2010 Vancouver Olympic & Paralympic Super-Thread

[johnjimbc]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Surveillance cameras to be installed downtown for the Games


Approximately video 100 cameras will be installed throughout the downtown core to watch the streets during the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games.

The city says the devices will be on Granville Street from Drake to Cordova, on Robson Street from Bute to Beatty, on Hamilton/Mainland from Georgia to Drake, along with LiveCity Yaletown and LiveCity Downtown.

Signs will advise people they are being watched.

"The cameras will be deactivated and no further monitoring will take place after March 28, 2010," a city press release said.

...

http://www.theprovince.com/entertainment...talled+downtown+Games/2315334/story.html

Originally Posted by teriyaki

All that money, organization, time and energy for something that will last only months. I personally think they should leave some of them up, but knowing Vancouver thatd be a difficult idea to fly.

They made a point of saying they'll be deactivated, not removed. I think that's becoming the norm. That's what they do in DC. I imagine London is the same.

Why would Vancouver want or need to conduct more invasive constant taping of its citizens than Washington, DC?

I don't have a problem with cameras that can be turned on for special events for security, but I don't happen to think citizens need to be recorded at all times of the day from random vantage points in the public realm. People are constantly recorded on private videos anyhow - building entrances, in stores, etc, etc. Do they need to be recorded crossing Robson Street as well? I don't think so, and I doubt that makes me some kind of wacky radical .

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

the headliners for the concerts in BC place during the medal ceremonies - which you have to pay $20 and up were announced and could they be any more boring and snooze?

nelly furtado, great big sea, INXS, trooper, Loverboy, bare naked ladies

oh i am so glad they kept those names secret - yawn

It's a good thing they did, or I wouldn't have bought. I'll probably not end up going.

When you expect "Internationally Renowned" artists you don't think of *any* of those. The only person who comes close is Nelly Furtado, in that people in USA know vaguely who she is, and I despise her.

Weren't we all just so silly talking about how Bon Jovi is almost a sure thing Nuh-uh, you get Hedley and washed up Newfies instead!

[dreambrother808]

If you're not doing anything illegal, what do you really have to fear from a video camera?

I've never understood the arguments against them.

If in fact our government or the police were shown to be using them for some nefarious purpose, then fine.

Nevertheless, we don't live in such a society, so all of the boogyman fear-mongering seems a bit silly.

[johnjimbc]

I can't even fathom how the rather innocuous statement I made earlier can be considered "fear-mongering." I stated my opinion. I think citizens should have a reasonable expectation that there every moment isn't being monitored simply because it's possible to do so. We live in a society in which privacy is given up constantly, often voluntarily. We don't need to institutionalize frivolous means by which a reasonable expectation of privacy is frittered away.

It sounds like they're putting in a system in which surveillance can be turned on and off as needed, during public events in which there may be heightened security concern. That sounds reasonable. I haven't read anywhere, including that article, in which anyone says they will be removing the actual infrastructure. It simply won't be turned on and monitored after the Games. I have no doubt that, should another major event require additional security, they'll re-engage it.

I also suspect the police don't see any benefit to studying tapes of Robson on any lazy Tuesday either.

I simply believe the burden should be on the government to show why an intrusion into the public's reasonable expectation of privacy is necessary rather than for citizens to have to prove after-the-fact that security measures are being abused. It would not be the first time in history systems are abused.

Our society is freer because citizens demand it be so. I think my ability to walk down a public street without excessive monitoring is as essential as someone else's desire to possess a gun if they so choose. I don't particularly want a gun, and I'm not doing anything illegal when I walk around town. But both are examples of living in a free society.

That's not fear-mongering. It's my opinion.

[ambaUp]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

If you're not doing anything illegal, what do you really have to fear from a video camera?

I've never understood the arguments against them.

If in fact our government or the police were shown to be using them for some nefarious purpose, then fine.

Nevertheless, we don't live in such a society, so all of the boogyman fear-mongering seems a bit silly.

All that happens is once you have a few it gets easier to put more and more up. I'm against them as they've proven to be pretty much useless. A report by the London Metro police showed that only one crime was solved a year for one thousand CCTV cameras they have in the city. The cost of maintaining them and hiring people to watch them is ridiculous compared to any benefit received.

And regarding the not doing anything illegal part. You can take anyone and watch them for one day and likely find something to arrest them for. Why do you wear clothes when you go out if you have nothing to hide? You could be hiding a knife or a gun.

[ckkelley]

I support CCTV. Although I think that under ordinary circumstances they should use them 'after the fact' only.

I see no difference between a police officer on the street or one looking at a CCTV monitor of the same street. I too, am lost on this notion of privacy on a public street. When you do something embarrassing on the street, you aren't protected from any humiliation you might feel, why is this different? Because this is the police??

[jlousa]

I don't have an issue with cctv, but with guidelines. No need to have anyone watching it, if it is only used after an incident I'd have no issue.

[cornholio]

Freedom is the ability to do what you want, right or wrong. Simply put installing cctv cameras reduces everyone's freedom, no ifs and or buts about it. However absolute freedom also doesnt work, that would mean no courts, no police, no government, no laws, no rules, etc. We have to draw a balance where we reach a maximum level of freedom and order/stability. My opinion is there is no need for cctvs, sure they create order, help solve crimes, but I dont see how thats worth the price of the freedom they take away. To convince me you would have to show me a serious problme right now that we cant live with that they would solve, you cant do that though because no problem exists.

If you ignore the importance of freedom and install them then whats next, random searches of people, computer chips installed in all people with gps capability, genetic manipulation of people, etc. Many former communist states had more freedom then we have here now, I just dont see any reason to loose any more, we have plenty of order and stability and our society works. Infact i would be more fore the removal of probably 50% of our bi-laws and removal of several laws to make life not so claustrophobic and a bit more free in our country/province/city.

[Zassk]

Originally Posted by cornholio

If you ignore the importance of freedom and install them then whats next, random searches of people, computer chips installed in all people with gps capability, genetic manipulation of people, etc.

That`s a little extreme. A camera watching a street is like a police officer watching a street. Police officers on the street are not an invasion of privacy, nor are they implicitly tracking or searching every person. I have a hard time equating public viewing with these other things that you mentioned. Public spaces have always theoretically been subject to this form of scrutiny, even in centuries past.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by Zassk

That`s a little extreme. A camera watching a street is like a police officer watching a street. Police officers on the street are not an invasion of privacy, nor are they implicitly tracking or searching every person. I have a hard time equating public viewing with these other things that you mentioned. Public spaces have always theoretically been subject to this form of scrutiny, even in centuries past.

But having more police on the street then people, or a police officer on every corner would be a invasion of privacy imo. I doubt anyone would be happy with a complete police state, and those that say they wouldn't mind would im sure quickly change their mind if they had to actually experience it. The fact is that there isnt a fine line between a "free society" and a police state, installing these cammeras takes another step towards a police state and most deffenitly reduces everyones freedom(this is a simple fact). If you can tell me why they are needed or show me a serious problem that we cant live with that they would solve then sure I would consider the option, until then I would perfer to take the safer route of being very very carefull about reducing my freedoms. Sometimes their much harder to get back when lost.

[giallo]

Not sure if this has been posted or not.

Sega's new Vancouver 2010 video game. It looks pretty sick.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/uk-adrenaline-vancouver-2010/59629

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by giallo

Not sure if this has been posted or not.

Sega's new Vancouver 2010 video game. It looks pretty sick.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/uk-adrenaline-vancouver-2010/59629

It looks A LOT better than previous Olympic games. It'll be interesting to see how the controls are, though.

They are notoriously bad.

[SpongeG]

Samsung opens its wallet for Games

A strong rebound this year from a devastating global recession will ensure Samsung Electronics spends more money on the Vancouver 2010 Olympics than any other Winter Games in its sponsorship history.

“2009 has been a very strong year — an amazing performance that even we didn’t expect,” Samsung vice-president Gyehyun Kwon said in an interview. “That means there will be no cutbacks in our activities and marketing.”

Samsung posted a $3.8-billion third-quarter profit this year on revenues of $32.6 billion.

The Korean-based consumer electronics giant is a huge sports sponsor, owning several Korean sports teams and sponsoring English football club Chelsea in a five-year deal worth an estimated $90 million.

Kwon, who heads Samsung’s worldwide sports marketing, can’t divulge exactly how much money it will spend on the 2010 Games but stressed it will be significant.

“Our investment in the Vancouver Olympic Games is our largest ever Winter Games investment — more than Salt Lake City and Torino, absolutely,” Kwon said.

Samsung’s global Olympic sponsorship began with the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, and will continue at least through to the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

As the official supplier of wireless communications equipment, it will provide about 9,200 mobile phones to the Vancouver Olympic family, including Games officials and athletes.

It is negotiating to wrap a downtown Vancouver building with Samsung Olympic signage, has big plans to showcase its brand on outdoor advertising throughout the region and will build a pavilion at David Lam Park it expects will attract more than 600,000 visitors as part of Vancouver’s LiveCity Yaletown celebration site.

The two-storey, 7,500-square-foot pavilion — to be called Olympic Rendezvous at Samsung [OR@S] — will showcase Samsung technology, provide live entertainment and offer lounge space for athletes and their families.

For the first time ever, owners of select Samsung mobile phones, with Windows operating systems, can download an application to use the company’s Wireless Olympic Works [WOW] that will provide real-time 2010 Games information and updates.

full article: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Samsung+opens+wallet+Games/2327080/story.html

[Yume-sama]

lol, I love the fact they probably spent a ton of money coming up with something "hip" like calling it OR@S, and WOW. Sigh.

[Delirium]

We Are Stardust is one of more than 40 digital art installations announced today as part of CODE Live. The landmark 18-day digital arts event, held in February as part of the larger Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad festival, will feature free visual art exhibitions by top Canadian and international cutting-edge artists, including those announced today, as well as night-time ticketed performances by such outstanding musicians as scratch video phenom Mike Relm, British duo Addictive TV, Kid Koala, Chromeo, and the Hard Rubber Orchestra’s Drum & Light Festival.

CODE Live starts on February 4, 2010 in three main locations in Vancouver known for fostering creativity and opening minds. They are: the Great Northern Way Campus (577 Great Northern Way), Emily Carr University(1399 Johnston St.) and the downtown central location of the Vancouver Public Library (350 West Georgia St.). Individual installations will also be located throughout the city and at the Surrey Art Gallery.

At the Great Northern Way Campus, visitors are welcomed into the space by reed-like LED lights in a Dutch project called Dune 4.0 by Studio Roosegaarde. The reeds glow brighter and bend towards people as they walk past into the gallery like a field of wheat waving in the wind. Once inside the audience will experience everything from the vastness of space in We Are Stardust by George Legrady to a panoramic worldwide journey only they control in Vested by Don Ritter.

At Emily Carr University, the audience can try out electronic garments that respond to touch or act unpredictably in the group show Electromode, or take a turn around Granville Island to discover how they are being observed by the installations created for CODE.lab by Simon Levin, Jer Thorpe and Emily Carr students.

Adventurous audiences can also venture into a miniature theatre for the Canadian international award-winning piece The Paradise Institute by Janet Cardiff and Georges Bures Miller, organized by the National Gallery of Canada. As viewers watch a short film they will unexpectedly encounter a twist on the real and surreal created by the artists and complementary soundtracks.

The main floor atrium and lower floor moat at the Vancouver Public Library are a perfect setting for artworks that focus on culture, movement and community. Seen by David Rokeby will record the movement of passersby and feed them onto adjacent screens in a series of overlays that reveal unexpected patterns. Visitors will also find Room to Make your Peace, a participatory art project where visitors can collaborate with online contributors, reflecting on what it takes to make peace as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Truce initiative.

http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-news

[SpongeG]

some of those sound cool

[SpongeG]

Vancouver looking to hire more ‘binners’ during the Games

VANCOUVER — The city of Vancouver plans to spend $50,000 to hire extra binners to clean up the downtown core during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.


Twenty-two paid binners will earn $10 an hour retrieving recyclable beverage containers from 250 temporary recycling bins throughout the city.


Downtown Eastside-based non-profit organization United We Can will hire the binners to work four-hour shifts each of the 17 Olympic Games days. The binners will be scheduled in three shifts to provide 12 hours of service a day. Deposit refunds will go back to UWC to pay other workers.


The proposed grant awaits city council approval Tuesday, where Councillor Geoff Meggs believes it will be an easy sell.


“UWC is truly one of those outstanding Downtown Eastside institutions because it takes what could really be a difficult problem and turns it into a number of positives by producing income and jobs for people while they do all of this recycling,” Meggs said Sunday. “By making this grant, I think it will spread some of the benefits around but also help the city keep the downtown area cleaner. Plus, it’s a modest amount and from planned expenditures.”

...

full: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Vancouv...+binners+during+Games/2338809/story.html

[Locked In]

Companies scramble to sponsor the Games
The Globe and Mail
By Rod Mickleburgh, The Globe and Mail Posted Monday, December 14, 2009



VANCOUVER - Not so long ago, 2010 Olympic organizers were struggling to cope with the huge task of staging a Winter Games in the teeth of a world-wide recession.

Today, in a stunningly quick reversal of fortune, the recession has been all but vanquished at VANOC headquarters, and the money is flowing once again.

With just two months to go before the Games opening ceremonies, phone lines to VANOC have been humming with calls from companies scrambling to get on board the Olympic express at the last minute.

The late interest has resulted in organizers going "well past" their original revenue target of $760-million in domestic sponsorship dollars, with more on the way, VANOC deputy chief executive officer Dave Cobb said Monday.

The organizing committee is now in the unexpected position of having to say no to corporate wannabes, who left their decision to seek Olympic involvement too late.

"We got a call last week from a very large international company, wanting to be part of the Games. But it would simply have taken too long for them to mobilize," Mr. Cobb said. "We are getting calls like that every day. Absolutely. People are finally realizing how big the Games are going to be."

Latest to sign on is the prominent engineering and construction firm SNC-Lavalin Inc., whose status as an official supplier of the Olympics was announced earlier in the day.

Mr. Cobb said talks with the company had stalled about a year ago, when the recession hit. As the Games neared and the economic climate improved, however, negotiations resumed, he said.

"For sure, they wanted to be associated with the Games. The company realized they have done well in this part of the world, and they wanted to be part of what we're doing."

For an undisclosed financial contribution to VANOC, SNC-Lavalin will receive marketing and promotion rights during the 2010 Olympics, and forge an association with Canada's Olympic athletes.

The company built and will operate the recently opened Canada Line transit link between downtown Vancouver and Richmond, including the airport.

Mr. Cobb said he expects to announce at least one other corporate sponsorship in the days ahead. "But we don't intend to shut our door until Feb. 12 [when the Games open]."

A year ago, VANOC was forced to launch a frantic round of cost-cutting and scaling down plans to cope with the sudden economic downturn. There were major worries that sponsors already signed up would have to renege on their commitments. At that time, finding new sponsors was the least of VANOC's concerns.

Compared to those days, when VANOC chief John Furlong confessed to spending almost every waking moment thinking about finances, this is Easy Street.

Mr. Cobb said there are two reasons for the abrupt change.

"There is now light at the end of the tunnel for the economy, and, as the Games get closer, they become more real. Companies start to wonder: ‘Is there an opportunity for us to get involved?' "

He said he noticed a big change in attitude once the torch relay started at the end of October. "It's been fantastic for us."

Sales of $285,000 Olympic luxury packages - which stalled as soon as the recession hit - have also taken off.

"We've now sold 40. We've got 10 left, and we expect to be able to sell them," Mr. Cobb said. "People are phoning. ‘What can I get? What's left?' "

Not only do the packages contain tickets to every Olympic event, they are good tickets and purchasers get limousine service to every competition, he said. "They want VIP treatment, and it's their last chance. So we are getting the latecomers. People realize it's now or never."

The only financial cloud for VANOC is its ongoing difficulty selling $40-million worth of billboard advertising space bought last year.

"We still have about $4-million of inventory left, and we don't expect to sell it all," Mr. Cobb said.

Source: CTV / Globe and Mail

[mr.x]

^ hopefully this will get VANOC to put back money into the Look of the Games/decorations, much of it was cut earlier this year.


This is incredible news, it appears that we may be back onto surplus territory without any government nor IOC help.

[jlousa]

I'd prefer them to leave a surplus and have it put towards operating the venues post games. The city would certainly appreciate any help it could get and perhaps it might even change a couple peoples mind that the games might not be so bad.

Perhaps we could use the extra money and send Chris Shaw, and Garth Mullin to London so they could fight the good fight there.