2010 Vancouver Olympic & Paralympic Super-Thread

[nobase2010]

It was a nice beautiful day.

• Video Link

[mr.x]

^ nice vid.

But I've gotta say, that's not much of a security fence.

[touraccuracy]

are there still any ways to buy tickets other than the fan-to-fan thing? those are all extremely overpriced. i heard on the news there were still speed skating tickets in the range of 25 bucks... but that seems impossible to find.

also, does anyone know the rules to getting up to whistler? i can crash on a friend's floor up there and i just need to know how i'm allowed to commute up there, how much busses are, is there available parking, etc.

[Yume-sama]

lol CTV Calgary just showed a meeting of "anti-Olympic" activists in Calgary, as the torch prepares to come through the city. They were explaining how the games are bad for the environment, bad for the aboriginal peoples, unsustainable, how all of the money should have been spent on combating homelessness, and how the government is treating protesters bad. Then they showed the crowd. There was literally more media people than people in attendance, a generous estimate is 7 including the speaker. How do they even get the media out to their event as if they have some legitimacy?? The media needs to stop giving literally half a dozen people so much attention as if they matter.

[raggedy13]

Some Olympic stuff I took photos of on Saturday:

One of those faux-trolley tourist buses with Olympic sponsor advertising...


This wrap is old news, but whatever...




Olympics tents at the Westin Bayshore:


Mystery work going on at Jack Poole Plaza...




















Lots of people taking pictures at the clock








BC advertising being applied to the steps at Robson Square...

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by NetMapel

This list is good. Where can I find those houses on Vancouver 2010's official site though ???

i don't know i looked there and ended up scouring google and went to a number of different sites - most of it was from memory of what i saw on here in the news and there has been a lot of advertising in the canada line trains and stations - thats how i found out about the royal canadian mint setting up a place...

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by mr.x

^ nice vid.

But I've gotta say, that's not much of a security fence.

that street will be closed to the public january 27th after that people will not be allowed anywhere near the fences unless they have a red zone clearance to do so- i believe its a block south of there at cordova - people and cars definately - are not allowed there - a lot of businesses within the red zone were only told recently that they would have restricted access as well - some were thinking of just closing up - a number of condos are even affected apparently

[SpongeG]

speaking of Vanoc buying all the advertising space in the city billboards bus shelters etc - is going to be artsy fartsy Vanoc posters like the fences or will some of it be Vanoc approved official sponsors?

like right now Yaletown is all Bell advertising, Vancouver centre is all GE advertising etc etc... will those stay up for the games or will they be changed?

[jlousa]

That fence is on the north side of Canada Place Way, there will be a second fence installed on the South side of Canada Place Way which will house the security gates. So only people with clearance will be able to even get to that second fence.

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

speaking of Vanoc buying all the advertising space in the city billboards bus shelters etc - is going to be artsy fartsy Vanoc posters like the fences or will some of it be Vanoc approved official sponsors?

like right now Yaletown is all Bell advertising, Vancouver centre is all GE advertising etc etc... will those stay up for the games or will they be changed?

expo line west of broadway-commercial and most of the mark 3 cars at least are all 2010 advertising only. there are platform ads for each of the mascots zoomed up very close to the mascot costume - they look very nice! there are also mcdonalds olympics-themed ads and samsung ads. nothing else though..

[Hed Kandi]

Raggedy thanks very much for the photos!!!

[wrenegade]

When was the Convention Centre Plaza named Jack Poole Plaza? Is that permanent or just an Olympic thing? Either way, that's pretty cool.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by touraccuracy

are there still any ways to buy tickets other than the fan-to-fan thing? those are all extremely overpriced. i heard on the news there were still speed skating tickets in the range of 25 bucks... but that seems impossible to find.

also, does anyone know the rules to getting up to whistler? i can crash on a friend's floor up there and i just need to know how i'm allowed to commute up there, how much busses are, is there available parking, etc.

There are still ways to buy tickets without using the Fan-to-Fan website.

1. There are normal tickets remaining for some womens qualifications curling, and preliminary mens and womens hockey, plus about half of the victory ceremonies and the closing ceremonies.

2. There are obstructed view (10% - 50% view obstruction) seats available for most Vancouver-based sports available and these can be purchased in person at the Main Ticketing Centre at the UBC Bookstore at Robson Square or at Tickets Tonight in the Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre at 200 Burrard Street, at Cordova.

Additional tickets may go on sale as the various national Olympic committees return any unsold tickets to VANOC for sale at games time, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

Also, some things on the Fan to Fan marketplace may be overpriced now but I would expect a glut of tickets to start showing up as we get closer to the events. If you purchase the tickets through the fan to fan marketplace you can have the tickets printed at the main ticketing centre or at Tickets Tonight, or at the venue box offices on the day of the event. I would personally really avoid the day of event box office line ups if it is at all possible.

As for getting to Whistler; no, you cannot drive up without a permit as there will be no parking. You can make your way up by private carrier, like Snowcoach, Greyhound, etc., and once at Whistler you can buy tickets on the day of the event. At this point they won't sell you tickets if you cannot show proof of residency but if you bring along the friend upon whose floor you will be sleeping you should have no problem buying Whistler tickets at the Whistler ticketing centre.

The reason for all these hurdles is that all the seats on the Olympic Bus Network shuttles between Vancouver and Whistler are now full, Cypress too, so the Olympics cannot assure any future ticket buyers that they will be able to get up to Whistler from vancouver in order to see the event. If you are already in Whistler then it's a moot point, hence the residency requirement.

[mr.x]

I was thinking about getting two or three more events: snowboarding, speed skating, and figure skating....but I haven't been able to find any affordable ones, and I need quite a few as I have friends coming back to town just for the Games. But it's just too much hassle...and I'm not very keen with having to buy a special bus ticket just to get to Cypress. I already have Opening Ceremony, 2 victory ceremonies (Nelly Furtado and Billy Talent), 1 mens ice hockey (USA vs. Norway), and the 50-km cross country final.

The prices on the fan-to-fan website are ridiculous...$500 for two pairs of tickets to speed skating???


On a lighter note, yes lighter note, our good old friend towerguy has been reported to the RCMP by members of another forum as they were extremely concerned about his pyromania. It is now an actual serious investigation.

[SpongeG]

City will close 30 streets during Games

Despite traffic concerns, downtown casino hopes to cash in on Olympics

Sandra Thomas, Vancouver Courier
Published: Friday, January 15, 2010

The marketing director for Edgewater Casino, located in the heart of Olympics-related street closures downtown, isn't concerned that vehicle access to the casino, including the closure of the Cambie Street Bridge, will be limited now to the end of the Games.

"It's obviously a challenge, but it's also a chance to get creative and find other ways to drive visitors to us," said Vanessa Kelly.

The casino is hosting the Edgewater Celebration Village in the adjoining plaza from Feb. 12 to 28, which will include more than 100 food and retail vendors. It's estimated more than 30,000 people will walk by the casino each day, while between 190,000 and 230,000 visitors, athletes and volunteers will be in the immediate area daily, Kelly noted.

...

http://www2.canada.com/vancouvercour...2-75ef00c9d144

this part sounds good

Feb. 12 to 28, which will include more than 100 food and retail vendors

[mr.x]

From the Edgewater Casino website:



Event: Edgewater Celebration Village 2010
Venue: Plaza of Nations
Date: Feb 12-28, 2010 (17 days in total)
Time: 2:00pm - 11:00pm (Mon-Thurs)/ 12:00noon - 12:00am (Fri-Sun)
Contact: (604) 687-3343 ext# 224 or (604) 617-1199
Email: info@northernstarevent.com
Website: www.edgewatercasino.ca
Early Bird Promo: 10% off All Merchandise Booths Rental until End of November, 2009.

Edgewater Celebration Village is proud to present The Edgewater Celebration Village 2010 at the Plaza of Nations to celebrate Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day and the Winter Sports Events. This 17 days event lies at the heart of the major games venue in Downtown Vancouver, and is also located along the corridor to the games celebration venue, Molson Canadian Hockey House and Concord Place. It is expected that there will be at least 190,000 visitors and volunteers traveling in and out along Expo Blvd and Pacific Blvd where the four major venues located. With such an advantageous location and amazingly high volume of visitors, this event will certainly bring unrivalled business opportunities for all vendors with extreme profits in return.

We offer 80 heated merchandise booths and 40 heated food booths comfortably sited under giant tents with three rental period options for both types of vendors. You may choose to take part in the event for the full duration or from Feb 12-18 (a total of 7 days) or from Feb 19-28 (a total of 10 days) at an affordable rental rate. Take advantage of the 10% off Early Bird Special for all merchandise booths by signing up today as this promo only lasts until the end of November, 2009! Don't miss out this once in a life time business opportunity to showcase the world your inspiring products and services at this charming festive venue.

This prominent event offers free admission, free daily live entertainment and free Year of the Tiger souvenirs to all visitors. Thousands of give-away prizes, lucky Edgewater Casino Cash Coupons and daily lucky draw prizes will be given to visitors and vendors as well. For more details and information, please email us at info@northernstarevent.com.

* Location: Plaza of Nations, Vanvouver
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

[Yume-sama]

The Olympic Flame just arrived at Olympic Plaza in Calgary, with *thousands* of people on hand

Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people watched the torch relay.

The girl (who was little) who lit the BIG Flame in 1988 at the Opening Ceremonies, is the final Calgary torchbearer, and lit the cauldron.

[touraccuracy]

good list of (mostly) free venues to check out:

http://www.citycaucus.com/2010freevenues

[ckkelley]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

^ In the foreground the multi-storey scaffolding is the likely departure point for the zipline.

Riiiight. I forgot about the ol' Olympic zipline. I actually thought it might be dead in the water because we hadn't heard much.

[NetMapel]

Originally Posted by touraccuracy

good list of (mostly) free venues to check out:

http://www.citycaucus.com/2010freevenues

Vancouver 2010's website, CTV and Rogers sportsnet should be going all out advertising these venues. Those will be the only venues, other than volunteering, I'll be attending for fun