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Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Van Loan called
Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan is suddenly easy to contact now that the $900 million gorilla is... well, it's either caged or jumping from skyscraper to skyscraper. Whatever your perspective, it's a heckuva lot of bananas.
He admitted that the 2010 Winter Olympics security budget remains very much subject to change.
"If you had events happen during the Games that dramatically change the circumstances, you'd see a potential for costs to go up to respond to those events," Van Loan said. "If, on the other hand, things went ahead very smoothly, you could even conceivably see the costs come in under those that are in the plan.
“You will not know the final number until after the Games."
A show of hands. How many of you think it won't be under $1 billion?
VANOC CEO John Furlong presided over one of the organization's most disorganized news conferences. It was delayed almost half-an-hour. Technical difficulties meant journalists on the conference call were unable to hear or be heard.
The day started innocently enough with the opening of the $87.85 million Vancouver Olympic Centre curling complex near Nat Bailey Stadium and the announcement of a campaign to encourage Canadians to donate $20.10 to a Canadian athletes' fund.
With Glowing Hearts is the VANOC slogan. The recession-modified version is With Empty Wallets.
Next on the list of big bucks surprises? The VANOC transportation plan. Remember that? Yeah, the one that was due at the end of 2007. It could come as soon as Feb. 26. Drastic measures were recommended by transport engineer Bunt and Associates to keep the traffic moving from the border to Vancouver International Airport to bridges and the Sea-to-Sky Highway.
He admitted that the 2010 Winter Olympics security budget remains very much subject to change.
"If you had events happen during the Games that dramatically change the circumstances, you'd see a potential for costs to go up to respond to those events," Van Loan said. "If, on the other hand, things went ahead very smoothly, you could even conceivably see the costs come in under those that are in the plan.
“You will not know the final number until after the Games."
A show of hands. How many of you think it won't be under $1 billion?
VANOC CEO John Furlong presided over one of the organization's most disorganized news conferences. It was delayed almost half-an-hour. Technical difficulties meant journalists on the conference call were unable to hear or be heard.
The day started innocently enough with the opening of the $87.85 million Vancouver Olympic Centre curling complex near Nat Bailey Stadium and the announcement of a campaign to encourage Canadians to donate $20.10 to a Canadian athletes' fund.
With Glowing Hearts is the VANOC slogan. The recession-modified version is With Empty Wallets.
Next on the list of big bucks surprises? The VANOC transportation plan. Remember that? Yeah, the one that was due at the end of 2007. It could come as soon as Feb. 26. Drastic measures were recommended by transport engineer Bunt and Associates to keep the traffic moving from the border to Vancouver International Airport to bridges and the Sea-to-Sky Highway.
Olympic security $900 million jackpot wad
The 2010 Winter Olympics security budget will cost $900 million. At least.
The controversial budget was finally released Feb. 19. Goodbye, $175 million myth. You lasted more than five years. Quite a run.
So what can $900 million buy?
16,077,170 of The Club steering wheel immobilizers (@ $55.98 each including taxes from Canadian Tire);
13,396,844 DC Talking Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detectors (@ $67.18 each including taxes from Canadian Tire);
OR
5,022,882 Astak Wireless Night Vision Infrared security cameras (@ $179.18 each including taxes from Future Shop).
The controversial budget was finally released Feb. 19. Goodbye, $175 million myth. You lasted more than five years. Quite a run.
So what can $900 million buy?
16,077,170 of The Club steering wheel immobilizers (@ $55.98 each including taxes from Canadian Tire);
13,396,844 DC Talking Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detectors (@ $67.18 each including taxes from Canadian Tire);
OR
5,022,882 Astak Wireless Night Vision Infrared security cameras (@ $179.18 each including taxes from Future Shop).
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Exclusive: PM pumping Personal Podium
A Nov. 6, 2007 Department of Canadian Heritage report by assistant deputy minister Marie-Genevieve Mounier titled Government of Canada Opportunities Related to Cultural Olympiad offers a hint of a new program that may be launched Thursday when the one-year countdown to Vancouver 2010 is observed. An excerpt of the document, obtained under Access to Information, is below:
Opportunity: Hosting the Olympics is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The Cultural Olympiad could provide a springboard to launch a nation-wide challenge to strengthen Canadian communities by encouraging every citizen to commit to a Personal Podium. Personal Podium is a concept that would complement existing events such as the Olympic torch relays (sic) and live sites. Citizen commitments would be related to the three Olympic pillars of sports, culture and environment. Commitments could be themed to complement Canadians' strong interest in:
Adopting healthier living habits,
Participating in cultural activities,
Protecting the environment.
Implementation: The 2008 Cultural Olympiad will be a relatively modest arts festival showcasing primarily British Columbia artistic talent. The February 2009 Cultural Olympiad will feature talent from across Canada and could be broadened to include a nation-wide effort launched by the Prime Minister to mark the one-year countdown to the 2010 Games. The Prime Minister, standing with a wide range of Canadians from all walks of life including well-known athletes and artists, would launch his Personal Podium and challenge all Canadians to do the same.
Opportunity: Hosting the Olympics is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The Cultural Olympiad could provide a springboard to launch a nation-wide challenge to strengthen Canadian communities by encouraging every citizen to commit to a Personal Podium. Personal Podium is a concept that would complement existing events such as the Olympic torch relays (sic) and live sites. Citizen commitments would be related to the three Olympic pillars of sports, culture and environment. Commitments could be themed to complement Canadians' strong interest in:
Adopting healthier living habits,
Participating in cultural activities,
Protecting the environment.
Implementation: The 2008 Cultural Olympiad will be a relatively modest arts festival showcasing primarily British Columbia artistic talent. The February 2009 Cultural Olympiad will feature talent from across Canada and could be broadened to include a nation-wide effort launched by the Prime Minister to mark the one-year countdown to the 2010 Games. The Prime Minister, standing with a wide range of Canadians from all walks of life including well-known athletes and artists, would launch his Personal Podium and challenge all Canadians to do the same.
Of A-Roid and the Peking Phish
The two most-talked about (United States of) American athletes this week are Alex ("A-Roid") Rodriguez and Michael ("The Peking Phish") Phelps.
Stick a fork in Roidriguez and thow him on the scrap heap with Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro and Jose Canseco. A disgrace. Will the last sponsor to cancel his endorsements please turn out the lights? Will baseball ever be allowed back in the Olympics?
Phelps, who has a March 6 speaking engagement in Vancouver, has lost his Kellogg's cereal deal after the infamous bong photograph.
Now marijuana legalization activists are taking up the cause. Some 2,300 and counting signed an online petition condemning the cereal company. You can bet there were 10,000 others that haven't gotten around to adding their names.
Ex-Seattle police chief Norm Stamper, a drug law reform advocate, added his name to the boycott.
The pro-pot lobby. In a recession, that's not a market segment that a packaged goods snack company should alienate.
Stick a fork in Roidriguez and thow him on the scrap heap with Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro and Jose Canseco. A disgrace. Will the last sponsor to cancel his endorsements please turn out the lights? Will baseball ever be allowed back in the Olympics?
Phelps, who has a March 6 speaking engagement in Vancouver, has lost his Kellogg's cereal deal after the infamous bong photograph.
Now marijuana legalization activists are taking up the cause. Some 2,300 and counting signed an online petition condemning the cereal company. You can bet there were 10,000 others that haven't gotten around to adding their names.
Ex-Seattle police chief Norm Stamper, a drug law reform advocate, added his name to the boycott.
The pro-pot lobby. In a recession, that's not a market segment that a packaged goods snack company should alienate.
1-year countdown climaxes at the Beetle Barn
The provincial government-produced Countdown 2010 announcement is 5-6 p.m. Thursday at the Richmond Olympic Oval. By invitation only. Taxpayers not welcome.
Premier Gordon Campbell will, however, welcome IOC president Jacques Rogge to the 2010 Games' two-month-old showcase venue. Rogge will issue his customary invitation to the world's national Olympic committees and the athletes they represent to gather in peace one year later in Vancouver for the XXI Olympic Winter Games. British Columbia will host the world and the WorldHost program will be reactivated.
The Oval is a lovely building in a municipality known for airplane hangars, big box stores and warehouses. Big windows. Nice ice. Pleasant location by the riverside. Under the Vancouver International Airport's flight path.
That said, the Bird's Nest or Water Cube it is not. Because of the salvaged wood used in the roof, it could be called the Beetle Barn.
Even more on the 1-year countdown
IOC president Jacques Rogge will be in Whistler on Feb. 11 for a 4:45 p.m. news conference at the Whistler Westin before appearing at the Whistler Sliding Centre for a 6 p.m. photo opportunity with an Omega Countdown Clock.
On Feb. 12, he will observe the unveiling of the Bombardier-designed Olympic torch and Hbc-designed torchbearers' uniforms in Whistler Village Square at 8 a.m.
Rogge will formally invite the ice and snow athletes of the world to gather in Vancouver at a 5 p.m. event at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
Anti-Olympics protesters from the Olympics Resistance Network gather at 6 p.m. in Victory Square for a torchlight march around downtown. That's just two blocks from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre where Sarah McLachlan plays the one-year countdown concert at 7:30 p.m.
Doesn't look like anything is planned for the Vancouver Art Gallery's Omega Countdown Clock where the three-year countdown ceremony and unveiling was sparsely attended and went awry with about 100 noisy protesters.
On Feb. 12, he will observe the unveiling of the Bombardier-designed Olympic torch and Hbc-designed torchbearers' uniforms in Whistler Village Square at 8 a.m.
Rogge will formally invite the ice and snow athletes of the world to gather in Vancouver at a 5 p.m. event at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
Anti-Olympics protesters from the Olympics Resistance Network gather at 6 p.m. in Victory Square for a torchlight march around downtown. That's just two blocks from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre where Sarah McLachlan plays the one-year countdown concert at 7:30 p.m.
Doesn't look like anything is planned for the Vancouver Art Gallery's Omega Countdown Clock where the three-year countdown ceremony and unveiling was sparsely attended and went awry with about 100 noisy protesters.
Febby Twelve
2010 Gold Rush has learned that the Olympic flag will be raised on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 12 to celebrate the one-year countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Likewise, the Paralympic flag will be raised there on March 12.
One would have to assume the same will happen at the Legislature in Victoria.
Of course, Feb. 12 is day three of the fifth session of the 38th British Columbia Parliament and the Opposition New Democrats are bound to raise something else: more questions about the true costs and risks of the Games to B.C. taxpayers. The Liberals have done their best to skate, slide and ski around the big snowball.
Feb. 12 is also the three-month countdown to the next provincial election in British Columbia. Will Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell complete his hat-trick or stumble and fall on the way to the finish line? Three months is an eternity in the world of politics.
One would have to assume the same will happen at the Legislature in Victoria.
Of course, Feb. 12 is day three of the fifth session of the 38th British Columbia Parliament and the Opposition New Democrats are bound to raise something else: more questions about the true costs and risks of the Games to B.C. taxpayers. The Liberals have done their best to skate, slide and ski around the big snowball.
Feb. 12 is also the three-month countdown to the next provincial election in British Columbia. Will Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell complete his hat-trick or stumble and fall on the way to the finish line? Three months is an eternity in the world of politics.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Exclusive: inside the Vancouver 2010 anti-doping lab
Last time I was at the Richmond Olympic Oval, for the Cold-fx sponsorship announcement on Jan. 20, I sought an update on the development of the anti-doping laboratory for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. I was told that a peek inside was absolutely not allowed. Important work was underway and it could not be disturbed because the facility will need international standards approval and accreditation from the World Anti-Doping Agency before it can test athletes' urine and blood for banned substances. In 52 weeks, the Oval will be where Olympic medals are won and lost.
I was guided to the exterior southeast corner of the building near the southeast corner and intersection of Hollybridge Way and River Road. The windows were covered. Nothing to see... move along... as they say.
I was in the area on Sunday night and curious if anything had changed. There were lights on in that corner of the building. I was able to gaze through one knee-level window. I stood on my tippy toes and stretched my arm to snap a shot through another window. My camera captured the above shots: a room empty, save for some tables, chairs, filing cabinets and miscellaneous items. There doesn't even appear to be a pot to pee in. This hardly looks like a laboratory in development. Click on the photos to enlarge them.
By the way, maybe someone at VANOC or City of Richmond should invite Google to shoot a new aerial pic. The one that's available by searching Hollybridge Way and River Road on Google Maps gets you a photo that shows the trailer park that was displaced by the $178 million Oval.
I never visited that trailer park, but I wonder if Ricky, Julian and Bubbles had west coast cousins? Where are they now?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Kodak moments live on for VANOC
The International Skating Union's Four Continents Championship -- the "everyone's welcome except Europeans" meet -- begins Wednesday at the Pacific Coliseum. The 41-year-old Rink on Renfrew is dolled up, Olympic-style, with fences and banners for the first, full-scale test event before the 2010 Games.
The accreditation centre features Ricoh printers and Acer computers. Both companies are VANOC sponsors. But what about the Kodak digital cameras? Didn't Panasonic take over that category last month after Kodak's deal with the IOC expired? Didn't Purolator deliver the Lumixes on time? Quick, get the black hockey tape to cover the logos!
Kodak was an original Olympic sponsor, dating back to the first modern Games at Athens 1896.
The accreditation centre features Ricoh printers and Acer computers. Both companies are VANOC sponsors. But what about the Kodak digital cameras? Didn't Panasonic take over that category last month after Kodak's deal with the IOC expired? Didn't Purolator deliver the Lumixes on time? Quick, get the black hockey tape to cover the logos!
Kodak was an original Olympic sponsor, dating back to the first modern Games at Athens 1896.
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