2010 Vancouver Olympic & Paralympic Super-Thread

[Yume-sama]

Miss Cleo may have predicted Canada would finish 1st in medals, however, Sports Illustrated has just published their list... with Germany up top for the 2nd Olympics in a row.

Sports Illustrated is picking Canada to be second-best at this month's Olympics in Vancouver.

In its Feb. 8 edition, which hits newsstands Wednesday, the sports magazine projects the Canadian team to finish with 30 medals at the Games - 10 gold, 11 silver and nine bronze. Germany is predicted to lead the way with 35 medals, including 11 gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze.

Sports Illustrated thinks the Americans will finish third with 27 medals; seven gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze.

The Germans topped the medal count at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy with 29 medals.

The Americans were second with 25, followed by the Canadians with 24.

http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/sports/a...-medals-for-canada-second-behind-germany

While I'm sure Canada would be somewhat disappointed NOT to finish first, a lot of the European countries are super heavy hitters in all of the sports that aren't hockey.

[NewfBC]

"Staff at Marco Polo Tours are contacting individual booking agents to inform them they are cancelling packages for the Norwegian Princess, the cruise ship expected to dock in Vancouver Feb. 10th. Customers are expected to get refunds."

[Yume-sama]

Well, that sucks for them. Not totally surprising. Hopefully they are able to make other arrangements.

[Yume-sama]

It's going to be so cool to be around so many people from all over the World. Especially once the days activities are done, and everyone is out just having a good time.

International Olympic volunteers head for the Games

Hundreds of people from around the world started pouring into Vancouver this week to join about 25,000 volunteers who have signed up to work at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Olympic organizers say more than 1,200 volunteers will arrive from as far away as Russia and New Zealand.

Seattle resident Katrina Thompson said it took more than a year and a half for her and her 68-year-old mother Kerry to go through the hoops to become an Olympic volunteer, but it finally paid off with jobs in Whistler.

"I think I had three phone interviews, a background check, a couple more forms to fill out, then the final offer," said Katrina.

"My daughter and I looked at the Olympic packages and there was nothing that we really wanted to see and they were just too expensive, so we decided that let's see if we can volunteer," said Kerry Thompson.

The offer they received was to work eight hours a day, six days a week for free at the media centre and the sliding centre in Whistler.

The pair also had to find their own accommodation close to Whistler, where hotel rooms and other accommodations have been going for twice the normal rate during the Games, but fortunately a friend offered them a spot in his condominium.
Ready to roll

The Thompsons are packing their bags and getting ready to drive to Whistler on Friday for their first day of work, in order to be ready when the Games open on Feb. 12.

"We are really excited — I don't think excited even embodies what we are feeling — I think my mother has been packed since June, said Katrina.

"I'm ready to jump out of my skin. I am so happy that Vancouver was awarded the Olympics, because that's like my next door neighbour," said Kerry.

Best comment on CBC so far:
"A real volunteer is people helping Haiti, these people are just selfish wannabe elites bowing to VANOC"

[jlousa]

As has been mentioned Cypress received 18cm overnight and has received 54cm in the last week, not as dire as predicted. It was 0 all day at mid mountain today so they were busy creating snow all day. Looks like they will continue to truck in snow just in case.

[LotusLand]

This is the best Olympics guide I've seen. It has parties, security info, weather info sorta :S Free events, and the torch stuff. I'm excited about the club parties so many great DJ's coming to town. Vancouver are you ready for the fun!!

http://vancitybuzz.blogspot.com/2010/02/vancouver-2010-olympics-guide.html

[entheosfog]

I noticed this while driving west down Hastings Street in East Van. The billboard placement is new and they were just finishing putting up the flag picture. While not the largest billboard, it's perfectly placed to be visible from waaaaay back up Hastings:

[mr.x]

hmmm....you know, i just realized that the buses from Downtown to the Coliseum will give visitors a tour of the DTES.

[Yume-sama]

It's another cultural exhibit in its own.

[nobase2010]

• Video Link

[mr.x]

^ the commercial tries too hard to get people to watch their broadcast with the crowd watching it on their ipods, computers, and tv...too much.

[Yume-sama]

Sheesh, why on Earth would a TV Station who paid tens of millions of dollars to be able to broadcast the games want people to WATCH it?

What a bunch of dummy dumb dumb dumbs.

[mr.x]

Better quality:

• Video Link

[Locked In]

Post office update. My photo, taken around 5:15 this evening:

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by NewfBC

"Staff at Marco Polo Tours are contacting individual booking agents to inform them they are cancelling packages for the Norwegian Princess, the cruise ship expected to dock in Vancouver Feb. 10th. Customers are expected to get refunds."

Global reports 1,000 people are out of luck after the cancellation, including 11 terminally ill kids from the Make A Wish foundation.
http://www.globaltvbc.com/money/Olympic+...ise+ship+cancellation/2514883/story.html

They also had a story on the general lameness of the Canada tent, oops, pavillion.

[Yume-sama]

Yeah, I just saw that about the Make A Wish kids. That sucks.

The investors pulled out. That kinda sucks for them. I'm sure, at least, the kids will get a place to stay.

Canada tent sucking doesn't surprise me lol

[SpongeG]

i just saw that one the news

today i saw a news camera guy filming on west broadway near oak - looked to be from Europe!

and i was walking down cambie near broadway and saw 4 team CHINA people walking around - looked like they went and got groceries and were walking back to the village - they all had their team uniforms on - was cool to see

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i just saw that one the news

today i saw a news camera guy filming on west broadway near oak - looked to be from Europe!

and i was walking down cambie near broadway and saw 4 team CHINA people walking around - looked like they went and got groceries and were walking back to the village - they all had their team uniforms on - was cool to see

On Sunday, I was leaving VCC station up the stairs and I look over and see a young guy, and what looked like some family, wearing their team Russia coats (very warm looking) on the escalator. I nudged my girl friend and nodded for her to look in their direction and they noticed, and gave me a cute little wave back, like it's the first time anyone ever noticed them. I'm sure they just got here and were walking into downtown for the first time.

[raggedy13]

^Nice and friendly of them to wave.

Was at Granville Island earlier tonight and a group of guys dressed in some dark blue Olympic jackets with Olympic ID lanyards came up to the group of people I was with and asked us for a good place to go drink on Granville Island. I couldn't quite tell where they were from / what their jobs were. They appeared to be some sort of Panasonic people as that was the one thing written on the front left breast of their jackets, while there was the typical Olympic rings / Vancouver 2010 on their backs.

[BCPhil]

^ If you want just a good drink, and it's not too late, I always like going into the GIB brewery itself. When I was there on Sunday there were quite a few people in Olympic Volunteer jackets having an after work drink.