Olympics 2010 - Feb. 12 to 28 Official Olympics thread, everything Olympics goes here

[mcminsen]

Here's that mysterious something that has been covered up on the new Vancouver Convention Centre plaza.


Jan.23 '10 my pic

[greentires4me]

Okay my mistake its the Vancouver Olympics...

Did ya know that Sprott-Shaw Community College is an Olympic Sponsor too...?

Every Campus in Lower mainland is going on an overhaul...the one in Maple Ridge has new Laminate Flooring, Moulding, Stone tile bathrooms, painted doors and hallways, carpet railing in the hallways.

I figured it was a ploy to make it pretty for the games because they are an Olympic Sponsor.

The Olympic Torch comes through Maple Ridge Monday 8th @ 7:06am...right at rush hour traffic in the morning on Loughheed highway...we all thought why didn't they take Dewdney Trunk. instead. I guess I will try to get down there to see it I hoped it would have been at night instead traffic will be a nightmare.

[Alixana]

I'm glad those paper lanterns survived the rain. I took pictures of those too during my lunch break.

The torch is gonna be around 2 blocks away from my house on the 11th, and I still have not heard what roads will be closed off, cause they're having a whole day celebration in the park.

I'm debating wether to call in sick, or brave the traffic. I don't think I'll have another chance to be close to the torch again in my lifetime.

[mcminsen]

I'll bet everything for the Olympics has been made rain proof or rain resistant. The only exception might be some visitors.

The calm before the storm?

Last night I went out for dinner and ended up walking right around most of the downtown Vancouver peninsula from the library to English Bay to Coal Harbour and back up Robson St. and I was struck at how eerily quiet it was. This was around 8 PM. I had been up and on the streets early this morning (to get my McCain pizza 2 pack bargain at IGA) and it was really crazy with people, vehicles, cyclists and all sorts of construction workers and equipment trying to get where they were going. The McDonald's and the IGA near me have gone to being open 24 hours/day now. That's nice... I can go coupon hunting at 4 AM.

But in the evening, you could've shot a cannon down some streets and not hit anything. I presume it's because most people have been scared away from being downtown if they don't absolutely have to. Next week will be different, I'm sure.

One thing that stopped me in my tracks was the light show in the sky. See this Vancouver Sun picture gallery:

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2...873/story.html

Will try to get more pics and post them as I can.

[Natalka]

That light show would be magnificent to see! Wow, it's getting so close to all the excitement happening!

[AmberLab]

Cool pics to see mcminsen! Thanks for posting.

[greentires4me]

it could be magnificent at first but after awhile it could be hard to get to sleep if that is running all night long without heavy curtains to block it out.

[mcminsen]

From this morning's Metro paper:

"Initially, concerns were raised that the 10,000 watt lights would come blazing through West End apartment windows in the middle of the night. Rich Newirth (the city's acting managing director of cultural services) said the artist was diligent in ensuring that the lights would not shine into apartments."

Another little observation aside from this. As I passed by the intersection of Richards and Dunsmuir streets today I noticed a contingent of Thunder Bay RCMP officers patrolling there. This city is going to be one of the most patrolled in the world for the next few weeks.

[greentires4me]

There is jumbo sized military planes flying over the house here...definitely is something different lot more helicopters in the skies...

[freeplease]

I personally will be glad when this is all over! I have 2 people very dear to me who have had surgeries cancelled due to the olympics. I just wish they were somewhere else.

[mcminsen]

Yup, I've been noticing helicopters overhead everyday and everynight for a while now. Could be the TV networks getting shots, police looking for stuff or police just wanting to assert a visible presence... or all the above.

Here's a shot of the staging area outside BC Place Stadium (or does it have an Olympic name now?). I presume this is where all the thousands of performers and athletes will queue up before the opening and closing ceremonies.


Feb.5 '10 my pic

[mcminsen]

A twilight shot of the Olympic Athlete's Village with a very important parking lot in the foreground. Up close, you see staff parking for the police station nearby. Then you see a long line of white police cars. And then behind the fence you see just a few of the official Olympic vehicles. I think GM supplied a ship load or two of them. You see them all around town now.


Feb.5 '10 my pic

[mcminsen]

Vancouver City Hall resplendent in it's new lighting and with the Olympic and Paralympic fl*gs flying nearby.


Feb.5 '10 my pic

[mcminsen]

An evening shot of the Olympic Athletes Village on False Creek. The old Science World dome (now known as the Telus Sphere) from Expo '86 on the left. The building on the right is where the Australian team is staying. I was reading in this morning's paper that they are in trouble with the IOC for hanging that huge green banner with the yellow kangaroo on it off their balconies. You can see it just above one of the big trees.

The building on the left (just above the blue fl*gs) is the Arthur Ericksen designed Canadian athletes quarters. Seems they get the best accommodation in the village. You can't really see it, but each of the Canadian balconies has a Canadian fl*g showing on it.


Feb.5 '10 my pic

[mcminsen]

Welcome signs in many languages everywhere. Is this Russian Cyrillic?


Feb.5 '10 my pic