered women is planned to start at Main and Hastings Streets.
# Feb. 15 - A protest the activists called an "action against homelessness" at a location yet to be disclosed.
# Feb. 20 - A rally by the Olympic clock outside the Vancouver Art Gallery in support of a national housing program.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...-olympics.html

So, visitors will be treated to an average day in Vancouver, with people bringing Darfur and anti-fur posters to a seemingly aimless poverty rally.

Then people in actual poor Countries suffering from actual poverty can see them on TV in their designer clothes protesting their own poverty.

there's some great pictures of the Oval wrap here (among others). i like what they did to the Pacific Coliseum (pg.2).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/susangittins/

:D I got my 2010 Olympic Torch in the mail today. I didn't eBay, I bought from a charity, instead.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/...278f723d_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/4271693011/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2751/...f22d4bc6_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/4...in/photostream

So, if you see someone jogging down Robson Street with a torch... :P

Actually I'd probably be tackled by a first year liberal arts student by the time I reached the art gallery.

Maybe I'll keep it to myself, then ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama (Post 4648488)

:D I got my 2010 Olympic Torch in the mail today. I didn't eBay, I bought from a charity, instead.

So, if you see someone jogging down Robson Street with a torch... :P

Actually I'd probably be tackled by a first year liberal arts student by the time I reached the art gallery.

Maybe I'll keep it to myself, then ;)

That's a cool idea buying it from charity. Do you have any history of the torch? Like who ran with it and where?

Hmm, I don't know who. But I know it was in Quebec. I was sent the full uniform, stand, and special torch bearer red mittens (they have maple leaf shaped hand grips on the palm).

Progress at Seymour and Nelson:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9FW9P3-u1EI/S0...0/IMG_1018.JPG

(my photo, taken today)

What's going there, and how do they expect to be done before Olympics :P?

its the showroom for the condo isn't it?

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