2010 Vancouver Olympic & Paralympic Super-Thread - Page 20

SpongeG · #1 Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 5:16 AM**

Concord Pacific named Official Supplier of 2010 Winter Games

VANCOUVER, Dec. 8 /CNW/ - With 66 days to go until Canada's Games begin, Concord Pacific Developments, Inc. (Concord Pacific), and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced today the Vancouver, BC-based company has been named an Official Supplier for the upcoming Games.

Under the agreement, Concord Pacific will make a financial investment in the Games as well as provide land for VANOC's use in preparation for and during the Games as part of a value-in-kind agreement. This includes access to 4.8-hectares of land on north False Creek adjacent to Concord Place Exposition and Activity Zone. The land will be used as staging areas for a number of critical back-of-house activities, including: security, broadcast, workforce, and ceremonies. In return, Concord Pacific will have rights to market and promote within the real estate development product and service category for the 2010 Winter Games and rights to associate with the Canadian Olympic Teams competing at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the London 2012 Olympic Games. The company also made a significant monetary contribution to the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) earlier this year.

"As Canada's leading developer of master planned communities, we at Concord Pacific believe we have a commitment to build the fabric of communities that goes far beyond contributing amenities and building homes," explained company president Terry Hui. "Our company has been a proud sponsor of citywide community events and charities for over 20 years in Vancouver and a supporter of the 2010 Winter Games since the initial bid.

"The excitement ramping up in the final days before the world's best come here to compete at venues all around us is contagious," he continued. "We're ecstatic about stepping up even further to become an Official Supplier of the 2010 Winter Games."

The last phase of Concord Pacific Place, located along the False Creek in downtown Vancouver, is the development site that connects the Olympic and Paralympic Village Vancouver to Canada Hockey Place and BC Place.

"We're excited to officially welcome Concord Pacific into our sponsorship family for the 2010 Winter Games," said John Furlong, VANOC's CEO. "Staging the Games in a city surrounded by the ocean and the mountains provides a beautiful backdrop but unique space challenges. However, through the commitments of partners like Concord Pacific, we've been able to access the areas we need to operate successfully in constrained spaces and we're grateful for their support as we enter the final planning stages towards delivering great Games in 2010."

About Concord Pacific and Concord Adex

Concord Pacific is a proud community supporter of annual citywide events and a contributor to various charities year after year. Concord is a developer of multi-phased, master planned residential neighbourhoods that are strategically designed to enhance the lifestyles of its residents. The company's legacy as a master-planned community developer began with Concord Pacific Place on the former Expo `86 grounds on Vancouver's False Creek waterfront. This project has steadily transformed the city's skyline and redefined urban living. To date, Concord Pacific Place includes more than 10,000 homes, intermixed with parks, schools and a variety of retail and commercial services. The final phase of the community will transform the northeastern shore of False Creek into a truly sustainable community with innovative architecture and engaging public spaces of world-class scale and use.

Concord Pacific is also creating new communities across Canada such as Concord Adex Developments in Ontario including CityPlace in Toronto and Concord Park Place north of Toronto; Porteau Cove just north of West Vancouver; Concord Gateway in Richmond and Park Place Community in Central City, Surrey BC. For more information, visit www.concordpacific.com.

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http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2009/08/c9154.html

SpongeG · #2 Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 5:22 AM**

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

teriyaki · #3 Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 7:23 AM**

Quote:

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

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.

SpongeG · #4 Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 7:40 AM**

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

hollywoodnorth · #5 Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 8:57 AM**

Quote:

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

LOL snooooooooooooooore

johnjimbc · #6 Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

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

Quote:

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

.

dreambrother808 · #7 Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 6:45 PM**

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 · #8 Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 7:53 PM**

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 · #9 Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 8:18 PM**

Quote:

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.

Yume-sama · #10 Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

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!

ckkelley · #11 Posted **Dec 10, 2009, 5:26 AM**

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 · #12 Posted **Dec 10, 2009, 5:33 AM**

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 · #13 Posted **Dec 10, 2009, 6:10 AM**

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 · #14 Posted **Dec 10, 2009, 7:14 AM**

Quote:

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 · #15 Posted **Dec 10, 2009, 11:28 PM**

Quote:

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 · #16 Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 6:18 AM**

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 · #17 Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 6:25 AM**

Quote:

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 · #18 Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 9:29 PM**

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 · #19 Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 9:35 PM**

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 · #20 Posted **Dec 14, 2009, 6:11 PM**

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