Olympic Cauldron Discussion

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by cabotp

Anyone who figured it smart to climb on top. Should be toasted.

and is a candidate for a Darwin Award.

[cabotp]

Exactly

[Stingray2004]

The chain link fence has been moved 25 metres closer to the cauldron, a gap has been placed in the fence, and a clear view observation point will also be made available to the public from a nearby building.

ctvbc.ca
Date: Wednesday Feb. 17, 2010 8:53 AM PT

The public can get closer to the Olympic cauldron and a clear photo but the icon of the 2010 Games is still behind a chain-link fence.

Workers toiled overnight to move the existing fence about 25 metres closer to the massive steel and glass structure that sits on a downtown waterfront plaza.

At eye level in the fence, there is now a gap and early morning sightseers were already sticking their cameras through for a clear shot.

A senior Vancouver Olympic official who was on site but asked not to be quoted said an observation point on top of a nearby empty building will also open to the public.

The official said crowd control procedures had to be worked out before they could allow people up the stairs and onto the deck for the bird's eye view of the flame.

The flame has been a 24-hour attraction in downtown Vancouver since Wayne Gretzky lit the city's outdoor cauldron, but controversy bubbled after it was locked behind bars because it sits in a security zone for the Games.

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local..._100217/20100217?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

[Rusty Gull]

VANOC just doesn't get it. It's the optics of the chain link fence, not the ability to take a nice picture. I have been in there corner for other things (like Cypress), but their attitude on this is just dumb, dumb, dumb.

Colbert will absolutely scorch Vancouver on this - in addition to every other global media outlet.

[Yume-sama]

Well, for me it is mostly the inability to take a nice picture

Frankly, we all know EXACTLY what will happen if the fence comes down. There won't be a torch to protect in the first place.

And then everyone will be wondering why the torch wasn't protected.

[officedweller]

The problem is really because they had the cauldron inside BC Place (i.e. had to be short) and they wanted the two cauldrons to match.

This wouldn't be a problem if the cauldron was 10 storeys high like at other games - because spectators wouldn't be remotely close to it when taking a photo - they'd have to be 500m back.

[WarrenC12]

Reports say you can feel the heat from the new fence location. I'd say that's close enough.

[officedweller]

When the flamethrowers go up at Robson Square each night you can feel the heat from them too.

[SpongeG]

Rooftop vantage on Olympic cauldron draws fresh crowds to flame


Much better pictures of the Olympic cauldron are now available since Vanoc made changes to the fencing surrounding the flame.
Photograph by: Glenn Baglo, PNG

“This is the second time I’ve been to this flame,” she said Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. “It’s better but I still feel locked out.”

But she had an abrupt turn of heart when she walked along a viewing deck from the convention-centre rooftop. Spectators get a chance to see the cauldron from about 15 metres away, with an elevated view. You’re so close that you can actually hear the powerful windy sound of the flames burning. A stunning view of the North Shore mountains on a clear blue day doesn't hurt the whole experience, either.

“I feel warm from the bottom of my heart, I’m happy now.” Mei enthused, while pointing at the cauldron. “Thanks to VANOC.”

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Roofto...ws+fresh+crowds+flame/2576472/story.html

[Hed Kandi]

VANOC needs to completely remove the fencing altogether and now. This barrier is causing nothing but ridicule and outrage from the global press.

On the streets disapprobation regarding the city's decision runs high among tourists and locals alike.

As for myself, I would like to have a photo take in front of the Olympic Cauldron during this once in a lifetime event.

[GeeCee]

If they take down the fence, then protesters will surely trash it. It needs to stay up in some capacity.

[Hed Kandi]

Originally Posted by GeeCee

If they take down the fence, then protesters will surely trash it. It needs to stay up in some capacity.

The fence can come down. The city just needs to have a greater security presence in that area to ensure that order is maintained.

[AdrianT]

Looking at the photo above with the elevated viewing available, I don't think there's any reason to take down the fence--you have a clear unobstructed view of the flame. With the fence down, you can bet protestors march to the flame and try to vandalize the glass or douse the flame some way.

Considering how windows got trashed during what was supposedly a peaceful protest, I don't want to imagine how the cauldron would look if the fence was removed. And a greater security presence is not going to do anything to stop anarchists who have nothing but breaking the cauldron in their mind. Did you see how many cops it took to stop protestors on OC day to BC Place? I would rather have a fence there than take up part of the security contigent to build a human cop wall to stop protestors from getting near the cauldron.

[Zassk]

Originally Posted by Hed Kandi

As for myself, I would like to have a photo take in front of the Olympic Cauldron during this once in a lifetime event.

What you ask has never been possible at any previous Olympics. This is closest the public has ever been allowed to any Olympic flame. Now you can get your picture taken unobstructed from the viewing rooftop 15 meters away. I'd say your photo will look very nice from there, and will be unprecedented in Olympics history.

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by Zassk

What you ask has never been possible at any previous Olympics. This is closest the public has ever been allowed to any Olympic flame. Now you can get your picture taken unobstructed from the viewing rooftop 15 meters away. I'd say your photo will look very nice from there, and will be unprecedented in Olympics history.

This isn't the main official flame, but still, it is the Olympic Flame at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.

Winter Olympics
Notes
Olympic Flame Leaves Some in Calgary With a Warm Feeling Inside
February 21, 1988|RANDY HARVEY , Times Staff Writer

CALGARY, Canada — When local organizing committee officials placed an Olympic flame on Mt. Allan, the site of the Alpine skiing competition, they made it accessible to spectators who might want to light candles by it. They thought it would represent a ritualistic link to the Ancient Olympics.

But if they thought everyone would hold the flame sacred, the officials found out otherwise last week when they caught spectators roasting wieners over the fire.

Apparently, even some of the committee's volunteers thought that was a good idea. On Friday, they were using the flame to roast marshmallows.

Asked if he were disturbed by the breach of Olympic etiquette, Bill Payne, an organizing committee official, said: "No. Perhaps I don't understand the implications of it, but I was quietly amused."

Another organizing committee official, Jerry Joynt, told reporters they should be the last to make an issue of it.

"When we went to Greece to get the flame," he said, "one member of the media lit his cigarette by it."

Source: LA Times, Feb 21, 1988

Try that in Vancouver and RCMP will taser you. The Calgary Olympics had a much more relaxed friendly feel. VANOC with its ridiculous hard on for security is making these games a major security event - no wonder the world press is picking up on it.

[ozonemania]

Originally Posted by lightrail

This isn't the main official flame, but still, it is the Olympic Flame at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.



Source: LA Times, Feb 21, 1988

Try that in Vancouver and RCMP will taser you. The Calgary Olympics had a much more relaxed friendly feel. VANOC with its ridiculous hard on for security is making these games a major security event - no wonder the world press is picking up on it.

We live in a different era now, VANOC has a responsibility for a security requirement that did not exist 22 years ago.

I just don't know what to say to those people that are STILL complaining after opening up a rooftop access to clear, unobstructed, and close-range views of the cauldron. Initial criticism of the site planning for such a high-profile location is deserved.

But in the grand scheme of things, this was such a minor problem. I just find the fuss over this to be grossly disproportionate.

[officedweller]

Yeah, it boils down to the "me" generation and the how every little thing affects "me, me, me" (and offends people's sense of "entitlement").
i.e. "I" can't take a photo. "I" want a photo. What are they doing for "me"?

That's also the basis for NIMBYism.

[Yume-sama]

Anywhere in the World was much different 22 years ago. You could still smoke on an airplane. I mean, imagine that!

You also didn't have militant protesters at the '88 games.

[johnjimbc]

Just got back from the torch. The changes are excellent! Now that they've moved the fencing back and opened up the fencing (for the entire length) for photos, they've created a large, pleasant place to stand, observe, and photograph the flame. The configuration also allows longer sight lines when approaching the flame . . . making the security fences less imposing.

And that was my impression without even being able to go up on the roof of the building next to the flame (none of the other articles made it clear that the "other building" is actually that smaller structure on the other side of the plaza from the main building that was built at the same time and is not yet populated (I think it is intended to be a restaurant eventually perhaps?). Anyhow, the rooftop hours are apparently going to be 9:00 am (that might be incorrect) to 9:30 pm (I'm sure on that). They have nice professional, Olympic signage to direct you around the viewing area and up to the roof deck observation area.

The new roof observation area will provide a perfect vantage point. It's a broad deck so people will be able to take photos from angles showing the angles of the convention centre behind it, or from an end to show the skyline behind it, or from the other end to show the harbour and mountains to the side of it. Plus the flames will be close enough, you'll probably even feel its heat.

I think it's an ideal solution, and I commend them for coming up with a good solution to balance safety, security, and access.

I have no doubt the Guardian will as well (not! )

[SpongeG]

i hate it!

it means i have to go all the way back down there again and take all new photos!

damn you vanoc!!!!


lol i kid but yes nice changes