Queen Elizabeth II to open Vancouver 2010 Games; Charles may also attend

[mr.x]

This is no April Fools.

Queen Elizabeth To Grace Opening Of Winter Olympic Games Hosted By Vancouver

April 2, 2009 1:57 p.m. EST

AHN Staff

London, England (AHN) - Queen Elizabeth will grace the opening in 2010 of the Winter Olympic Games to be hosted by Vancouver, the office of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on Thursday. Her son, Prince Charles, is also interested in coming along.

According to Globe and Mail, Harper's office has confirmed the monarch's visit, but the details are still being ironed out by Ottawa and London officials. To plan and work out details of the visit, Harper appointed in London on Wednesday Kevin MacLeod as Canadian Secretary to the Queen.

Aside from the royal visit, part of MacLeod's task is to chair the Diamond Jubilee Committee which will organize the celebration of the Queen's 60th anniversary as Queen on Canada in 2012.

Prince Charles planned in 2005 to visit Canada with his wife Camilla, but the prime minister then, Paul Martin, advised him against the visit because of political turmoil in Ottawa at that time.

It would be Queen Elizabeth's 24th visit to Canada when the winter games open on Feb. 12, 2010.

Harper, in a statement, said, "Royal visits demonstrate the enduring ties between the Royal Family and Canadians and offer a unique opportunity to celebrate the important aspect of our shared heritage, culture and identity."

Queen Elizabeth to visit Canada next year

OTTAWA, April 2 (UPI) -- Planning is under way for British Queen Elizabeth to visit Canada and open the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office said.

Harper's office made the announcement after the prime minister met with the monarch in London Wednesday as part of his agenda of the Group of 20 summit, The Globe and Mail reported.

Plans are being made to have the queen open the Games, which begin Feb. 12, and also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Naval Service of Canada, which was the forerunner of the current navy, the report said.

The monarch turns 83 on April 21 and the 2010 visit would be her 24th to Canada.

The Globe and Mail said Prince Charles was also keen to visit Canada before his mother's trip.

By tradition royal family members only visit by invitation and the last one to Charles in 2005 was rescinded by Prime Minister Paul Martin, who said his minority government was imperiled and the country could face a snap election.

Visits by Queen, Prince Charles in the works

MICHAEL VALPY | GLOBE AND MAIL
April 2, 2009

The Queen and possibly Prince Charles will come to Canada within the next year and a half, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed yesterday.

Although details are still being worked out by Ottawa and Buckingham Palace, speculation is that the Queen, who turns 83 on April 21, will come next year to open the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver and perhaps mark the centenary of the navy, and Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, will come earlier.

The Globe and Mail reported in February that the Prince was keen to deepen his relationship with Canada, but was thwarted by not having been invited to the country for eight years.

By convention, the Queen and Charles, respectively head of state and next-in-line, can set foot in the country only officially and by invitation.
Print Edition - Section Front

Charles wanted to bring his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to Canada in 2005, soon after their marriage, but then-prime minister Paul Martin informed him the timing was not propitious because his minority government might be forced into an election.

The Prince and his staff have shown considerable interest in charitable and community work being done by a number of Canadian organizations that parallel his own interests. If he comes, he likely would use his time in Canada to spotlight achievements in education, health, organic agriculture, at-risk youth, corporate social responsibility, architecture and urban planning.

The Queen's visit will be the 24th she has made.

The Olympics open on Feb. 12, 2010. The Naval Service of Canada - subsequently the Royal Canadian Navy and then Canadian Forces Maritime Command - was created in 1910.

Overseeing the Queen's visit, and that of the Prince if he's invited, will be the civil service's long-time expert on monarchy in Canada, Kevin MacLeod, who Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced yesterday would become Canadian Secretary to the Queen.

The announcement was made just before Mr. Harper met the Queen for lunch in London, where he is attending a meeting of the G20 heads of government. Mr. MacLeod travelled there with him.

"Royal visits demonstrate the enduring ties between the Royal family and Canadians," Mr. Harper said, "and offer a unique opportunity to celebrate this important aspect of our shared heritage, culture and identity. In his capacity as Canadian Secretary to the Queen, Mr. MacLeod will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of upcoming Royal visits."

The Canadian Secretary's post has been vacant for four years. Basically, it gives the sovereign a set of astute Canadian eyes and ears.

http://news.google.ca/news?um=1&ned=ca&cf=all&ncl=1325407992



Personally, I would have preferred Michaelle Jean....but, I'm not against this either. I think it's great that she's giving us attention, as the Queen of Canada.

[metroXpress]

That would be interesting....thanks for the news!

[raggedy13]

Here is a related article from the Vancouver Sun:

Queen invited as Olympic guest

CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
MAY 20, 2009

VANCOUVER — The Queen and U.S. President Barack Obama could both be guests of honour at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Games CEO John Furlong confirmed Wednesday that a formal invitation has gone out to Queen Elizabeth.

“But we haven’t been given an answer yet,” he said.

As to Obama, Furlong said he doesn’t know whether he’s coming but the rumour mill is churning and a lot of heads of state are expected to attend.

“I’ve heard there’s a lot of interest and I’ve heard it from people in sport, through their national Olympic committees, who are getting asked questions. Our view is that we will see a lot of visitors at a very high level.”

Furlong said that, as host of Canada’s Games, organizers are required to invite the Queen.

As to other heads of state, that’s up to the national Olympic committees of participating countries.

Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean will go to Greece for the lighting of the Olympic torch in late October, said Furlong.

“The Governor General is very excited about the relay and is a great friend of the Games,” he said. “We’re happy to hear that she will be coming.”

He said the complete list of dignitaries from Canada has yet to be finalized.

Vancouver Province

© Copyright (c) The Province

No author provided
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Queen+invited+Olympic+guest/1614026/story.html

[ambaUp]

Governor General to open 2010 Winter Games

It now looks unlikely that the Queen will open the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

On Saturday Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean announced she is proud to open the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

"It is in a spirit of solidarity and with great enthusiasm that we are preparing to welcome youth and the world for the XXI Olympic Winter Games. I am confident that Canada will be able to make this gathering a celebration of winter, sports excellence and fellowship, and I am pleased to be a part of it," the Governor General said.

As the head of state in Canada, Jean is the Queen's representative.

The Opening Ceremony will be held on Feb. 12, at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

Vancouver 2010 CEO John Furlong said last month that an invite had been sent to the Queen from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office but a reply had yet to be received.

Furlong wasn't available for comment.

I actually prefer the Governor General opening the winter olympics. People around the world just don't think Canada when they see the Queen.

[Overground]

Ya, but are we supposed to change our ways and placate to the ignorance of people around the world on who Canada's head of state really is? We know who she is.

These people don't even know who or what the Governor General is, so what's the difference? Perhaps educating people around the world on Canada's system of gov't is the way to go instead of having Canadians live in some weird form of denial.

[Canadian Mind]

Prime minister would be the best choice if we wanted to reflect who the leader of the country is.

Personally, I'd rather have Gretzky do it, rienforcing the stereotype that we are hockey-mad, or the Obamanator.

[Overground]

I think Gretzky would be a great choice.

[johnjimbc]

I shudder at the thought of Stephen Harper opening the Games, though I can imagine him wanting to. It would just be too much of a political postcard, of which I'm sick of seeing these days.

I am sort of glad the Queen isn't as well It seems like it would be a bit of a distraction with the need to be so stately and all. The GG will be just fine, offering the hand of royalty without all the trumpets . She's youthful and poised and intelligent. It will present a good image for Canada.

[NetMapel]

Originally Posted by Canadian Mind

Prime minister would be the best choice if we wanted to reflect who the leader of the country is.

Personally, I'd rather have Gretzky do it, rienforcing the stereotype that we are hockey-mad, or the Obamanator.

Meh we're not even sure if Harper will remain as our PM on Feb 2010 judging from how frequently we have federal elections these past years GG would be our safe choice.

[VanHowe]

I think that the Queen should open the games or Iggy, our next prime minister.

[CosmoDog]

I think it would be a great idea to have both Prince William and Harry open the ceremonies. It's young and fresh, just like our city and country. It would be good for the image we are trying to portray to the world.

[ambaUp]

Well, the Opening Ceremonies are opened by the host country's head of state. So this would be the Governor General when the Queen is not in Canada. There is only two people to choose from when deciding who will open the games.

[mr.x]

As much as I love our Queen/monarchy, I would prefer to have Jean open it....as said above, to promote the Canadian system.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Canadian Mind

Prime minister would be the best choice if we wanted to reflect who the leader of the country is.

Yes, but the Prime Minister isn't our head of state - it's the Governor General. The job of opening of the Games belongs to the nation's head of state. We'd have to become a republic.

[mr.x]

She should grow back her afro hair for the opening!







Queen turns down chance to open Vancouver Olympics

June 27 - Queen Elizabeth has turned down an invitation to open the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, it has been announced tonight.

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said that the Governor General will instead officially open the Games.

The Queen would have been the first person to open two Olympic Games if she had accepted the opportunity, extended to her by Harper in April during a visit to London when he attended the G20 Summit.

She had opened the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

The Olympic Charter states that the head of state for a host country declares the Games open.

The Governor General Michaelle Jean has instead been designated to represent the Queen, who is Canada's official head of state.

The Opening Ceremony is due to be held on February 12 at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

Jean said: "It is in a spirit of solidarity and with great enthusiasm that we are preparing to welcome youth and the world for the XXI Olympic Winter Games.

"I am confident that Canada will be able to make this gathering a celebration of winter, sports excellence and fellowship, and I am pleased to be a part of it."

The 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary had also been opened by the Governor General of Canada, then Jeane Sauve.

This is the fourth occasion that the Queen has not opened the Olympics when invited to do so.

Prince Philip, her husband, opened the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne and Australia's Governor-General Sir William Deane the 2000 Games in Sydney.

She is also officially the head of state in Australia.

Karine Leroux, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister's Office, says the Canadian Government is currently in discussions with Buckingham Palace about the Queen coming to Vancouver for the Games.

The Queen is expected to open the 2012 Olympics in London, which coincide with her Diamond Jubilee as monarch.

[mr.x]

Apparently, although the Queen has turned down the invitation to open the 2010 Games discussions are still ongoing between her office and the PMO's office about her coming to visit Vancouver during the Games.