2010 Vancouver Olympic & Paralympic Super-Thread

[Yume-sama]

I can see how no parking on the streets would make a HUGE difference. There are some places in Calgary where I think they should never allow people to park

Maybe we need the 2024 games here.

Unfortunately that makes businesses very unhappy

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by entheosfog

With some obvious exceptions, driving around Vancouver proper has actually been better than it normally is.

You know the olympics haven't started yet, right? It would be pretty terrifying if it wasn't better right now with all the restrictions in place.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by LotusLand

A photo and video of Gordo on the Robson Square zipline. From Vancity Buzz

http://vancitybuzz.blogspot.com/2010/02/premier-campbell-on-zip-line-at-robson.html

Jump, jump, jump!

[djh]

Mr X, close your eyes now...

http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/Sports/vancouver2010/2010/02/05/12764856-24hvan.html

Vancouver 2010
Olympic ceremony secrets slowly revealed


By BOB MACKIN, 24 HOURS

Secrets of the 2010 Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony are slowly emerging with less than a week to go.

The Feb. 12 B.C. Place Stadium event will feature a cauldron on a hydraulic lift in the middle of the air-supported dome’s new false-floor.Various trap-doors have been built for performers to pop up and down. Performers have been outfitted in lumberjack and voyageur costumes [NOOOOOOOOO!] and a canoe will appear to fly above the audience [NO NO NO!!!!]. VANOC volunteers were each offered a ticket to the Feb. 10 dress rehearsal and are allowed to buy an additional ticket for $50.

The biggest secret is the identity of the final torchbearer. Speculation has run rampant that it may be hockey hero Wayne Gretzky. Documents from federal government brainstorming sessions in 2006 proposed an aboriginal athlete, similar to Sydney 2000 where aborigine sprinter Cathy Freeman lit the cauldron. The Vancouver opening ceremony producer is Australian David Atkins, who was involved in 2000.

Preparations for the biggest live TV production in Canadian history have not been without challenges.

Trusses for lights and speakers have caused stress on the 27-year-old roof. Crews with contractor Riggit are on-call around the clock in case of a rainstorm to stop water from pooling on the 27-year-old fabric roof. A panel on the fabric roof inverted during a Jan. 14 downpour and flooded into the stadium like a waterfall.

A performer who was portraying a ski jumper crashed during a rehearsal earlier this week, but details are slim because of VANOC’s information blackout about the ceremony.

“The injuries are not life-threatening and the performer is in recovery,” said VANOC communications vice-president Renee Smith-Valade, who declined to offer further details.

WorkSafeBC spokeswoman Donna Freeman said via email: “There was no inspection report issued in this case; no compliance orders were issued. A safety officer did meet with the employer.”

Some stadium workers, however, may not have the Olympic spirit after 380 were given layoff notices this week. The stadium will close April 7 for up to 18 months while a $458 million retractable roof is installed.

[GeeCee]

aaaaugh, can you post the spoilers in a different thread or something?

[Yume-sama]

Now we just need a beaver, RCMP, and a crazed guy with a hockey stick and you have every Canadian stereotype ever.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by officedweller

From NW:

It was a false alarm. They got out early for a security sweep of the building.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by djh

Mr X, close your eyes now...

http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/Sports/vancouver2010/2010/02/05/12764856-24hvan.html

loll...those aren't much of a surprise.


The hydraulic cauldron...we know.

Flying canoes...something similar was done at Doha 2006.

Lumberjack...wasn't expecting that one. But I suppose it's part of B.C.'s history. The theme of the Ceremonies is the "Story of Canada", very much like how the Sydney Ceremonies was about the "Story of Australia".

[David]

I was down on the seawall walking past Livecity Yaletown, and they were having periodic closures of the seawall to test a huge water feature in False Creek right up against the seawall behind the stage. The guy in the orange vest told us that the water feature was going to be used during the Olympics to project live games coverage!

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by David

I was down on the seawall walking past Livecity Yaletown, and they were having periodic closures of the seawall to test a huge water feature in False Creek right up against the seawall behind the stage. The guy in the orange vest told us that the water feature was going to be used during the Olympics to project live games coverage!

Oh, no! He's back

[David]

exaaaactly

also, i'd like to request that the thread remain spoiler-free...

[Waders]

According to news report from The Province, there is no official theme song for the Vancouver 2010 Games.

What, no rules? It's people's choice for theme song
By Damian Inwood, The Province

Forget Sarah McLachlan's highly-touted song "One Dream."

And don't rush out to buy New York singer Matisyahu's "One Day."

The official word from Olympic organizers is that there will be no Vancouver 2010-sanctioned theme song for this year's Winter Games.

"Let me be clear," Renee Smith-Valade, 2010's vice-president of communications, said Thursday.

"There isn't an official song." There has been widespread Internet buzz about what might become the official theme of the 2010 Olympics.

Smith-Valade said there are many pieces of music that have been put out by artists and sponsors who believe in the Games.

McLachlan's song appeared online several months ago and was being touted as the "official song."

It was used by NBC on Jan. 24 in its run-up to the Games.

The same thing happened with Matisyahu's anthemic offering after NBC used it as the background for an advertisement for the Games.

Smith-Valade said many different pieces of music become linked to the Games, through the growth of Internet music and the many sponsors and organizations involved in the Olympics.

"There can be seven, eight, or 10 different pieces of music theatre identified with the Games," she added. "What it really comes down to is what the individual likes. For one person, one song may become their official song or the one they associate with the Games, but someone else might find another one that particularly appeals to them."

She said the Feb. 12 opening ceremonies will include original music.

"Some people may say, 'That's the official theme song,' but it won't be marketed or designated as such," she added.

[email protected]

© Copyright (c) The Province

Source: http://www.theprovince.com/entertainment/What+rules+people+choice+theme+song/2525335/story.html

[mr.x]

VANOC couldn't afford one?

[Yume-sama]

That's quite a missed opportunity, if true.

[mr.x]

Huge missed opportunity, not to mention also very disappointing when even the Canadian broadcaster can come up with a theme song for its broadcast.

[GeeCee]

what the heck? O.o

[Yume-sama]

Jim Pattison ran with the torch in Whistler today. Nice to see so many thousands of people out cheering the relay on.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Pinion

You know the olympics haven't started yet, right? It would be pretty terrifying if it wasn't better right now with all the restrictions in place.

this is one of the busiest times - mid week next week is suppossed to be the busiest time according to the organizers and the mayor speaking on the radio today

700 athletes arrived yesterday and more arrive all weekend

once the games are underway it won't be as busy as the arrivals and departures

[Waders]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

That's quite a missed opportunity, if true.

I really hope it was a misquote by The Province. But there may be other reasons we don't know.
Did official theme song always exist for past Winter Games?
Now CTV has its own theme song for the game. Since NBC used Sarah McLachlan's song in its program, it might have to pay 'loyalty' fee to the singer. VANCO is out of the loop. I wonder whether VANCO can receive song 'loyalty' fee if it had sanctioned an official theme song.

[SpongeG]

do the olympics usually have official songs?

i saw the CTV song on sale at Best Buy thats the song the public is liking